2015 HINT DISCUSSION

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Duffy509

I don't mean by any means that FIRST might be getting rid of low-resource bots that rookie teams can easily manage. I mean that maybe the game is leaving the ground level. For example (not an actual assumption of what the game might be but it would be something different) if the game was played with game pieces that were suspended above the field on strings. A rookie team could jut as easily build a chassis and simply put long poles on top to push around the pieces.

Let's see... Rookies could theoretically manage any one of the following:
2010: push a soccer ball into a goal
2011: launch a minibot
2012: balance a bridge
2013: low goal points, at 1 point each, OR FCS blocker
2014: low goal/assist

How many of those require adding something to the chassis?

Let's make it easier. How many do NOT require adding something to the chassis?

*crickets*

Right. A box on wheels, with no further improvements, has typically been extremely non-competitive. Something has to be added--something simple, as simple as a bar between the wheels (2010), or an armchair (2014)--in order to be more than a nuisance to all who partner with or play against you. This means adding something, usually quite simple, and yet many teams are unable--or unwilling--to do that, or lack the means (or desire) to do it effectively.

Most teams go the opposite way, and this is where I think they run into trouble: They aim too high. They'll go high goal only, without considering that a quickly-dropped low goal can be better. That's all fine and dandy, mind you, but often those newer/lower-resource teams just can't figure out that maybe the top area isn't quite in range yet... so they should aim just a smidgen lower, but still strive for more. But those teams that aim too high end up being about as much competitive use as a box on wheels (which, don't get me wrong, can still be pretty effective--but it has to be used right).



On another note...
I think you're on to something with that game idea. There's that 5' long box in the KOP... What if it's some attachment that must be used in some way to manipulate the game pieces?