Spy Relevance?

[snoman]

all joking aside how important will the spy HP be this year?
some will say cameras are the answer but they don't provide a very good all around field of vision.

only one spy for 3 teams two they will not know very well

i was thinking about flash cards with DS 1,2,3 and arrows

if a spy turns out to be needed what will be the best way to pick one assuming more than one person wants the job for that match? Scouting spys?

[JesseK]

I don't know how much they can hear from the opposing alliance. I don't remember the last time I coached from the far driver station.

G14 says the spy can't be used to interact with the robot in autonomous, even by the HP wearing something for the robot to use as a reference point. I Q&A'ed it for clarification.

I'm sure we'll figure out something.

[Boltman]

Pretty sure the Human spy will be worth it simply for the right to place your bot there in autonomous.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Boltman

Pretty sure the Human spy will be worth it simply for the right to place your bot there in autonomous.

Spy and Spybot are independent.

[JoshWilson]

I think it has the potential to be really useful, but there needs to be a solid communication system for it to work.
The main question shouldn't be "should we use it?"
It's "how do we use it to help the most people?"

[IronicDeadBird]

I love having an extra pair of eyes on the field, the question is how do you get it so that the eyes you want are on said field.

[rich2202]

Out plan is for 2 students to develop a communication system. The "coach" on our team is a student, and would stand in line of sight of the spy. The Coach can then relay information to all the teams.

Cameras will help Bots get to where they are going. The spy is helpful to tell the alliance:

1) where they may want to go (where are boulders) - Are boulders being launched into the secret passage
2) If a defender is going after someone (and which bot)
3) which bot may be the best position to help an alliance member
4) If a bot is stuck, what is the problem

Basically: What won't a bot be able to easily see (with a front facing camera).

[GeeTwo]

There are two rows of barriers on the field between the castles, each of which probably obscures 70+% of the field below 12" above the carpet and 30+% of the field between 12" and 36". Teams who have a fixed camera on their robot with reliable smooth streaming will definitely benefit from a set of human eyes located with a great view of the neutral zone and opposing courtyard and secret passage. Teams without cameras will be utterly dependent on the spy for recon and intel.

The question isn't whether the spy is relevant, but how many alliances will be able to assign a spy who can watch all the action on 2/3 of the field, prioritize what info needs to be relayed to the castle, and can then swiftly communicate it to the drive coaches (or drivers/operators) who need it.