[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.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

1. The motors won't change, though they may cut back on the power (number of motors).

I wouldn't be so sure of this. We've seen plenty of motors change over the years. Just in the past 8 years since my team started, we've seen FP, Globe, van door and the big CIM motors disappear, while new motors have come in, like the AndyMark, BAG, mini-cim, vex and ARA motors. Those are all just off the top of my head, probably not a complete list.

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

I wouldn't be so sure of this. We've seen plenty of motors change over the years. Just in the past 8 years since my team started, we've seen FP, Globe, van door and the big CIM motors disappear, while new motors have come in, like the AndyMark, BAG, mini-cim, vex and ARA motors. Those are all just off the top of my head, probably not a complete list.

What I meant was, we won't see the CIMs disappear. There's too deep of an investment in them for there to be a major shift away from them. Imagine teams being told that all their CIMs were illegal, and the new motors were XX, available from YY. How would that play out?

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

What I meant was, we won't see the CIMs disappear. There's too deep of an investment in them for there to be a major shift away from them. Imagine teams being told that all their CIMs were illegal, and the new motors were XX, available from YY. How would that play out?

I'd hope the 2.5" CIM motors would not go away barring a major size change. They are motors that you can abuse all day long and won't smoke. Honestly, it's the single biggest contributor to having most every robot driving most matches. CIMs are NEAR indestructible and I <3 them for it.

[Mr V]

I'm not sure why everyone keeps saying that the field won't change in size due to the Andymark field. The bigger issue is that FIRST and the other district already own a bunch of the current field perimeters. So they won't make a drastic change because of that, not because of a field that is not yet approved (at least publicly). One thing they asked AndyMark to change about their initial field was how the sides connected to the driver's station so that it was consistent with the FIRST pieces. I believe they did that so they can change the field size and/or shape like they did the last two seasons.

[Nemo]

I'm relieved to see this blog, because I'm pretty sure it means that 2015 will finally see wheels disallowed from FRC competition. FRC drive train design has gotten stale after many years of robot after robot that uses wheels to get around, and wheels have also found their way into a lot of manipulators. Here's looking forward to a new era of creativity and innovation.

[JesseK]

So long as they're not nervous about a 2009-esque floor surface combined with 2009-esque wheels, we're probably fine in 2015...

[Maldridge422]

In the wake of Aerial Assist, perhaps an overhaul of the penalty/foul system? Changes to how fouls are assessed against individual teams as opposed to alliances? Or maybe new classes of fouls that don't quite fit the yellow/red card system?

[MARS_James]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

What I meant was, we won't see the CIMs disappear. There's too deep of an investment in them for there to be a major shift away from them. Imagine teams being told that all their CIMs were illegal, and the new motors were XX, available from YY. How would that play out?

Exactly how our new motor controllers are gonna play out.

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by MARS_James

Exactly how our new motor controllers are gonna play out.

Disagree. There's a fundamental difference between disallowing a type of part (no CIMs!) and adding a more advanced option. The talons, Jags, and Victors from past years will continue to function adequately for many teams.

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Nemo

I'm relieved to see this blog, because I'm pretty sure it means that 2015 will finally see wheels disallowed from FRC competition. FRC drive train design has gotten stale after many years of robot after robot that uses wheels to get around, and wheels have also found their way into a lot of manipulators. Here's looking forward to a new era of creativity and innovation.

I take it you're not serious.

[Aren Siekmeier]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

I take it you're not serious.

I think he's serious.

Sure, it'd be a huge change. But it could also be really cool.

I like to think they won't allow anything round on the robot

[mrnoble]

triangle "wheels" only!

[mrnoble]

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/36127

[MARS_James]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

Disagree. There's a fundamental difference between disallowing a type of part (no CIMs!) and adding a more advanced option. The talons, Jags, and Victors from past years will continue to function adequately for many teams.

We as a community will adapt if we needed to, plus they would not take away the work horse of FRC drive trains and not give us something at least similar in terms of durability and power