UTC Pre-Scrimmage Thoughts....

[Tom Schindler]

I had the opportunity to referee at the scrimmage, i just figured i would compile a small list of happenings at the scrimmage...

• After handing out many penalties for the robots entering the ball chute, i would STRONGLY urge any team that plans on getting close to those chutes to make it so it is nearly impossible for your robot to get in there. Even if a part of your robot sticks in there for a second or two, it will be called -- Please design (or redesign) accordingly!
• Many robots had control issues while trying to navigate around the side of the stationary goal -- make sure your robot is controllable enough so that it doesn't drop a wheel or two off the side and possibly end up stuck
• A number of teams designed really nice looking operator interfaces, but they did not comply with rule R85 - "The Operator Interface Console designed by your team must fit on the 42” wide by 9” deep shelf" -- this rule is here for a reason, because of the design of the shelf and the location of the e-stop, make sure you follow these rules, otherwise it WILL NOT fit and you will be holding your controls...
• A major penalty that occured once was when a team tried to grab the 10 pt bonus ball on the side over the top of the metal frame -- they ended up being disabled because they were endangering the numerous sensors and lights on that assembly. Be sure to only interact through the metal frame...

Hope everyone has an awesome end of the build season.... now comes the fun of the competitions!

Tom

[Andy Grady]

Here is my take on what I saw on saturday afternoon at the UTC Scrimmage...

1. Please listen to Tom on the rule about robots breaking the plane of the human player station! This game is a game where most matches will probably be decided by under 20 points difference...if you lose 10 points due to penalties, it could cost you big time!

2. I think what we saw at the scrimmage was not overly accurate to what we will see once regionals get rolling. I think once autonomous modes get working and more drivers get practice hanging, focus will turn a little more towards ball manipulation.

3. Based on what I saw, I think this game is essentially 2000 all over again! With a few twists of course. That is a good thing....a very good thing.

In closing, I would like to thank Aces High and the other UTC teams who made the scrimmage possible. As always it was high energy and alot of fun!

Good Luck,
Andy Grady

[Chris Hibner]

Originally Posted by Tom Schindler

I had the opportunity to referee at the scrimmage, i just figured i would compile a small list of happenings at the scrimmage...

• A number of teams designed really nice looking operator interfaces, but they did not comply with rule R85 - "The Operator Interface Console designed by your team must fit on the 42” wide by 9” deep shelf" -- this rule is here for a reason, because of the design of the shelf and the location of the e-stop, make sure you follow these rules, otherwise it WILL NOT fit and you will be holding your controls...

Tom

The FIRST Q&A Forum stated that it is okay for the operator interfaces to hang over the edge of the 9" shelf. Is this not the case?

[Tom Schindler]

Originally Posted by Chris Hibner

The FIRST Q&A Forum stated that it is okay for the operator interfaces to hang over the edge of the 9" shelf. Is this not the case?

I'm sure your controls are fine if they are deeper than the 9", but be sure to comply with the 42", otherwise it will be very awkward to place your controls on the shelf.

Tom

[Andy Grady]

Originally Posted by Tom Schindler

I'm sure your controls are fine if they are deeper than the 9", but be sure to comply with the 42", otherwise it will be very awkward to place your controls on the shelf.

Tom

Also be very weary if you do hang 9" over the shelf depth, that is not necessarily a safe fit for the controls as it leaves them very succeptable (sp.?) to being knocked over in autonomous mode. Remember, even if you catch the controls, it could cost you precious seconds in any strategy you come up with. I also recommend that teams use some form of non-slip material on the bottom of control panels.

[MisterX]

I can personally testify to the size on the operator controls our is one of the teams that must redesign our spiffy control board.

*Also, robots that can control the goal will be very usful as in one of the championship competitions The red alliance shoved there goal into the blue alliances best HP ball coral and the robot was unable to remove it
*Around the bar is going to be the blood zone were robots will be shoving each other out of the way (i.e. RAGE in the Finals)
*Matches will be very close and one shoddy shot or penalty (which there will be many) will have a HUGE effect in the outcomes.
*HP are gods in this game

Best of luck to every in hopes that my formentioned thought will help and thank you to Aces High for another excellent scrimmage

P.S. Just want to thank Geal Force, Team 126, for allowing our HP extra practice during one of their practice rounds. This will not be forgotten and we all wish the best of luck to you guys.