Need Help Making FRC Drive/Match/Robot Creator A Reality

[Yamin]

Hi, currently a teammate of mine and I have an idea for a realistic FRC simulator that would not only be a great tool to introduce FRC to the outside world but also a great resource for any team to practice, build, test, and even relive the past seasons of FRC.

The simulator shall work as follows:

Complex and ultra realistic physics

As many old FRC games as we can program/model

All future FRC games updated when released

LAN and online multiplayer support

Single player matches

Massive controller support for any kind of controller as well as the ability to program in controllers that are not programmed in by default

A constantly updated and complex robot building system for any team to add their robot

Various testing stages allowing for the user to test strength, endurance, and many other areas of their robot's skills cost free using as close to real life physics as possible

Free to use program

news update feed in menu for FRC related news

Group/team project support

Semi realistic graphics that are constantly updated

Support for low end computers

Support for PC and Mac

Constant updates

Possibly open source
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My teammate and I are prepared to do the modeling and animation work as needed but we need programmers and people with experience in game production to offer to help.

We cannot pay anyone anything however if this tool is successfully created then it shall benefit all FRC teams for many years.

If anyone has any skills they think may be useful to this cause and please let me know.

[Peyton Yeung]

I believe that some interns at Autodesk were trying to do something similar in which you could import cad models of robots and program how the the robot would interact in a field like environment.

[NWChen]

Originally Posted by Yamin

Complex and ultra realistic physics
...
Massive controller support for any kind of controller as well as the ability to program in controllers that are not programmed in by default
...
A constantly updated and complex robot building system for any team to add their robot.

Seems like a long and rigorous list of requirements for some developers to hash together in their spare time. There's already several FRC simulators (Gazebo, Catalyst, various Recycle Rush). Might want to narrow down your goals here.

To start: are you looking to build a simulator for people to be able to test their ideas in, or recreationally compete, or design strategies with, etc.?

[Monochron]

It might benefit you to set your goals a lot lower to start out with. Build a small simulator with the volunteers that you get, and then use that product to attract more people to work on it with you.

Basically, your goals are astronomical. It's great to see such high ambitions, but realize that the level of challenge and scope that you want is something usually only attempted by software companies. As such, starting small and getting things running is a good way to build excitement and support for your project.

Starting with the other simulators that are already out there, like others have suggested, is a good idea. Maybe even jumping on board with them if you can.

[x86_4819]

Something like this, implemented properly, would be amazing for FRC.

Originally Posted by Yamin

All future FRC games updated when released
...
A constantly updated and complex robot building system for any team to add their robot
...
Semi realistic graphics that are constantly updated
...
Constant updates

Possibly open source.

Reading this, though, I want to caution you on your approach.
Suppose you were to assemble a team of people to build a simulator environment, from scratch, tailored to solve the problems you have met in your experiences. What happens when your team members move on to other projects? Who then knows how to manage this colossal project? Every game involves new mechanics, every year introduces a new software stack. It is impossible for one person, or even one team, to keep up with a completely closed and independent project. Many different simulation solutions have followed this pattern, and none have really stayed relevant.

Are you looking for people to help build a better simulator? People have already written thousands of lines of code towards robot simulation environments that won't just dissapear overnight. These projects will continue to advance without you lifting a finger, and can be used as a great starting point. Truly open source software is an extremely powerful thing if used wisely.

I would recommend you take a look at the already-existing software avaliable around chief delphi, and figure out what is missing. What peice or peices are needed to make a cohesive product like you describe? If you start work on a project to fill a specific need, and others see this same need, they will join you to make it happen. I have seen it happen on more than one occasion.