2006 Waterloo Regional: Feedback for Planning Committee

[rbgorbet]

On behalf of the Planning Committee for the 2006 Waterloo Regional, I'd like to invite constructive feedback on the event so we can make 2007 even better. There's a lot of goodwill running through the 2006 Waterloo Regional thread, but I'm particularly interested in what specifically went really well and what might be improved for next year. Aside from the bleachers, that is, which everyone hates but which we can do nothing about...

Post away!

Rob.

[Vince lau]

Would it be possible to have a team media section near the field, so that teams can film/take pictures of the matches? With out getting in the way of people watching in the stands or refs.

One member of each team could get a special media badge which will only allow them on the field while their team is competing.

[neilsonster]

I don't know if it's possible to squeeze in a mini practice area somewhere, but it would be really helpful. We really couldn't test out our autonomous mode outside of matches at all.

Maybe on the practice day let the teams use the actual field for an hour or two (with some control over how many robots are on the field at once of course) after the practice rounds end to do whatever little testing they need. Of course this is all limited by what the game will be next year and what field setup there will be, but it's an idea.

[Bongle]

If it's possible, turning down the match announcer volume in the pits would be a good idea. I can understand it being loud in the main arena, but it's very annoying to have to shout over the announcing of a match you can't see when you're in the pits. You could still have the queueing announcer be loud, but the pit people need to communicate clearly with each other, and sometimes that isn't possible over the noise coming from music or the play-by-play.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by neilsonster

I don't know if it's possible to squeeze in a mini practice area somewhere, but it would be really helpful. We really couldn't test out our autonomous mode outside of matches at all.

At STL this year (and in previous years) we held remote kick-off. To begin familiarizing teams with the playing field, one very gracious local volunteer constructed low-cost (wood) center and side goal assemblies with diamond-plate ramps. The goals were set up behind a curtain so they could be unveiled just after the game was announced. Local sponsors and volunteers have constructed field elements for our previous remote kickoffs, including goals and tetras for 2005, center platform with goals and bar for 2004, ramp for 2003, etc. After the kickoff, these field elements were sent to the practice field that team 931 builds each year and opens to all local teams during build season.

At the STL regional, these field elements are used to build a practice area, generally smaller than a whole field but usually at least half, with carpet but without field boundaries. We cordon off the practice area, staff it with a volunteer who communicates with pit administration via radio headset, and let teams sign-up for time slots to use it.

Something like this might work at Waterloo also, if traffic flow could be managed. Pit space is a little tighter there than at our STL venue.

[evelyn1503]

i think you should have an area where you can watch your robot...say like a pit crew ...if toy made Any modifications then or your just watching to see if any thing goes rong you could do something like that

[Vince lau]

I believe that they arranged so that a newer team was beside more experienced teams. I think its set up like this

team 0001 / team 2000/ team 0002 / team 1999/ team 0003 etc

[Richard Wallace]

I'm pretty sure that's correct. I inspected robots at Waterloo and at St. Louis two weeks earlier, and at both regionals the pits were laid out that way.

I'm a fan of this new pit layout scheme -- sure it is a hassle for inspectors, queuers, judges, other teams, etc. to figure out at first, but it also makes helping the rookies easier for the veteran teams because they'll find each other right next door.

[rbgorbet]

Originally Posted by Vince lau

Would it be possible to have a team media section near the field, so that teams can film/take pictures of the matches? With out getting in the way of people watching in the stands or refs.

One member of each team could get a special media badge which will only allow them on the field while their team is competing.

We've had several requests for this, including from the volunteers who had to repeatedly move people along when they were videotaping. It's something we will certainly consider for 2007 if we can accommodate the room.

Rob.

[rbgorbet]

Originally Posted by Vince lau

I believe that they arranged so that a newer team was beside more experienced teams. I think its set up like this

team 0001 / team 2000/ team 0002 / team 1999/ team 0003 etc

That is correct. Regionals have no control over pit layout, and Vince has identified the logic behind the new pit layout this year. It is fairly simple once you understand it, but no one told the teams, obviously. :-)

Rob.

[rbgorbet]

On the practice field: we desperately wanted to put up a practice area but the space and the game conspired against us. In the end we had a driving area by 1114's pit which I'm not sure was well used (or used at all), and allowed shooting practice (but without targets) after close on Thursday/Friday. The field can't be used once it's cleaned and prepped for Friday (at least, that was the decision by our Field Supervisor). Our issue was that the only space we had to set up shooting would have meant shooting against a wall with no way to control the bounce of balls. We had some room on the far side of the field near the north wall, but we're restricted in that venue since we can't drive/roll on the matting (hence the masonite). Definitely something we want to do next year. If any teams would volunteer to do a 1/4 practice field for next year, we'd be more than happy to try to accommodate the space! 1241 had actually offered us their practice field this year, and 1680 had offered one end, but either was too big for the space we had.

On the sound: it was definitely an issue this year, more than last year. With the airwall closed most of the way last year, the pit area was effectively sectioned off and sound transfer was minimal. With the increase in teams the airwall had to be opened, and the pit area basically was acting like an amplifier for the field audio. We had complaints from teams, judges, and volunteers, and the AV guys tried their hardest all day Friday, but couldn't really do anything. Next year we will make sure there is a full-height curtain there to damp the sound.

This is great. Keep the comments coming!
Rob.