[FRC Blog] Pool Noodles for the 2017 Season

[AllenGregoryIV]

It came up at one of my events before when a team decided to make a new set of bumpers at the event in addition to the ones they already had. I had no issue with it.

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by Caleb Sykes

Congratulations Vale.

Somebody should probably check on Ryan to make sure he is all right.

Alive and well, no worries. Just busy with work. I should note that Vale gave me fair warning before she posted this thread, but I was out all day with no computer access. We'll see what happens next time.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV

It came up at one of my events before when a team decided to make a new set of bumpers at the event in addition to the ones they already had. I had no issue with it.

I wouldn't have a problem with it either, given the way the rules are currently written.

[ctt956]

Did anyone click the "Photo Credit" link? It may contain some hints...there is a "Happy Birthday" banner, and FIRST will be 25 years old. After looking at the hints, I've reached the conclusion that next year, there will be a water game.

Or maybe not. A more reasonable prediction...

Starting in 2010, there has been a game piece pattern. Spheres in the even numbered years, and other pieces in the odd numbered years:

2010 - Soccer balls
2011 - Inflatable triangle-, circle-, and square-shaped tubes
2012 - Foam basketballs
2013 - Frisbees
2014 - Exercise balls
2015 - Totes, recycling/trash cans, and noodles
2016 - Gopher SoftiBalls, AKA Boulders

I predict that the game piece(s) will not be spheres. Maybe triangle shaped or a cube. There are bumpers, so there will be robot-to-robot contact. AndyMark recently released the Peanut Chasis, with a four wheel tank drive that has two omnis at one end. A kiwi drive kit was also released. I'm thinking that the field will be (mostly)flat, at least where the robots will be driving, as omnis don't like traversing rough terrain(pun intended). I also think that there will be tight spaces that robots will probably drive into and out of, making smaller chassis, easy turning, and holonomic drivetrains important. Back to the credit link, which was about a flower-themed party. Most flowers are small, so another hint that there will be tight spaces and maybe smaller robots. Unless this is just to throw us and it will be the opposite...

TL;DR: Flat field, non-spherical game piece(s), tight spaces, maybe smaller robots.

P.S. Congratulations Vale for beating Ryan Hall to the post!

[troy_dietz]

This phenomena is widely known and has sparked a number of threads over the years. This is one of the most in depth observations: https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/s...+school+career