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

[mklinker]

How about something simpler such as no ability to opt out of the KOP drive base (if any). When registering for the kick-off event, past practice has allowed for opting out of the KOP drive base. That option does not currently exist for 2015.

Just a thought.....

Maybe the game requires NO drive base????????

[BigJ]

Originally Posted by mklinker

How about something simpler such as no ability to opt out of the KOP drive base (if any). When registering for the kick-off event, past practice has allowed for opting out of the KOP drive base. That option does not currently exist for 2015.

Just a thought.....

Maybe the game requires NO drive base????????

Kit base opt-out only started 2 (maybe 3?) years ago - making a bunch of teams that won't end up using the kit frame take a kit frame is a waste. I'm sure we probably have at least 1 kit frame somewhere in our sheds still.

[MechEng83]

Originally Posted by mklinker

How about something simpler such as no ability to opt out of the KOP drive base (if any). When registering for the kick-off event, past practice has allowed for opting out of the KOP drive base. That option does not currently exist for 2015.

Just a thought.....

Maybe the game requires NO drive base????????

LOL. Check the new blog post: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...m-Opt-Out-2015

[Joe Ross]

There hasn't been an announcement to buy pool noodles yet. Considering that they are already out of stores in most of the country, draw whatever conclusion that you like.

[JB987]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

There hasn't been an announcement to buy pool noodles yet. Considering that they are already out of stores in most of the country, draw whatever conclusion that you like.

I conclude this year's KOP comes with a force field generator

[FrankJ]

So the blog says there will be wheels... I really cannot imagine no bumpers unless they do something to seriously limit robot interactions. So I would buy noodles on spec.

First has substantial dollars tied up in fields. Don't expect anything that will change the basic field. The carpet gets replaced for almost every regional so a different surface is a distinct possibility.

[the programmer]

My thought:



(I really hope Frank doesn't see this...)

[mrnoble]

So now we know a bit more:

Wheels (check!)
Tough Box Mini, therefore CIMs (check!)
Multiple possible configurations (check!)
Opt-out, therefore similar parts costs (check!)

We can't yet eliminate field elements like hills, steps or obstructions, but it would be pretty tough to make that kit bot climb, even with monster truck wheels. I reserve judgement on that.

I don't know that I have enough imagination to come up with a viable way to increase spectator-friendliness, keep low-level teams viable, and challenge high-level teams, while fundamentally changing the game. I'm sure the GDC is smarter than I am, though, so I look forward to seeing how they move this sport forward.

FWIW, last year's game was essentially hockey, heavily adapted to the point where it could be called "robot ball". I wish they could just rejigger last years game with the lessons that were learned and not come up with a totally new challenge; it had the most potential of any game I've been in to become a real sport, even though it had some near-fatal flaws.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

Tough Box Mini, therefore CIMs (check!)

How does the toughtbox mini rule out replacing CIMs with MiniCIMs?

Originally Posted by mrnoble

FWIW, last year's game was essentially hockey, heavily adapted to the point where it could be called "robot ball". I wish they could just rejigger last years game with the lessons that were learned and not come up with a totally new challenge; it had the most potential of any game I've been in to become a real sport, even though it had some near-fatal flaws.

I think we watch very very different versions of hockey.

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

How does the toughtbox mini rule out replacing CIMs with MiniCIMs?


I think we watch very very different versions of hockey.

Maybe I'm pushing it a little on hockey, but people compared Lunacy to ice hockey and I think this is closer to to the spirit of the game, with single game pieces, fast play, and assists. It had more in common with soccer, too, than Breakaway did.

Granted that CIMs aren't guaranteed but it will be a shocker to me if they are out entirely. It would be a nonsensical move and FIRST isn't stupid.

[DonRotolo]

tl;dr

Clearly we will be having 15 teams on an alliance. Yes the field will be larger, but every team will get 60 matches per event...

Oh, and we'll still have bumpers.

[MARS_James]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

tl;dr

Clearly we will be having 15 teams on an alliance. Yes the field will be larger, but every team will get 60 matches per event...

Oh, and we'll still have bumpers.

So we are playing This but with robots. I am strangely ok with this

[thatprogrammer]

Originally Posted by MARS_James

So we are playing This but with robots. I am strangely ok with this

More like

Spoiler for Title of Spoiler Tag:

! What if none of the major rules are changed what-so-ever, and Frank is just leading us astray with false hopes and prophecies?

[MARS_James]

Originally Posted by the programmer

My thought:

Attachment 17357

(I really hope Frank doesn't see this...)

No
No
No
No
No
No

Those are the two worst games I have ever participated in (also my last two as a student), if not for a favor I owed they would have caused me to quit FRC. I can not begin to describe my hatred of those games without using words not allowed on this forum

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

I think we watch very very different versions of hockey.

How awesome would it have been to see to robots stop, take off there bumpers, and wail on each other with pickup mechanisms.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by MARS_James

How awesome would it have been to see to robots stop, take off there bumpers, and wail on each other with pickup mechanisms.

I feel like you were watching a very different version of Aerial Assault than I was playing... Or just, welcome to New England.