Who ever thought they'd let us do it?

[KrtZer0]

The poof balls really dont hurt at all,
We built a makeshift ball launcher in one of our basements last night that we later calculated to be launching at a good 35mph and it didnt really hurt when you got hit.
It was really funny to watch though

[LittleBush]

I don't know if this would happen but what if the camera locks onto a team that wears bright green? I mean if the area of green shirts is big enough it might shoot at them even if they aren't illuminated as well as the target.

[KrtZer0]

I thought the point of this years cameras was to follow an illuminated target. Thats why the targets are illuminated instead of last years flat green tetras...
The camera wont follow anything but a bright green light

[Aburame Shino]

As funny as I think it would be to have something like this happen...



I just don't see it happening. The people at FIRST are smart enough to know that stuff like this might happen, so they're either going to move the stands far enough away where the balls will lose speed before they hit the audience, people are going to dodge the balls, or it simply isn't going to happen because the drivers know they'll get DQ'd if it happens.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by LittleBush

I don't know if this would happen but what if the camera locks onto a team that wears bright green? I mean if the area of green shirts is big enough it might shoot at them even if they aren't illuminated as well as the target.

So MOE would be in the crosshairs?
Sounds like a challange (either for programmers or for MOE team members to stay alert).

[boy_scout72688]

Originally Posted by JakeOfIron

I'm definitely with you there Rosser, they're made of foam, but people are crazy, and FIRST can't risk getting in trouble for any head-beaning done by our robots. Although the speed limit will protect the crowd, I didn't really think about that.

and Curtis, Shut down? don't you think that'd be a bit much? I'm not talking about someone shooting at the crowd on purpose, or even accidentally pressing the 'fire' button at the wrong time. Sure, people will have safeguards or an auto-override system to anything, but there's still going to be the possibility that a ball is going to miss the field. Plus, don't you think they'd have mentioned it in the penalty rules, like they did for hitting a robot in the human-loading zone last year?

Definatly agree. They will disable the robot if at anytime the head ref freels its unsafe but still these balls are gonna go a little off track.

[aaeamdar]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

"Be forwarned, foam balls may fly into the audience at any time".

That is FUNNY.

[Ali Ahmed]

That probably why FIRST picked these kind of balls, soft NERF ones. They aren-t going to do any damage to humans, robots, camera equipment or anything. Unless a team has a "killer" mode for its launcher and starts atttacking everybody, we're going to be fine.

[Jon K.]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

So MOE would be in the crosshairs?
Sounds like a challange (either for programmers or for MOE team members to stay alert).

So in other words, MOE should be sending out t-shirts to any teams they may be competing against in competition to allow for adjustments to be made so that they aren't targeted right? Or maybe they should have their programming team release their color according to the camera.

[petek]

Originally Posted by Mark Pettit

Being at an Aim High match will not be any different than going to a hockey game. At a hockey game, keep your eye on the puck at all times. At Aim High, stay alert!

Except that there aren't usually 6 pucks flying at once!

I'm rather looking forward to seeing the get-ups - er, I mean Personal Protective Equipment - the fearless field personnel will be showing off! Not to mention the inevitable six-gun salutes to the crowd (at least at off-season events).

It might be a score-limiting move to shoot at referees, though!

[SkiRacer]

Originally Posted by ali_rockon22

That probably why FIRST picked these kind of balls, soft NERF ones. They aren-t going to do any damage to humans, robots, camera equipment or anything. Unless a team has a "killer" mode for its launcher and starts atttacking everybody, we're going to be fine.

Haha i mean seriously, a nerf ball is not going to do any harm to the robots and the 12 m/s limits protects the crowd. But how is FIRST going to enforce the rule. Most teams i can imagine will have variable muzzle velocity to shoot from different locations. But what would prevent a team from cranking up the velocity to 30mph...or even 40?

[Spiffizzle]

We really don't have to worry about the balls hitting everyone...
Anyone who isn't alert and going crazy watching the game anyway deserves to be hit =P... just kidding

But really... everyone's eyes will be on the game so the likelihood that a ball will fly into the crowd unnoticed isn't very high...

[aaeamdar]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

So MOE would be in the crosshairs?
Sounds like a challange (either for programmers or for MOE team members to stay alert).

Funny as this is, I don't think it would happen. Hopefully NASA is good on their word that the camera is better this year. What kind of sensors can we read from besides the camera though?


Thanks

[Jevin H]

Yeah That was the same rosponse we had here at 306

[rufu5]

I think as a safety measure and as a deterrent to balls being launched into the crowd, FIRST will hire Chuck Norris for every regional, so if any balls are launched into the crowd, he will immediately round house kick the ball back into the offending robot and in turn instantaneously explode it into a smoldering heap of rubble with the Total Gym 24000 in the center.