2015 HINT DISCUSSION

[thatprogrammer]

Originally Posted by 75vs1885

how did Andy Mark confirm the same fields as prior years?

AndyMark's new field was approved by FIRST for usage.
http://www.andymark.com/mobile/produ...p/am-2800.htm=
We are happy to announce that FIRST® has determined that this Field Perimeter has the ‘fit and function’ necessary for use in the 2015 FRC

[Abhishek R]

Change is coming. The game piece will be pennies.

[Oblarg]

Originally Posted by Abhishek R

Change is coming. The game piece will be pennies.

RIP open gearboxes.

[fb39ca4]

Originally Posted by Oblarg

RIP open gearboxes.

Not if you use a gearbox from those machines that turn pennies into elongated souvenirs.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by 75vs1885

how did Andy Mark confirm the same fields as prior years?

Originally Posted by thatprogrammer

AndyMark's new field was approved by FIRST for usage.
http://www.andymark.com/mobile/produ...p/am-2800.htm=
We are happy to announce that FIRST® has determined that this Field Perimeter has the ‘fit and function’ necessary for use in the 2015 FRC

Note that is not a confirmation that the field is the same as prior years. The field is modular so the only confirmation is that the interfaces where FIRST has made the year to year modifications in the past is the same. For example the 2014 field had the side boarders assembled in a "non standard" fashion so that the robot gate was in a different location. For 2013 there were two pieces of the side boarder that were not used to allow for the angled corners. Another example was that the 2014 field used a different top Polycarb retainers to account for the narrower field. In 2013 the two middle uprights were not used so the driver's station end would be narrower to accommodate the angled corners.

One of the changes that AM had to make before their field was approved was to change the side panel to driver's station interface to be compatible with the standard field.

So that means while a large portion of the field will be the same would could see another 8 sided field, or a field that has slightly different dimensions than 27x54 and the AM field could still be used.

[mman1506]

When did FIRST start using the clam shells for the KOP?
(I don't mean to make reference to anything that may or may not have happened , I'm just curious)

[Poseidon5817]

Capitalized letters spell out ICRRRRAMPF. It might be a bit of a stretch, but I see Icy Ramp.

Aim High played on the field surface from 2009.

[Flimsor]

Originally Posted by IronicDeadBird

That could be possible, imagine the long box in KOP is a different surface with a bit less traction and what better thing to do on a slick surface then king of the hill!

I think if you set it up the right way, that would certainly make an interesting game.

[DohertyBilly]

Originally Posted by IronicDeadBird

That could be possible, imagine the long box in KOP is a different surface with a bit less traction and what better thing to do on a slick surface then king of the hill!

That was 2003

[gegozi]

Originally Posted by Msumat17

The game manual is only 65 pages this year, because when I go the the game manual link (on my iPhone at least) it says "0 of 65" for what page it is.

https://rps01.usfirst.org/frc/manual...-Encrypted.pdf

This is a substantial change compared to 93 pages in the 2014 manual. Could this be the change they are talking about?

Maybe you should consider the possibility that the encryption reduces the length...

[Maxwell777]

Originally Posted by Rangel(kf7fdb)

I don't think that's quite right. If I understand, the issue is space and adding more teams per alliance wouldn't really allow for more teams at St. Louis.

Adding another team to each alliance would reduce the total number of matches, making events faster. However, time hasn't been much of an issue recently, or at least as far as I know.

[minch1396]

my oh my.... change is coming...
There's been so many large robots! And the perimeter of the arena has changed before...BIG CHANGE = SMALL ROBOTS?

[gegozi]

Originally Posted by Flimsor

What if the change is that there are no gamepeices? I'm really not sure hoe that would go, but it would certainly be a pretty big change. Maybe you manipulate something that's a part of the field? Maybe it's robot jousting and you get points by hitting opponents (in a non-damaging manner, of course).

No game pieces could mean robots skateboarding...

[cglrcng]

Originally Posted by Ekcrbe

Well, yes. Team 71 did it in 2002 (they're the robot coming in from the left), and that robot became one of the most famous in FRC history.

And, in addition to leveling the playing field, it could also rip it up, literally. With the huge requirement on traction that year, many teams (especially 71) ended up tearing the carpet pretty badly. FIRST changed the rules on what could be used for traction devices the following year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4slvnvPHW8

That video has a better view of it walking & pushing at 00:18 and a real good close up of it walking at 00:23 (Can't see the Team # on the bot though).

[orangemoore]

Originally Posted by cglrcng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4slvnvPHW8

That video has a better view of it walking & pushing at 00:18 and a real good close up of it walking at 00:23 (Can't see the Team # on the bot though).

That is 71