Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!

[K-Dawg157]

Originally Posted by Ringo5tarr

I have made statements in the past that I expect this year's game to be similar to logomotion or rack and roll and I still stand by that statement, I also agree with CurlyFries on how the Blimp will act like the flag from last year, however the idea currently bouncing around seems to be that you will "power" the blimp by playing "coal" in a scoring area, I disagree, while the teaser is most likely still missing some crucial information (e.g. the tower and boulders from last year) I think gears will be the game pieces, large foam ones, scoring would be done by putting them on pegs, and those would either A. act as the counterweight to raise the blimp, or B. robots would have to precisely place them so that gears could interact with each other and a robot could turn one gear to turn another on the opposite end and raise the blimp. But these are just my thoughts, Like I said, the teaser is probably missing something

We have the same idea, but mine has pipes instead. I like the idea of gears, but putting them on properly so that they mesh well seems to be too precise for a FIRST game. And just using them as a counterweight would make me question why use gears at all? Just for the symbolism? That doesn't make very much sense...

[Drakxii]

Originally Posted by Type

Most teams can't even have a robot that drives half the time, having something in the area that could lose control and cause damage to people probably won't happen. That's just my opinion but I just think a flying game won't happen for another couple years maybe, I could be wrong though. And what if this year you have to almost dig for coal, like there is a big area and you have to scoop it out and the more power. The endgame could be to reach a certain amount to be able to get your blimp going. Ramps could be included for the coal to sit, so 2 ramps, low part facing each other to keep the coal in place. Just an idea

Like a giant ball pit but instead of colorful balls, there are brown(dirt/rocks), black(coal)? The teams would sort through the balls and then deliver the black ones?

[Type]

Originally Posted by Drakxii

Like a giant ball pit but instead of colorful balls, there are brown(dirt/rocks), black(coal)? The teams would sort through the balls and then deliver the black ones?

It's possible to see something like that, however can get the most resources wins, maybe some items are worth more but then that just seems too easy. Some teams would just make a very tall robot and get all the coal in one trip

[Combustinglemon]

I am speculating as to if there will be water involved. Maybe transportation of water?

[MxMarkov]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Break out the rakes!

Get Hyped
Get Shocked

[Pooja Anil]

Originally Posted by Combustinglemon

I am speculating as to if there will be water involved.

My team has been wondering a whole lot about this. We had a member come up with an idea that there was water on the ground, and minibots had to "fly" above it. Seems kind of unlikely due to electronics and water not mixing too well, but it's fun to think about it.

[mateoland]

Originally Posted by Philip Arola

Precisely how I feel. Art is an important craft that has many technical aspects, but it is a totally separate field from STEM. There is a very good way to put this.

STEM is objective, art is subjective.

Shoehorning art into STEM essentially turns STEAM into a banner which covers practically all subjects.

I would have to disagree, simply because there is usually some level of imagination and creativity involved in discovery. You use the objective to verify and validate the subjective. They do go hand in hand.

No one can tell me that the works of da Vinci were nothing less then a near-perfect marriage of the subjective and objective. I would gather any and every Disney Imagineer would scoff at the idea there is no art in STEM.

Most great inventions start out as rough subjective ideas and thoughts and to realize it you go through the process of objectifying the idea.

Funny story: A high school teacher I know wanted to discuss STREAM (R = reading) on facebook. I told her adding the "R" was going too far and reduced the push for science and engineering into simply the three "R's (Reading, wRiting, aRythmetics). I told her why not complete the scholastic experience and add Physical Education. Then you get:

PeSTREAM

Matt

[BotDesigner]

Originally Posted by Type

Some teams would just make a very tall robot and get all the coal in one trip

FIRST could prevent this with a low-bar or a tunnel, but I sure hope that that is not the plan.

[Bob Steele]

Originally Posted by mateoland

I would have to disagree, simply because there is usually some level of imagination and creativity involved in discovery. You use the objective to verify and validate the subjective. They do go hand in hand.

No one can tell me that the works of da Vinci were nothing less then a near-perfect marriage of the subjective and objective. I would gather any and every Disney Imagineer would scoff at the idea there is no art in STEM.

Most great inventions start out as rough subjective ideas and thoughts and to realize it you go through the process of objectifying the idea.

Funny story: A high school teacher I know wanted to discuss STREAM (R = reading) on facebook. I told her adding the "R" was going too far and reduced the push for science and engineering into simply the three "R's (Reading, wRiting, aRythmetics). I told her why not complete the scholastic experience and add Physical Education. Then you get:

PeSTREAM

Matt

I like this....
or perhaps Math Engineering Art Technology History Economics Dance and Science......?

[Ringo5tarr]

Originally Posted by Bob Steele

I like this....
or perhaps Math Engineering Art Technology History Economics Dance and Science......?

Sounds like... Education?

[Trey178]

Originally Posted by Ringo5tarr

...the teaser is probably missing something

One of the coaches I know had a thought. Looking back on the Stronghold teaser now that we all know the challenge, she pointed out key words that helped describe the rules of the game. Students and adults are going to fry their brains hypothesizing what 'take flight' means for our upcoming competition.

[Hitchhiker 42]

Originally Posted by Trey178

One of the coaches I know had a thought. Looking back on the Stronghold teaser now that we all know the challenge, she pointed out key words that helped describe the rules of the game. Students and adults are going to fry their brains hypothesizing what 'take flight' means for our upcoming competition.

...and prepare for the challenge ahead.

The challenge turned out to be a crucial part of gameplay, being an actual action on the field, not just the game challenge. "Prepare to take flight" may be a similar thing where it's not just rising above and tackling the challenge, but also a part of gameplay, such as an endgame thing.

[Rev_TX_Torque]

This year's 2017 FIRST Steamworks has a similar look to last years 2016 Stronghold. There is a lot to look forward to for this year's game. I wanted to list a few of these things that we can look forward to, and speculate possible game elements that might appear for 2017. As we have already been informed, this year's game will have bumpers which tells us that there will defensive play. The fact that there will be defensive play tells us two things : 1 that there will be some form of precise scoring such as shooting into a target of some sort ( 2012,13,14,16 ), and 2 that the field will be undivided unlike 2015. Also something that the teaser has given us is a suspiciously detailed robot surrounded by a group of robotics students. While this robot may not be a reliable source for my future claims , I think that it can tell us a lot about what this years game will have because in comparison to last years game teaser (which I remind you was a very cartoon like, unrealistic depiction of a robot) this example of a robot or at least the drive base and frame are considerably realistic. One of the conclusions we can make from this is that the robots will have the option to be fed by a human player station ( Like 2013 Ultimate Ascent, and 2015 Recycle rush). The reason why I conclude this is because there is no section on the bumper that gives room for a for a floor intake. Of course there are teams that have proven their ability to have an intake without having a section of the bumpers cut off, however this is not typical. In this situation I believe that if this model depicted in the teaser is what we might see for 2017 then there will at least be a manual method of feeding the robot such as passing (2014 Aerial Assist) or feeding ( 2013, 2015 ). Also the fact that the drive train on the model depicted in the teaser is a west coast drive can signify that this year's game will not be an open field (2008,2009,2014) because if it were then the robots would most likely have a butterfly drive or swerve drive because in open field these drivetrains are optimal for maximum maneuverability (An Exception could be 2008 but these drivetrains were still present). On the topic of an open field in relation to 2008 and 2014, this year's game object will most likely not be a FIRST yoga ball as some may believe because the frame perimeter for the previous FRC games with the Yoga balls have had a square frame perimeter ( where in the depiction of the teaser there is a more rectangular frame). As for the game object goes, this year should be a new one. In reference to the 4 year cycle ( For example 2007 rack and roll, 2011 Logomotion, 2015 Recycle Rush all had to do with stacking/adding something) this next year's game should have the "strange" game object as reflected by the sequence: 2009 Lunacy ( MOON ROCKS ) to 2013 (FRISBEE DISKS), the next year up for the strange object is 2017 - this year. Because it is supposed to be the strange object this year it is hard to predict what the object will be. However, it should be known that this object most likely will be launched into a target or something around these lines. One last thing I would like to mention is that the teaser had a heavy emphasis on how we should "prepare to take flight". The question of what will be taking flight arises and after understanding that the model in the teaser has wheels it is evident that the robot itself will not be the object of flight ( As if the 120 pound robots could fly easily in the first place ). I believe I have the answer: the object of flight for the 2017 FIRST Steamworks will be an endgame with a minibot that will be required to fly to accomplish a task ( Much like 2011 Logomotion's endgame but with flight ). People have joked about an airgame for years now, however the focus has previously on the robot itself : people have not considered the possibility of a minibot that flies.

I would love to hear everyone's opinions and thoughts about my speculations , and would love to hear yours!

Best of luck to everyone this year for the 2017 FIRST Steamworks!

-Rev

[Type]

Originally Posted by BotDesigner

FIRST could prevent this with a low-bar or a tunnel, but I sure hope that that is not the plan.

They could, make a similar field to BreakAway I think it was, make it almost impossible to carry over, and then have a short passage to go under also.

[Type]

I was thinking about it and what if take flight was metaphorical? What did something like 2012 and have you balance, or lift up? Take flight could be a metaphor for like lift. This would also be able to include the possible ramps I've heard people talk about.