[FRC Blog] 2017 International Game Piece Option

[gblake]

Originally Posted by ctt956

I considered this, but maybe if the locking part was hidden inside the box it would discourage cutting the lock. A barrel-type lock might work if those exist with combos, as the only way to break in would be drilling, and that would run a high risk of damaging something in the kit. The possibility of damaging kit contents and reusability of the tote should discourage cutting the plastic.

There would be no need to defeat the lock explicitly.

Just cut a hole in the side of the box, or take apart the hinges, or ...

[ctt956]

Originally Posted by gblake

There would be no need to defeat the lock explicitly.

Just cut a hole in the side of the box, or take apart the hinges, or ...

Yes, but if the contents are packed very tightly, you would run a very high risk of damaging them by cutting into the box. It would also limit the ability to reuse the box for storing the kit items or storing other things. I don't think this risk would be worth it, since you wouldn't really know what you should do with the parts until Kickoff.

[Ari423]

Originally Posted by ctt956

Yes, but if the contents are packed very tightly, you would run a very high risk of damaging them by cutting into the box. It would also limit the ability to reuse the box for storing the kit items or storing other things. I don't think this risk would be worth it, since you wouldn't really know what you should do with the parts until Kickoff.

Originally Posted by gblake

There would be no need to defeat the lock explicitly.

Just cut a hole in the side of the box, or take apart the hinges, or ...

Originally Posted by ctt956

I considered this, but maybe if the locking part was hidden inside the box it would discourage cutting the lock. A barrel-type lock might work if those exist with combos, as the only way to break in would be drilling, and that would run a high risk of damaging something in the kit. The possibility of damaging kit contents and reusability of the tote should discourage cutting the plastic.

Originally Posted by ollien

Not a bad idea. My only problem with this is that some teams might be accused of using bolt cutters to prematurely open the kit. I'd have to have yet another controversy about something as silly as this.

The manual password is different because the only way around it is brute force, which is near impossible given the time frame between when the manual is released and when the password is released.

Originally Posted by ctt956

What if the kit was shipped early but with a combination lock on it, and the code for the lock was give out after the broadcast, similarly to the game manual password? Just an idea. Good luck with your new team!

I think you're thinking too hard about this. Instead of creating an impenetrable box, FIRST should de-incentivise breaking into them.

FIRST already trusts us with a lot of the rules of the game. Bag and tag is all on the team's honor to uphold the rules. There are many rules that teams could violate and get away with; I'm sure most teams have come across a few of them and hopefully they made the right choice. FIRST even allows some people to see the field elements and game pieces before kickoff to set up kickoff locations.

At a certain point, FIRST has to trust teams to do the right thing. If they aren't in a trusting mood, they could write up some kind of contract that teams' who get early kits must sign similar to the NDAs kickoff-builders might sign.

[ollien]

Originally Posted by Ari423

At a certain point, FIRST has to trust teams to do the right thing. If they aren't in a trusting mood, they could write up some kind of contract that teams' who get early kits must sign similar to the NDAs kickoff-builders might sign.

At least in the United States, minors cannot be bound by NDAs. There could be some kind of disqualification involved, but then we would get into a hairy mess of refunds, cancelled travel plans, etc. Even then, how would they determine who actually broke into the box? I think it gets too thorny to be worth it.

Come to think of it, what's the deal with teams who host kickoffs in the United States? Kits come to the kickoffs before Christmas. Is there any kind of NDA there? I should probably know this, as the president of a team who is hosting a kickoff...

[Ari423]

Originally Posted by ollien

At least in the United States, minors cannot be bound by NDAs. There could be some kind of disqualification involved, but then we would get into a hairy mess of refunds, cancelled travel plans, etc. Even then, how would they determine who actually broke into the box? I think it gets too thorny to be worth it.

Come to think of it, what's the deal with teams who host kickoffs in the United States? Kits come to the kickoffs before Christmas. Is there any kind of NDA there? I should probably know this, as the president of a team who is hosting a kickoff...

I would check out this thread from a few weeks ago if you want to know more about FIRST's NDAs for kickoffs.

[ollien]

Originally Posted by Ari423

I would check out this thread from a few weeks ago if you want to know more about FIRST's NDAs for kickoffs.

Sorry, I should clarify. I was referring to the kickoff kit NDAs.