[FRC Blog] - NASA Grants and Something New for 2015

[mrnoble]

The GDC has to fulfill the requirements of the Triad: spectator friendly, rookies can succeed, successful veteran teams are challenged. They also have costs, investments and physical constraints to consider. Therefore:

1. It won't be a water game. Or an ice game, or any other field that requires crazy capital to create or maintain, or which could damage a rookie robot.
2. The field really can't grow or change shape too radically. The AndyMark field and space constraints dictate this.
3. The motors won't change, though they may cut back on the power (number of motors).
4. Robots won't grow. They could shrink, though; especially considering the shrinking electronic footprints. They will never shrink back to 1992 size, though, as FTC has that form factor well in hand.

I'll predict a few things.

• Slightly smaller form factor.
• Bumper cloth, or even whole bumpers, in the KOP. If there are required bumpers, it would dictate a specific footprint, and be the end of a major headache for most teams (those struggling to build bumpers, and those who have suffered on the field from non-regulation robots colliding with them or leaving debris on the field)
• vertically larger bumpers (i.e., three pool noodles tall).
• A manipulator task, rather than a projectile. Minimal game pieces, though, so probably not stacking.
• A change to the field surface; Astroturf? Polycarbonate? Probably ramps or steps.