[FRC Blog] 2015 FIRST Championship Updates

[Jay O'Donnell]

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

If I am reading this right, teams in Archimedes and Tesla will have a pretty significant logistical advantage over those in other subdivisions.

Why do you say that?

[Steven Smith]

Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell

Why do you say that?

Faster access to practice fields, as well as not having to move seating for Einstein matches are both pretty nice.

[Koko Ed]

Anyone have a Segway I can borrow? That's an awful lot of ground to cover.

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

Is Eisntein on the opposite side of the dome now or am I really turned around?

Originally Posted by JohnFogarty

No, it's still on the same side. Has to be, they won't switch sides of the dome because the lounge for VIP guests is on the side of the dome they use now.

I don't see Einstein indicated on the map.
What I do see is a presentation stage between Archsla. (Tesimedes sounds like a bad disease. )

I am guessing the Division playoffs will occur on alternating fields.
Should allow for that 6-minute cool-down no?
Also, it will keep the action going. Nice!

Logistically, the seating is going to be troublesome with a 25% increase in teams.
I hope they have adequate screens so everyone in the audience can watch the action on each field.
There are usually some seats reserved for the competing teams in the lower arena. Don't want to have that duty.

Which one will be Einstein? It won't be fresh per usual, but the FMS should be game-tested and the carpet will be well-worn.

[Steven Smith]

From OP:

Following the conclusion of the sub-division playoffs, the Archimedes and Tesla fields will be transformed on Saturday afternoon to create two Einstein fields. This will provide the location where the winning alliances from each of the 8 sub-divisions will compete to determine the 4 team alliance that will be the 2015 FRC Champions.

Edit: Also, not sure what the plans are this year... but if you wanted to honor the "fresh Einstein" field history this year... I don't see carpet damage as being quite as bad as usual, and a fresh swap in of game elements and potentially scoring platforms or tote chutes would probably be sufficient to make it "like new" without the time invested in picking up a field and laying down a new one (clearly prohibitive).

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by Steven Smith

From OP:Edit: Also, not sure what the plans are this year... but if you wanted to honor the "fresh Einstein" field history this year... I don't see carpet damage as being quite as bad as usual, and a fresh swap in of game elements and potentially scoring platforms or tote chutes would probably be sufficient to make it "like new" without the time invested in picking up a field and laying down a new one (clearly prohibitive).

Steve, have you seen what mecanums do to noodles? Check out the carpet after your next event. Admittedly, with defense, last year was pretty rough, but those carpets will still be well worn for Einstein this year. Probably not a big issue.

[brandon.cottrell]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

Steve, have you seen what mecanums do to noodles? Check out the carpet after your next event. Admittedly, with defense, last year was pretty rough, but those carpets will still be well worn for Einstein this year. Probably not a big issue.

This was the field at Inland Empire right before Finals Match 2

[jlmcmchl]

Originally Posted by brandon.cottrell

This was the field at Inland Empire right before Finals Match 2

Even during qualifications at the Kettering Competition it was pretty bad. A team had managed to create a 1/4-inch depression in the scoring platform's plastic by wearing it down with their wheels. We ended up vacuuming at the end of each day and still couldn't get the carpets as clean as we wanted to.

Speaking of which, these scoring platforms go through a lot of punishment. I wouldn't be surprised if the platforms at Championships aren't the same ones we started with at the beginning of the year.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by jlmcmchl

Even during qualifications at the Kettering Competition it was pretty bad. A team had managed to create a 1/4-inch depression in the scoring platform's plastic by wearing it down with their wheels. We ended up vacuuming at the end of each day and still couldn't get the carpets as clean as we wanted to.

Speaking of which, these scoring platforms go through a lot of punishment. I wouldn't be surprised if the platforms at Championships aren't the same ones we started with at the beginning of the year.

Or at least the HDPE on them gets replaced. The IE photo above doesn't even show the tape covering a couple of spots where teams who got stuck went through the carpet trying to get out, or the dings on the HDPE, maybe about 10' to the left of the photo.

But due to the way the platforms are built, it's not exactly a long job to remove and replace the HDPE covers if need be. Just need to have the extras on hand.

[MrTechCenter]

Originally Posted by EricH

Or at least the HDPE on them gets replaced. The IE photo above doesn't even show the tape covering a couple of spots where teams who got stuck went through the carpet trying to get out, or the dings on the HDPE, maybe about 10' to the left of the photo.

But due to the way the platforms are built, it's not exactly a long job to remove and replace the HDPE covers if need be. Just need to have the extras on hand.

Putting down the HDPE was probably the quickest part of building the field. Taping it down takes a few minutes, but it's still not that bad. I would agree that they should replace the HDPE and game pieces for Einstein.

[Alex2614]

Definitely not looking forward to being in America's Center this year. It was DANGEROUSLY crowded the past couple years, I can only imagine what it will be like now. This is why I wish we were back at the GWCC. There was more room there, albeit, a longer walk to the dome. And, we could keep FTC and FLL closer, like in the A and B buildings, and the Philips Arena, instead of kicking them into hotels.

So, awards are at the DIVISION level, but playoffs are at the SUBdivision level? I'm wondering how that will read on awards, trophies, banners, etc. Hopper-Newton Division ____ Award?

[Steven Smith]

I didn't get a chance to look at the Dallas field after competition this year, and was just thinking about wheel/carpet damage. That noodle damage is certainly worth considering, thanks for pointing it out

[Dominick Ferone]

Originally Posted by Alex2614

So, awards are at the DIVISION level, but playoffs are at the SUBdivision level? I'm wondering how that will read on awards, trophies, banners, etc. Hopper-Newton Division ____ Award?

The only Banner you would presumably win is Division winner which would probably say either Subdivision winner or Tesla winner for example.

[Alex2614]

Originally Posted by Dominick Ferone

The only Banner you would presumably win is Division winner which would probably say either Subdivision winner or Tesla winner for example.

True. But all the other awards are at the division level. I don't know why, but the idea of having "Hopper-Newton Division" just seems awkward to me. Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily mind change. I'll try anything once.

[MooreteP]

So, for the portmanteaus of each subdivision pair, how about:
Archsla
Galson
Curver
Newper
?

Portmanteau: a word or morpheme whose form and meaning are derived from a blending of two or more distinct forms (as smog from smoke and fog).

We do this a lot with alliance teams.