Choose Drive station positions - Playoffs

[rich2202]

It is a rule because of FMS. FMS automatically assigns the teams to positions, and configures the system to expect the right team in the right position.

If a team plugs the driver's station into the wrong position, it won't work. It has to do with the private channel the FMS provides between each DS and the robot.

For practice matches, it is possible to override team placement (filler line). For qualifications and eliminations, I don't think FMS would know what to do if the team number changed. From your perspective, it is just two teams swapping position. From FMS's perspective, it is two (or all) positions with a different team number.

It is not just a communication issue. FMS is also keeping score, so it needs to know how many points to give to which team. In Qualification matches, this is a much bigger issue since scores are tracked by Team. For eliminations, it is less of an issue, since the entire alliance gets the same score.

[orangemoore]

Originally Posted by rich2202

It is a rule because of FMS. FMS automatically assigns the teams to positions, and configures the system to expect the right team in the right position.

I think the rule and the FMS assignment probably came at the same time when they tried figuring out how to assign teams to the driver stations.

Originally Posted by rich2202

For practice matches, it is possible to override team placement (filler line). For qualifications and eliminations, I don't think FMS would know what to do if the team number changed. From your perspective, it is just two teams swapping position. From FMS's perspective, it is two (or all) positions with a different team number.

I think it is still possible. My question would be how to backup teams get assigned then?

Originally Posted by rich2202

It is not just a communication issue. FMS is also keeping score, so it needs to know how many points to give to which team. In Qualification matches, this is a much bigger issue since scores are tracked by Team. For eliminations, it is less of an issue, since the entire alliance gets the same score.

This wouldn't matter in qualifications or eliminations as long as the 3 teams playing on that side are in the system they all get the same score for each match. It shouldn't have any problem at all. The only time it would be a problem would be if the team was awarded point for a match they weren't playing in.

[TitanChris]

I'm sorry I missed this in the rules...

A longer Ethernet cord would allow the teams to plug into proper FMS port. Without requiring them to be in a specific spot.

Something worth considering, in my opinion.

[MrTechCenter]

Originally Posted by TitanChris

I'm sorry I missed this in the rules...

A longer Ethernet cord would allow the teams to plug into proper FMS port. Without requiring them to be in a specific spot.

Something worth considering, in my opinion.

While this is true, you're forgetting about the team number displays that would show the wrong team number if the teams simply passed the ethernet cable over from one driver station to the other. This would make it very confusing for the FTAs and their assistants to troubleshoot if they have to.

I've been an FTAA at a regional this year, and the system is a LOT more complicated than one might think. There's a reason for everything and I don't see any reason to mess with it.

[Arevan]

Originally Posted by TitanChris

I'm sorry I missed this in the rules...

A longer Ethernet cord would allow the teams to plug into proper FMS port. Without requiring them to be in a specific spot.

Something worth considering, in my opinion.

T6-1 The OPERATOR CONSOLE must be used in the PLAYER STATION to which the Team is assigned, as indicated on the Team sign.

VIOLATION: The MATCH will not start until the situation is corrected. If during a MATCH and repeated or egregious, YELLOW CARD.


Blue Box:
One intent of T6-1 is to prevent unsafe situations where long tethers to OPERATOR CONSOLE devices increase tripping hazards as the operator moves about the ALLIANCE STATION. In the interest of avoiding nuisance penalties associated with an operator stepping outside of a prescribed area, we prefer to offer a general guideline as to what it means to use the OPERATOR CONSOLE in the PLAYER STATION. Provided the operator is within close proximity of their PLAYER STATION, there will be no repercussions. However, if an operator is located more than approximately 1/2 PLAYER STATION width away from their own PLAYER STATION, that would be considered a violation of T6-1.

[AdamHeard]

Yes... The FMS requires it... Yes the rules make it clear....

It's still dumb. Especially in a game like this where there are clear reasons to want one side or the other.

For what the field does, and what it costs, it should be trivial to let teams declare where they want to be for elims (even match by match, but for elims would be a decent compromise).

[Conor Ryan]

We shouldn't be limited by FMS.