[FRC Blog] Kit Hints?

[Bob Steele]

Originally Posted by peirvine

Noooooo



Could they be hinting at another Lunacy type game again?

Source: FIRSTweets

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
TAKE IT AWAY!!! TAKE IT AWAY!!!

[Abhishek R]

If anything, the tweet from FIRST confirms that the game won't have Regolith because that's too obvious of a hint. I think they're just messing with us.

[Electronica1]

What if the box/tube is the game piece? (like it literally is the game piece, not what ever is inside of it)

[jvriezen]

Originally Posted by Electronica1

What if the box/tube is the game piece? (like it literally is the game piece, not what ever is inside of it)

Intriguing idea. Maybe there is nothing inside of it.

[catacon]

Originally Posted by Electronica1

What if the box/tube is the game piece? (like it literally is the game piece, not what ever is inside of it)

Maybe Amazon has gotten lazy and asked FIRST to create a game that would force students to develop ways of moving and stacking 3x3x60" packages. The championship teams get a contract with Amazon for their designs.

[jee7s]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Hmmm, this said by the Co-founder a company that sells extrusions???

This doesn't quite add up...at least not for aluminum extrusions that Rev sells. A 3"x3"x60" package that weighs 6lb has an average density of 0.011 lb/in3. If that object is made of aluminum (nominal density 0.0975 lb/in3), then it would have to be about 90% air. Even 1"x1" square aluminum tubing with 1/16" wall would be about double that density. But, a large post with a thin wall could make those numbers work. Or even aluminum extrusion with a lot of packing material. Or wiffle balls, or wiffle bats, or any of a number of things that this thread has already mentioned.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by jee7s

This doesn't quite add up...at least not for aluminum extrusions that Rev sells. A 3"x3"x60" package that weighs 6lb has an average density of 0.011 lb/in3. If that object is made of aluminum (nominal density 0.0975 lb/in3), then it would have to be about 90% air. Even 1"x1" square aluminum tubing with 1/16" wall would be about double that density. But, a large post with a thin wall could make those numbers work. Or even aluminum extrusion with a lot of packing material. Or wiffle balls, or wiffle bats, or any of a number of things that this thread has already mentioned.

I didn't say the weight thing added up, just that it was interesting that the Co-Founder of a company that sells extrusions suggested that it could be building material, ie extrusion.

As I've said before I do not believe in any way shape or form that FIRST would put something in a box that will make it more difficult, expensive and damage prone to ship just to troll CD. Honestly they have better things to spend time and money on. What ever is in the box if it is indeed in a box is in that size of box because it won't fit in a box that is easier to ship.

[Abhishek R]

Originally Posted by Mr V

I didn't say the weight thing added up, just that it was interesting that the Co-Founder of a company that sells extrusions suggested that it could be building material, ie extrusion.

As I've said before I do not believe in any way shape or form that FIRST would put something in a box that will make it more difficult, expensive and damage prone to ship just to troll CD. Honestly they have better things to spend time and money on. What ever is in the box if it is indeed in a box is in that size of box because it won't fit in a box that is easier to ship.

I agree, but it's just hard to think of what that could possibly be. To have a game piece with those dimensions...it would be incredibly difficult to manipulate.

I'm gonna guess it's part of the field structure in some way that's hard to build/replicate, but I wouldn't hold my breath over it.

[cad321]

Have been following the thread quite closely and just my two cents but from what I've read thus far, it won't be bumper materials (too easy for teams to get on their own) and I think it will be a game object. My best guesses would be either a decahedron made from some kind of tubing and special injection molded corners to assemble, or a pole and flag for capture the flag and box C or A contains a weighted base so it won't fall over easily.

[MrForbes]

After following the thread for the 200+ posts so far, I best like the suggestion that it might be some donated extrusions.

[Thad House]

Remember that the vex 2x1 is .100 wall, and the vex 1x1 is .04 wall. It wouldnt be too bad if they had donated some of that, and the densities work fairly well.

[Dunngeon]

Originally Posted by nukemknight

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.

See Andymark's website,

This is a new version of the FRC Field Perimeter used in the past years' FRC games.

FIRST® has determined that this Field Perimeter has the ‘fit and function’ necessary for use in the 2015 FRC. Any changes required for use in subsequent years will be the responsibility of the purchaser. AndyMark, not FIRST, is responsible for product quality, warranty, safety, and all other issues related to this product.

The intent of offering this perimeter is to provide hardware for FRC District and Regional events, FRC teams and communities to have a high quality FRC field for competition, expo, practice, and demonstration purposes.

This perimeter includes side rails, gates, alliance stations, and four (4) shipping crates. The perimeter does not include field carpet, electronics nor the game specific items for each year.

http://www.andymark.com/Field-p/am-2800.htm

[dellagd]

Originally Posted by Dunngeon

See Andymark's website,

http://www.andymark.com/Field-p/am-2800.htm

Are suggesting that there could be one member of each of three alliances on each side? I'm not really sure, you just highlighted a bunch of things...

My response is this: Don't you, I don't know, like being able to talk to your alliance partners? I do a lot during a match. I think FIRST shares those same ideals of cooperation, so that setup doesn't make much sense to me at all.

I mean, what would you do, wear headsets? Like those would last a few matches

[Abhishek R]

Originally Posted by dellagd

Are suggesting that there could be one member of each of three alliances on each side? I'm not really sure, you just highlighted a bunch of things...

My response is this: Don't you, I don't know, like being able to talk to your alliance partners? I do a lot during a match. I think FIRST shares those same ideals of cooperation, so that setup doesn't make much sense to me at all.

I mean, what would you do, wear headsets? Like those would last a few matches

Yeah, that's why I think a setup with two sides will be the norm for next year. With the current perimeter and after years of experimentation, the best setup for a spectator sport seems to be a wide field, so I don't think there will be a large change in the number of teams or alliances - I'm gonna go off on a limb and say there will be 2 alliances with 3 teams each.

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by dellagd

I mean, what would you do, wear headsets?

That could be hazardous because teams would be unable to hear directions from referees and the FTA.