Curling + Robots = Sweeet

[Jaine Perotti]

How about an adaptation to the game, if it can't be reproduced exactly?

I just had an idea for this... although the idea is only half formed and many details are left out... please add on to it!!

- The playing field would be a typical FIRST playing field...standard size, carpet, everything.
- The playing/scoring objects would be something that could roll along the floor - maybe a similar design to the goals that have been used in past games, but alot smaller, and lots of them.
- These goals would have to start in some kind of a neutral position, don't know where/how yet.
- There would be a scoring zone of some sort on either end of the field for each alliance.

I am not sure how to describe this next field feature, but they are designed to be manipulated in a way similar to the way "sweepers" try to manipulate the surface of the ice to control direction. This would work almost in a way similar to a pinball machine - the goals would bounce off of "roadblocks" manipulated by "sweeper" robots.

- Basically, these "roadblocks" would be a flat panel, maybe about 2 feet long and 1 foot high, mounted to an axle that is fixed to the floor so that it can spin on a centered axis.
- These roadblocks would be positioned between the original neutral starting position of the goals and the scoring zones, and would be spaced fairly close together.
- The roadblocks could be spun around by robots to alter the course of a rolling goal, and could be used to try to block goals from being pushed into an opponents scoring zone.
- Just the action of a robot trying to move through the maze of roadblocks would create havoc because the roadblocks would spin to the sides as the robot pushed through.. therefore making goal bouncing a more difficult task.
- robots would not be allowed to lift the goals over the roadblocks...they must spin the roadblocks to the side, or bounce them off the roadblocks, to be able to move them around the field.
- The roadblocks would have to be fairly difficult to spin, as the bouncing of goals should not be able to move them very easily.

Does this make any sense? It probably should wait until the "Design the 2006 Game" thread comes around, but since this idea came directly from the posts above... I figured I might as well share it!

Ask me if this made absolutely no sense, and I will try to explain better and maybe throw in some paint sketches.

-- Jaine