Universal Spy Hand Signals

[Sierra3883]

My idea is to take some LED lights and hook them up to a vest for the "spy" to wear. Each color and flashing pattern that they display could stand for something different. Such as:
Red for right
Blue for left
Green for good
And so on..
It's just an idea but if it was executed properly it could possibly work. Although I am a proud 4th year ASL student and would LOVE to use sign language in the game. It would be very difficult to make sure the hands of the "spy" are visible at that distance. Where as the lights you could see even through obstructions.

[SteveDeonarine0]

Originally Posted by Sierra3883

My idea is to take some LED lights and hook them up to a vest for the "spy" to wear. Each color and flashing pattern that they display could stand for something different. Such as:
Red for right
Blue for right
Green for good
And so on..
It's just an idea but if it was executed properly it could possibly work. Although I am a proud 4th year ASL student and would LOVE to use sign language in the game. It would be very difficult to make sure the hands of the "spy" are visible at that distance. Where as the lights you could see even through obstructions.

Why would you have 2 colors meaning the same thing?

[Sierra3883]

Originally Posted by SteveDeonarine0

Why would you have 2 colors meaning the same thing?

I apologize, I meant "Blue for left". I guess this build season has already got me lacking sleep and mixing up left and right!

[Alex Chamberlin]

We now have a use for captains!

anyway you can build a specialized defiant set of signals within your team and have a translator read them out as they're sent. I mean whats the chance everyone is on-board with a good complex and efficient system.

[cbyrne]

I love the idea of universal signals! Definitely would be in the spirit of FIRST.

One consideration: As a field volunteer at events, please keep safety in mind. Make sure that your spies and anything they bring into the spybox does not cross into the field proper, or come close to a robot. Thanks!

[He-manChiluka]

I have a dream, that frc teams alike, can use universal hand signals, to prevent confusion and robot collision. I have a dream that all frc are created equal. I have a dream all frc teams can go to St.Louis.

[Ryan_Todd]

I think we need a poll to see which signals we think are most useful to include in a universal system.

I also know that some teams will want to augment their hand gestures with some form of signaling device, whereas others will not have the time/resources to plan that kind of thing in advance; as such, we should include both options in our final standard.

Example augmentations:

• Glove with different colors on different surfaces
• Traffic control wand or comparable pointing device
• Semaphore with several different colored flags/cards/surfaces
• Electronic sign with selectable shapes/patterns/signals

A few thoughts:

• Indicate location of boulder
  (I think we can all agree this one is essential)
  • One hand points at the boulder
  • Other hand indicates "boulder". Examples:
    • Closed fist
    • White flag/card
    • Sign with a picture of a boulder

• Instruct a robot to move in a specific direction
  (Useful for lining up with a goal)
  • One hand indicates the direction to move
  • Other hand indicates "move". Examples:
    • Raise index finger, rotate in circle
      (example)
    • Pale blue flag/card
      (to avoid confusion with the referees' penalty flags)
    • Sign with multidirectional arrows
      (example)

• Indicate distance to target
  (Goal, boulder, whatever)
  • Both hands raised
    (example)
  • Bring hands together as the robot approaches the target
  • When robot is in correct position, hands are completely together
  • If robot goes too far, hands cross

[Alex Chamberlin]

Adding on to that last one some more.

specifying a robot-> an arm at 0, 45, and 90 degrees with closed or open fist

Shot clear-> hands make a circle above head

Shot blocked-> hands make X above head

insert part of robot Broken-> arms make X across chest

[rich2202]

Another Possible Signal:

Safe, or not safe, to go to the SP area to intercept boulder being in-bounded.

Clear the SP because of approaching defending bot.

It might be worthwhile for the Spy to have a one-way communication device to hear questions from the drive team.

[mentos54]

As much as I like the idea of a universal system, it could backfire. If I were able to see where the other robot wants to go, I could easily move to block them. Likewise, I could wait until the human player signals a shot before I ram in, ruining the shot.

[Katherine P]

Originally Posted by Matt178

We have a few members/mentors who know ASL and are thinking of making a universal FIRST Stronghold ASL Dictionary just for this.

This dictionary is now mostly complete and can be viewed at this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing

It includes a list of lots of signs (In actual ASL) that will prove to be very useful in communicating across the field.

[JustTheArtTeam]

As specified by the rules, as long as it isn't electronic and doesn't interfere with the robots, you can have an item with you in the spy box.

Perhaps looking into flag signals or simply signs that your team members have drawn up for specifics would be a good thing to look into?

[Foster]

Originally Posted by Katherine P

This dictionary is now mostly complete and can be viewed at this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...it?usp=sharing

It includes a list of lots of signs (In actual ASL) that will prove to be very useful in communicating across the field.

Wow, you did a lot of work on this. I'm on the fence. I'm thinking that basing it on ASL is good, since there are lots of people that already know it. It may also be a hidden bonus since there may be audience members that know ASL.

I'm wondering how well people will be able to see the signs. They are behind glass, wearing safety glasses looking down field to the spy about 45' away. Lighting is iffy in lots of venues. Will the hand signs be clearly visible and understandable?

[Hitchhiker 42]

Originally Posted by Chito

im not liking this whole hand signal idea

How legal/feasible is giving the spy a phone, and then using bluetooth low energy to send information to driver stations?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Hitchhiker 42

How legal/feasible is giving the spy a phone, and then using bluetooth low energy to send information to driver stations?

Not legal: That's not a non-powered signalling device. T26-1 won't allow the match to start until it's stowed.