[FRC Blog] Kit Hints?

[kjohnson]

Originally Posted by Monochron

Figured I should throw in my prediction on "the long box" as well.

1. "Rods" with which to construct a goal or game piece
2. Linear motion construction pieces (thinking along the lines of this year's game lending itself to one)
3. Random metal pieces like rail. (Being that some random company donated a ton)

The three of those are my guess as well.

I've been keeping up with this thread and have a few observations/assumptions:

• The 60" box isn't fabric.
• Pool noodles aren't in the kit.
• FIRST wouldn't waste resources shipping teams items that are readily available (COTS) unless they have been donated
• The 60" box is a set of items. As others have said, there is no need for a 60" box for items that could be packed in more efficient ways. These items are most definitely close to 60" in length. Frank likes to troll us but not to the point of spending more money due to inefficient packing.
• Foam balls don't ship compressed (2006, 2012)
• Inflatable things don't ship inflated (2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014)
• There will not be 3 alliances or more than 6 robots in a match. FIRST has made too much of an investment in the current field perimeter, including fields owned by districts.

[MrRoboSteve]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

All that is to say I would not be at all surprised if bumpers were standardized, and even increased in size. Three pool noodle height, perhaps? That would also increase protection, as well as the visibility of the (larger) team numbers, both of which would be highly desirable. I'll bet that the light 29" box is also bumper material.

My thought is that this is unlikely. I didn't see any damage this year on robots that could be attributed to issues with the two noodle bumper, and haven't heard any discussions about issues with number size.

It's not clear to me what on the current bumpers could be standardized further.

Plywood is commonly available and must be cut to size to fit the robot design.

Same for pool noodles and fabric -- commonly available and must be cut to size.

Numbers are commonly available and vary somewhat by team for stylistic reasons.

Remember that the veteran KOP contains items from the following categories:

. items that replenish stock that every team needs (batteries, motors, 2015 control system)
. donated items with sufficient quantity for everyone (e.g., Igus, 3M, etc)
. game specific items

I believe the long box falls into the third category.

[Orion.DeYoe]

It might be possible that VEX donated some Versaframe components to the kit. The long box is probably the right weight for 2-3 sticks of 2x1 or 4-6 sticks of 1x1.
Someone should check the quantities and weights.

[blazeflipper]

I don't think the height of the robot will change for the same reason the perimeter won't change, if you make robots too tall they won't fit through doors. I believe box D is a game piece even if it is as simple as a rod, we are always given at least one game piece. Just like Frisbee's everyone has easy access to one but we were still given three. it won't be a ball game so I don't think it will be baseball, but it could still be a baseball bat, using the bat as a game piece could be fun.

[Anthony Galea]

Originally Posted by Orion.DeYoe

It might be possible that VEX donated some Versaframe components to the kit. The long box is probably the right weight for 2-3 sticks of 2x1 or 4-6 sticks of 1x1.
Someone should check the quantities and weights.

From http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/st...ersaframe.html
Both are 59"
1x1: 0.90 lbs
2x1: 3.28 lbs

4 2x1 and 1 1x1 is 14.02 lbs. Too light.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by 3175student17

From http://www.vexrobotics.com/vexpro/st...ersaframe.html
Both are 59"
1x1: 0.90 lbs
2x1: 3.28 lbs

4 2x1 and 1 1x1 is 14.02 lbs. Too light.

4 pieces of 1x1 would be 3.6lbs. 1 piece of 2x1 and 2 pieces of 1x1 is 5.08lbs. Plus the weight of the box/packaging would put you at about 6lbs.

I highly doubt its Versaframe but one can always hope!

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by blazeflipper

I don't think the height of the robot will change for the same reason the perimeter won't change, if you make robots too tall they won't fit through doors. I believe box D is a game piece even if it is as simple as a rod, we are always given at least one game piece. Just like Frisbee's everyone has easy access to one but we were still given three. it won't be a ball game so I don't think it will be baseball, but it could still be a baseball bat, using the bat as a game piece could be fun.

Who says it won't be a ball game? There were 3 years in a row recently that the game used "balls".

[mklinker]

Originally Posted by nukemknight

[*]There will not be 3 alliances or more than 6 robots in a match. FIRST has made too much of an investment in the current field perimeter, including fields owned by districts.[/list]

I think that this is faulty logic. What if there were 3 alliances of two teams each with one member of each alliance stationed at each end of the field? This would require NO field modifications whatsoever.

[Derpancakes]

Originally Posted by RamZ

To quote this thread:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...hreadid=131453


Not sure if this means anything, it's definitely odd, here's the snippet in question:



I don't see any purpose for this to be written other than to:

• Hint at an ice related game
• Watch us freak out on CD

Yeah, probably the latter.

They're catching on.. After last year's picture title stating that there was no hint (and there actually was :/), I'd agree that this is a very clever red herring.

[blazeflipper]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

Who says it won't be a ball game? There were 3 years in a row recently that the game used "balls".

If your referring to 2009, the "Cells" were not considered balls by the GDC, because they were hollow and very squishy teams could not manipulate them as they would say a basketball or soccer ball. But, as we know that didn't work, teams still had ball intake systems very similar to others, as well as a lot of other things that year we just ignore that in FRC history.

[kjohnson]

Originally Posted by mklinker

I think that this is faulty logic. What if there were 3 alliances of two teams each with one member of each alliance stationed at each end of the field? This would require NO field modifications whatsoever.

This thread is full of "what if." What is actually practical? Just because it is possible doesn't make it practical. FRC has come a long way since two team alliances were last seen in 2004. Going back to two team alliances would be exactly that, moving backwards. We just barely moved to four team alliances at the Championship, stepping back is not the direction this program is moving.

[kjohnson]

Originally Posted by blazeflipper

If your referring to 2009, the "Cells" were not considered balls by the GDC, because they were hollow and very squishy teams could not manipulate them as they would say a basketball or soccer ball. But, as we know that didn't work, teams still had ball intake systems very similar to others, as well as a lot of other things that year we just ignore that in FRC history.

Let's review. Balls in the past ten years:

• 2004: Playground balls and large inflated balls
• 2006: Poof balls
• 2008: Track balls
• 2009: Orbit balls (up to you if you actually consider this a ball)
• 2010: Soccer balls
• 2012: Foam basketballs
• 2014: Exercise balls

So, if you ignore Orbit balls (or the entire 2009 season ), there have not been back to back ball games since before the 3v3 era. I won't go so far as to rule out balls this year, but it is highly unlikely.

Sorry for the back to back post but these are completely different topics.

[hadynbrouwer98]

could be a flag pole for capture the flag?

[Electronica1]

It could be a stack-able game piece.

[Shifter]

From the reference to "swing":

box D ("sizes and weights are approximate"):

16 standard tennis balls in one of these which can be fixed at several points around the field perimeter and act as ball dispensers. They can also be used in hand by the field reset crew.

weight = 2.1 ounce/ball x 16 balls + 2.1 lb tube = 4.2 lbs vs 6 lbs stated for KoP box D
shipping size = 4" x 4" x 49" vs 3" x 3" x 60" for KoP box D

box C:

8 oversized tennis balls

weight = 1.15 lbs/ball x 8 balls = 9.2 lbs vs 9 lbs stated for KoP box C
shipping size = 20" x 20" x 20" vs 29" x 22" x 22" for KoP box C


total qty = 16 + 8 = "24" game pieces

Volcano Volley...