POLL: What surface do you want to see?

[BaldwinNYRookie]

Whatever the game is I do think the field should be bigger. It get's cramped especially with six robots on the field at a time.

And though this is my rookie year I got to see last years field at the Brunswick Eruption earlier this year, and I do prefer last years field. It gave a team more options. Do you want to herd balls, cap those whatchamacallits with the bigger yellow balls, hang your robot (which was much more dramatic to watch than anything I've seen in this years game), or all three?

[GennyMS]

We're the Hammerheads, it would only make sense that we have a water comp. we're great swimmers.

On a serous note. Yes the field was cramped this year and I believe they did make it bigger but next year for all we know it could just be two teams on the field (its size doesn't really concern me to much) its all part of the game.

[Pin Man]

Water is defintly not going to happen... As much as I would love to see it... But I mean robots, high schoolers, and water is not a great mix... I would like to see something with tunnels and or something like that...

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by oneangrydwarf

from the videos that andy baker has that i have seen and from what i have been told. It was infact called maize craze and it involved driving around in corn and collecting tennis balls, there was only 1 competition that year, none of the regional stuff we see today, and the robots were tethered. Some of the robots still exist, but i can only assume that they are merely museum pieces now.

I think the only robot that's in a museam is ours. Everyone else got to keep theirs.

[Allison K]

Originally Posted by Pin Man

Water is defintly not going to happen... As much as I would love to see it... But I mean robots, high schoolers, and water is not a great mix... I would like to see something with tunnels and or something like that...

Tunnels would be cool. Possibly something like the 2003 center structure, but a tunnel with game pieces underneath. Robots could use the CMUcam to find the game objects.

~Allison

[F-14tomcat222]

Water would be awesome, and I really dont think waterproofing would be that hard. If the task required mobility you could build a hovercraft ( I know my whole team thinks i'm crazy too ) but seriously it could work. It would also be cool to have an ice like field where traction would be limited. I'd have to say there are a lot of possibilities, and the field needs a change if for no other reason than to add an extra twist.

[Clark Gilbert]

I think a mixture of carpet and "moonscape." For the rocks use something like a lava rock and a fine pebble rock (to mix it up a bit). Maybe put some sort of bumps made from wood under the rock mixture.

[Jeffmudhs]

I wouldn't expect to see a full field thats based on a slippery surface, simply because of the safty factor involved.

Also a water field, also seems unfiesable because of:
-Time to setup
-Time to make the field water tight
-Amount of water needed
-Amount of space and labor needed
-Making a completely airtight robot would really heat up your motors and electronics
-electricty hazard.
-If your robot fails and sinks would it be difficult to retrieve?

Carpet is deffinatly the better choice, but they should go with different carpet types. I mean, who wouldn't want to run robots on Shag Carpet?

I would love to see something like 03's ramp agian.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by Pin Man

Water is defintly not going to happen... As much as I would love to see it... But I mean robots, high schoolers, and water is not a great mix... I would like to see something with tunnels and or something like that...

There is one very simple, straightforward little fact that makes is explicitly clear that we will never, ever have a water-based game in FIRST:

It would require that Dave wear a bathing suit.

OK, now that you have that nasty litttle image burning in your mind, go ahead and try to get some sleep tonight.

-dave

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by dlavery

There is one very simple, straightforward little fact that makes is explicitly clear that we will never, ever have a water-based game in FIRST:

It would require that Dave wear a bathing suit.

OK, now that you have that nasty litttle image burning in your mind, go ahead and try to get some sleep tonight.

-dave

Hee hee.

[Sgraff_SRHS06]

I picked Other. I'd like a steel surface with different obstacles. The field would also be raised from the main ground by a considerable amount so everybody can see the game.

[Vince]

Hmm.... water and robots. Sounds like something the Coast Guard Academy might do as a summer outreach program.....

[Pin Man]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Hee hee.

I LOVE IT! haha... *whistles* Mr. Lavery in a bikini! hahaha


Allison: maybe like video cameras on the robot to with night vision to see in the tunnels and the drivers look on a comp screen or something...

[Jay H 237]

Something like chain link fence or some type of grating is always interesting.

Also even easier for field set up would be to have something like landscaping 6x6's dividing the field. You could either drive over them or be forced to go around them.

Another option would be to create "rollers" for the robot to cross in an area of the field made out of pvc pipe laying horizontally.

(hint...........hint, Dave )

[Rombus]

Wow, alot of cool ideas:
Tunnels would be very interesting, i had another interesting idea with use of cameras:
What about having the drive team in a box of some sort, there only inputs are a field spotter with a radio, and a cam on the bot?

Also another note to everyone here: We all know chances of water and ice are nill, but if you want to see it, pick it I'm quite surprised this thread went so well so far! Alot of great ideas!