Possibility for 2016 Game

[BBray_T1296]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

The easiest way would be to mandate a maximum distance between launch and the ball hitting the floor, and a maximum distance traveled between bounces. You can't realistically measure it exactly, but it's something you can have a ref watch for.

Originally Posted by Knufire

They've already had a launch velocity limiting rule before, in 2006.

Alright. It could be done.

Also, felt I should link to the 2015-2016 FTC game animation released today, as it could be relevant in the whole "it seems a lot harder than previous years [of FTC]"

[dirtbikerxz]

Whatever it is, I doubt the field will be separated again. First got hell for not having defense, almost everyone agrees this was one of the not good games.

[BBray_T1296]

Originally Posted by dirtbikerxz

Whatever it is, I doubt the field will be separated again. First got hell for not having defense, almost everyone agrees this was one of the not good games.

I am nearly 100% sure the step was added relatively last-minute because there was incessant moaning, groaning, whining and complaining about too much defense in 2014. I think the GDC said "Fine. Let's see how you like NO defense".

Recycle Rush makes lots of sense if you remove the step. Just replace it with another field-spanning line if totes (or fill in the landfill completely). Remove the noodles, make the stack scoring platforms on the far side of the field where you score, make the zone closes to the driver station, as well as the scoring platforms "safe" zones. Would have been a really cool game, though probably far more difficult.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by BBray_T1296

Recycle Rush makes lots of sense if you remove the step. Just replace it with another field-spanning line if totes (or fill in the landfill completely). Remove the noodles, make the stack scoring platforms on the far side of the field where you score, make the zone closes to the driver station, as well as the scoring platforms "safe" zones. Would have been a really cool game, though probably far more difficult.

You'd certainly have to change a lot of other rules as well. A 27-foot wide bulldozer 'bot could probably push the entire landfill into the other field, causing the sort of litter that would make you beg for noodles. The best defense is another 27 foot bulldozer (or at least brace), and then you have the step all over again, this time with an inaccessible landfill.

[dirtbikerxz]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

You'd certainly have to change a lot of other rules as well. A 27-foot wide bulldozer 'bot could probably push the entire landfill into the other field, causing the sort of litter that would make you beg for noodles. The best defense is another 27 foot bulldozer (or at least brace), and then you have the step all over again, this time with an inaccessible landfill.

Exactly what I was about to say, there would just be roller skates ramming into the pile as fast as possible. And it would get annoying, ur carrying a six stack with can and noodle, suddenly some one slams u, and it goes down... all over. Lets just not do anything with stacking again.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by dirtbikerxz

Exactly what I was about to say, there would just be roller skates ramming into the pile as fast as possible. And it would get annoying, ur carrying a six stack with can and noodle, suddenly some one slams u, and it goes down... all over. Lets just not do anything with stacking again.

Easily corrected.

Create a safe zone near the alliance wall and have scoring there (Note: this would block line of sight) and have any knocked down stack (knocked down by the opponents) count and can be rebuilt for more points.

You'd see teams moving bins on the field, but only stacking in the safe zones (which would get crowded fast).

[dirtbikerxz]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

Easily corrected.

Create a safe zone near the alliance wall and have scoring there (Note: this would block line of sight) and have any knocked down stack (knocked down by the opponents) count and can be rebuilt for more points.

You'd see teams moving bins on the field, but only stacking in the safe zones (which would get crowded fast).

Ya, the safe zone will save the stacked ones, but bots that stack from the landfill will be unprotected on the way back to the scoring zone.

[Robert Cawthon]

Originally Posted by BBray_T1296

How would you catch a robot shooting a ball too fast? Refs wielding radar guns? If they did some sort of inspection in the pits, I think people would intentionally force their shooter wheel to spin slower (Software limiting) that they would only engage for the inspection.

This was addressed in the 2006 game. Radar guns at inspection and (as I recall) randomly. I was not aware of any shenanigans. But, I don't think the ball speed would affect knocking down plastic bowling pins very much.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Robert Cawthon

This was addressed in the 2006 game. Radar guns at inspection and (as I recall) randomly. I was not aware of any shenanigans. But, I don't think the ball speed would affect knocking down plastic bowling pins very much.

Well, not quite radar, but close enough.

The inspection gadget was a "box", open at both ends and about 2 feet long as I recall. Each end had a beam-break sensor. You got one shot through the box (usually some "lucky" team member would hold a deflector plate to bounce the test ball away from everybody else's pit).

For those of you who are interested: Calculate the time for a foam basketball to travel 2' when fired at 12m/s. Pretty simple solution to a pretty easy problem, right? Now add in bouncing off the sides on a bad hold...

[runneals]

I think it would be cool to do like what FTC did this year recycling the past 2 game pieces into a whole new game... What could you do with frisbees and yoga balls?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by runneals

I think it would be cool to do like what FTC did this year recycling the past 2 game pieces into a whole new game... What could you do with frisbees and yoga balls?

Raise the Bar: Because it isn't high enough already!


I'd come up with some way to recycle the 2004 game, using frisbees and large balls. Don't ask me what yet, but given time I'm sure I could come up with something.

To any GDC members reading this: Please forget you ever saw this post.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by runneals

I think it would be cool to do like what FTC did this year recycling the past 2 game pieces into a whole new game... What could you do with frisbees and yoga balls?

The mass imbalance is greater than between pool noodles and RCs/totes. Yoga balls could deflect frisbees, but frisbees would be ineffective against yoga balls. Perhaps there's a balanced game somewhere in which the yoga balls are used for defense most of the game, but scored somewhere else for an endgame bonus that doesn't occur to me right now.

[Darkseer54]

Originally Posted by runneals

I think it would be cool to do like what FTC did this year recycling the past 2 game pieces into a whole new game... What could you do with frisbees and yoga balls?

How about we do 3 games? Shoot basketballs into the top of pyramids, then for the endgame you can climb the pyramid and place a yoga-ball on top.

[runneals]

Originally Posted by Darkseer54

How about we do 3 games? Shoot basketballs into the top of pyramids, then for the endgame you can climb the pyramid and place a yoga-ball on top.

YES!!!!!!!!

[tealmini]

Has else anyone seen the new Frank Answers Friday (http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...Pool-Noodles)? Maybe… maybe you need the noodles on your bumper… to help your robot float… in water… WATER GAME 2016 CONFIRMED!