Steamworks sightlines

[SamcFuchs]

Originally Posted by Jerry Qian

The middle driver station would be ideal for defense robots as they can see most of the opposing field where bots will be shooting or placing gears.

You may be right. One way or another, I think that this year (more than any other) your driver station position may be a critical limiting factor when it comes to what strategies you want to execute in a given match.

[SamcFuchs]

Originally Posted by scca229

Heck, have you ever tried to talk through the glass during field setup when you need the pair of diagonal cutters sitting on the shelf? You can't understand anything when it is just about dead quiet in there, let alone with the noise of an arena.

I swear to god, why buy a fancy pair of Bose headphones to block out noise when you could just use some driver station lexan. Last year I had to stick my head through the boulder hole just to make sure the robot was ready on the field.

[AndyBare]

Here is a picture of all 3 sightlines overlayed. It's interesting to see that the spot by the center lift on your side of the field is pretty much out of sight from the entire opposing alliance drive teams. This presents a potential safe spot for scoring.

[SamcFuchs]

Originally Posted by AndyBare

Here is a picture of all 3 sightlines overlayed. It's interesting to see that the spot by the center lift on your side of the field is pretty much out of sight from the entire opposing alliance drive teams. This presents a potential safe spot for scoring.

Whoah, thanks for making this! That's a good catch, and may be helpful. However, your alliance partners might not be quite so excited about you taking up the most convenient lift...

[Jpatterson1710]

Originally Posted by scca229

Heck, have you ever tried to talk through the glass during field setup when you need the pair of diagonal cutters sitting on the shelf? You can't understand anything when it is just about dead quiet in there, let alone with the noise of an arena.

This. If we can't communicate during field setup, no way it's happening during a match.

Ever wonder why a team continues trying to drive their robot when their gearbox is making some atrociously loud noise every time they push the joystick? Everyone else in the arena may be able to hear it, but they can't.

When I was a student, we used a glove with different bright colors of duct tape on either side to allow the human player to communicate simple yes/no - forward/back - right/left signals to the driver. A similar strategy may be very helpful this year.

I'm sure with these sightlines, every technical volunteer is thrilled that we actually have radios that enforce the bandwidth limit. I imagine we will see quite a boost in camera usage this year.

[JasdeepSadam]

While the pilots do have a much better view, they will be busy during the match picking up gears and placing them. Plus how will they signal you? They cant yell, you wont be able to hear them. You cant even hear the FTA through the glass before the match starts. Maybe you can use flags or something, but I am sure that FIRST will develop some rule on what pilots con bring into the Airship