Lesson Learned 2016 - The Positive

[Metonym]

Originally Posted by Nuttyman54

The average quality of A/V production this season all the way through Championships was the best I've seen.

Something not many people might know about the Champs AV setup, IT IS SCALABLE. Very easily scalable too, each of the cameras they were using is at most 500 dollars, probably a bit less if they are the model I am thinking of or possibly a bit more if they are the next step up. The switcher and streaming box cost 1000 each and then you just use any old laptop for switching. We are talking about, approximately, a $3000 (including cables and a pole) AV setup that could be used at every event to provide a high quality full field view. There are a few things that I'm missing for in venue AV, specifically the projector and stand, but they are mostly commonplace in FRC events so I think it should be fine.

But I'm not putting my hopes up for FIRST to make it happen.

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by Metonym

Something not many people might know about the Champs AV setup, IT IS SCALABLE. Very easily scalable too, each of the cameras they were using is at most 500 dollars, probably a bit less if they are the model I am thinking of or possibly a bit more if they are the next step up. The switcher and streaming box cost 1000 each and then you just use any old laptop for switching. We are talking about, approximately, a $3000 (including cables and a pole) AV setup that could be used at every event to provide a high quality full field view. There are a few things that I'm missing for in venue AV, specifically the projector and stand, but they are mostly commonplace in FRC events so I think it should be fine.

But I'm not putting my hopes up for FIRST to make it happen.

Both the PNW and Michigan districts use similar set ups at low cost and put on some of the best webcasts.

[Metonym]

Originally Posted by Citrus Dad

Both the PNW and Michigan districts use similar set ups at low cost and put on some of the best webcasts.

I consider myself well versed in the current state of FIRST webcasts, check my signature.

But what FIRST has done is show they care and understand how to make a low cost stream. Their setup is far cheaper than PNW's.

Supposedly my Sig can't be fully seen by everyone. 2014 -15 is PNW and 16 is Indiana.

2016 - Tippecanoe (Media Manager) | Walker Warren (A/V Coordinator and Media Manager) | Perry Meridian (Media Manager) | Indiana State Championship (Media Manager) | World CMP (INFIRST Photographer) |

2015 - Auburn Mountainview (A/V Crew) | Glacier Peak (A/V Crew) | Mount Vernon (A/V Crew) | Shorewood (A/V Crew) | Auburn (Media)| World CMP (PNW FIRST Media) | Cage Match (Video Producer) |

2014 - Auburn Mountainview (A/V Crew) | Glacier Peak (A/V Crew) | Mount Vernon (A/V Crew) | Shorewood (Media) | Auburn (Media) | PNW DCMP (A/V Crew) | World CMP (FIRSTWA Photographer) | IRI (A/V Crew) |

[sciencenuetzel]

I don't know anything about streaming... but I loved the streaming through Livestream (thanks IndianaFIRST). When home with my kids I could rewind and watch the matches if needed/when desired. I don't think that can happen with Twitch.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Metonym

But I'm not putting my hopes up for FIRST to make it happen.

FIRST does care, but there are sometimes other priorities that end up ahead of it in line.

[ghesla]

Standards, event patches and ribbons was nice, I hope they can keep this somehow for next seasons. But I think the ribbons could be given to more awards (there is a lot of colors out there) and have written on them the award won.

[maxnz]

Originally Posted by natejo99

I think FIRST did a pretty good job of making Stronghold appeal more to the general public. The game wasn't as easy to understand at first look as say, Aerial Assist, but most spectators were able to pick it up after a few matches. That combined with the theme made it extremely appealing to those not previously involved in FIRST.

As a rookie, I can confirm that I will be sticking around. And probably for a long time.

Originally Posted by BrendanB

The display screens between matches were excellent! Quick visuals of the game breakdown, what alliances accomplished during a match, & how many RPs they gained was helpful for participants and spectators.

They definitely looked a lot more elaborate and theme-fitting than they have in previous years.

Originally Posted by Nuttyman54

One last thing: While it was confusing at first, the new Cost Accounting Worksheet that replaced the BOM was a HUGE improvement. It was much easier to fill out and maintain than the BOM, and COTS price cutoff increase to $5 was also a big help.

I actually was the one to do this for the team, and even though I was new, it didn't seem too hard. It was nice knowing that I didn't have to count all 60 bolts holding the frame together (even though I wouldn't have had to with a BOM, but it was still a nice thing to realize).

Originally Posted by MARS_James

Game Announcement/Kickoff:
Kickoff was much better than last year, especially the skits were funny in that we were laughing along instead of groaning which they could have caused.

Kickoff was one of the first indications to myself that I had signed up for the right thing. I mean, what other competitive sport references Monty Python throughout the whole season?

Originally Posted by ghesla

Standards, event patches and ribbons was nice, I hope they can keep this somehow for next seasons. But I think the ribbons could be given to more awards (there is a lot of colors out there) and have written on them the award won.

Our team has a random medal from 2009 that we have no idea how we got. This would be extremely helpful. We don't know if we won something and it isn't recorded in the API, or if another team took pity on us, or what.


Basically, I, along with my team, had an amazing year. We made it to the quarterfinals and won one of the matches (we have made the QFs before (twice), but always lost after 2 matches), we won the Entrepreneurship Award (first official FIRST award the team has ever won), and we qualified for the MN State Championships (also a first). Stronghold definitely was a great game for us.

[jweston]

Another vote for Stronghold having some of the most intriguing strategy. Our strategy team was in heaven!

I also believe that we saw a lot fewer between match delays by the end of competition season. The field faults were tough, especially in the first few weeks, with the chronic defense dislodgement and low bar repairs. But kudos to FIRST for coming up with solutions and getting a lot more matches running on time. This was a massive improvement over last year. It's not perfect but we actually got to leave on time some days.

[engunneer]

Many of the above, and additionally I really think they did a great job with the protected shot from the outer works, because it made teams have a tradeoff between long protected shots (which need to be fairly accurate) or close shots with a wider margin of error (which need to be fast)

The engineering challenge itself was pretty straight forward, and it was mostly a packaging problem. How to fit all you want to do in the space you have?

[dmorewood]

....Defense and Bumpers big plus to the gameplay

[ratdude747]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

The OM5P-AN "robot radio" was a (very slightly qualified) success. Though the way some teams chose to mount them exposed a potential susceptibility to repeated impacts in one direction, the on-field performance was much more than satisfactory. Choosing a device with open firmware (rather than one with unanalyzable proprietary software) worked great. It was especially nice to be able to power it via the Ethernet connector.

From what my various FTA buddies tell me, IIRC, thanks to the open firmware (DDWRT based), next year they'll have bootup in the ballpark of 15 seconds, simply because they can streamline the firmware that much. They would have gotten it done this year but there wasn't enough time to fully debug and prove it.

On that note, I'll also praise another nice thing about the new radios: Prioritized bandwidth throttling! No more Xmas trees (minus ones caused by wifi interference ) and any ill effects are isloated to the robot in question in a way that will, at worst, kill a camera stream (or some other non-essential dashboard function).

[chamingflicken]

I've said it before, but in terms of theme, FIRST nailed it this year. The game was engaging to watch, but the theme was really well executed outside the game itself too.
Starting with its promotional video even before kickoff, everyone was hyped. Then at events, having all of the field reset crew dubbed "field heralds" and the refs wearing feather hats... it was just a fun event to attend and compete in. Our first district event even had the medieval music going in the pits. 10/10, please partner with Disney again.

[RoboMom]

I loved seeing all the alumni patches on our hardworking volunteers.

[rsisk]

I really liked the team standards. I hope this carries forward into future years. Also streamers/badges for awards, regionals attended, etc to add to the standards would be awesome!

[orangemoore]

Originally Posted by rsisk

I really liked the team standards. I hope this carries forward into future years. Also streamers/badges for awards, regionals attended, etc to add to the standards would be awesome!

Like the scoreboard swish from rebound rumble?