Question of the Week!!! (7/26/04)

[Michael R. Lee]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I've got an idea...

Duct tape.

It's cheap, widely available, and traction would be FUN again!

Actually I want to use it on the robot. They could give an award out for it where everything but the penumatics, wiring, motors, etc.... has to made out of it. C'mon, they've already got a contest for making your outfit out of it for prom. That and I am sure anyone who has worked in the pits wished they could use it to fix or tape something down.

Originally Posted by Rich Kressly

That being said flat carpet with simple field objects like in 02 made for a "go get em" kind of game that led to some awesome machines. After two years of really "busy" fields, I'd love to see the game "opened up" again.

I agree that the fields have gotten crowded with massive obstacles and other elements of the playfield like balls and bins in the past two seasons. In 2000, you had room to move around (well under or over) the main giant obstacle of a ramp and ball hoppers. That type of game had some interesting designs as well. 2002 too with a big open field produced some neat designs as well. But as 2002 showed, it needs to more than just a shoving match.

[Corey Balint]

I would really like to see a King of the Hill type format again, but this time have the top be an incredibly slippy surface and say the area surrounding that would incredibly rough and tough to get up. i think that would make it a true king of the hill.

I do think that itll end up being carpeting and if there is another surface-it would be for king of the hill, and most likely slick, but not to an extreme.

[tribotec_ca88]

I'd have to go with Max L.'s idea (different surfaces), those of which would include ice...a rough, irregular, rocky surface would definitely be interesting too. This whole idea of different surfaces would definitely take FRC to a new dimension and would be a challenging game element....

I would say either a trampoline surface cuz that would be funny to watch the robots drive around on it, or sand because it reminds me of the beach and surfing. haha Ice would be cool too. A bit slippery but cool. If I want to be really creative id have to say peanut butter because that would just be kool. a little sloppy and messy and impossible to drive on, but cool haha

[Jeff Waegelin]

I'm surprised noone's added the obligatory "let's have a water game!" comment, yet

While it would be incredibly cool, it's also entirely impractical. I suppose you could try to hold competitions in venues with pools... but it really would be a huge hassle.

I can see it now.. "yes, I'd like to reserve the pool for a robotics competition." "The pool?" "Yes, the pool."

In all serious, though, I agree with Steve W. Carpet is the easiest material to use, and I forsee FIRST sticking with it, at least for the main flooring of the field. Other materials may be used, sortof like the HDPE and wire mesh in previous seasons, but the main flooring will likely stay carpet. It's just the easiest to deal with.

[Marc P.]

I'll second (or third) the carpet. Anything involving liquid or something potentially messy can cause all sorts of trouble in terms of electrical systems, not to mention a mess to clean up when removing robots from the field. Water, snow, oil, ice + 120 amps of power = recipe for disaster. Concrete would be interesting, but not readily avaliable as a surface in all venues.

I also like the variety idea. Perhaps one section of the field could be lexan, another shag carpet, and yet another something like astroturf. The most practical materials are the ones which can easily be carted around from regional to regional, applied over any existing surface, and are as re-usable as possible.

Barring those conditions, I'd say rolls of sod would make an interesting field. Nothing beats a lush green lawn for robots to play on!

[Joe Matt]

I'd like to see dry ice, it melts into smoke, so it's hard to see through it, but also it melts, so after a while the carpet is there. It's like you have to deal with this hard drive on surface, then for the last few seconds you have good traction. Only problem is price.... and melting.... and cold....

[Bcahn836]

i would also like to see a multiple surface playing field. Dirt, rocks, an inclined plane, and some asphalt.