2007 game field...

[Pavan Dave]

Guys please keep in mind that there is a high chance there will not be water in a future event. Water Robotics is MATE not FIRST. But it would be an interesting change.

Thanks,
Pavan

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

That's interesting. The scoring things are all in the other Alliance's end (or at least the key component that allows bonus points -- like making 3-across patterns in '05), and there are three ways to get there: a 5-degree ramp leads to a bridge that turns left and goes across the arena to a right-hand turn down a 5-degree ramp on the other side. At both extreme sides of the arena is a 30-degree ramp that goes up to a 40-inch square platform and then down again on the other side. Under the bridge formed by the 10-degree ramp bridge is the "underpass" to the other side that is only 24 inches high.

Great idea. Have balls, boxes, etc. on the opponent's side of the field, but keep the goals on your own side of the field, forcing teams to travel from one side of the field to the other and back again (you would probably have to make the scoring object small enough to fit under the bridge). The bottom would be a direct quick route; the top would take longer, but would be easier to do and would allow you to hold more scoring objects since you wouldn't be forced to fit them under the bridge. The sides allow a nice balance between quickness to the opposite end of the field and low CG (the robot would have to keep in mind CG, but wouldn't be forced to be as low as the 24"). The sides would allow you to carry more scoring pieces than going underneath, but not as many as the bridge which takes the longest.

For the end of the match, a robot on either 40" platform scores x points (the robot may not be touching the ramp though, they must be on the platform only), and a robot underneath the bridge scores y points (I'm not sure you want the same amount of points for being on the ramp and for under the bridge). A bonus is given for having robots in all 3 positions.

[bk111]

Originally Posted by gondorf

i think that maybe they will have 2 playing fields of different shape to make teams have to make their autonomous modes adaptive to the field.

also having a field other than carpet would be interesting. perhaps cceramic tile slicked with oil? how about ice?

also working with bizarre materials like dry ice might be interesting

not jello but maybe pudding or pie filling

Hmm, oil. Let's see, FIRE! The game would be a pyrofest.

[irishninja]

Water is impractical. And FIRST always uses things from the previous year. This year it was the scoring system. Three points for center goal (top of tetra) one point goal (one point in tetra). My guess is either squares or cubes. a fan/wind would be really cool.

[Arkorobotics]

I am not a believer in the water thing. But it's just weird how there was a huge bucket of water on the side of the field across the judges. Where Dave and the editing table are. (this is at the So Cal regional). It's just a this huge 2.5 ft (diameter) bucket just full of water... odd...

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Arkorobotics

... But it's just weird how there was a huge bucket of water on the side of the field across the judges. Where Dave and the editing table are. .... It's just a this huge 2.5 ft (diameter) bucket just full of water... odd...

Volunteers get thirsty. That bucket contained bottles of water and ice to keep the water cold. I got water from the one at Pit Admin on more than one occasion (I was volunteering). I believe this is standard practice.

[Arkorobotics]

Oh i didnt know that, i thought it was a joke or fake clue or something... well that explains that.

[lukevanoort]

Okay time for my prediction. We'll have to shoot footballs into holes whch then release tetras. We then have to put poofs in the mailboxes. The mail boxes are put into slots that are "activated" by capping a tetra on a frame on top of them. Basket balls are used for addtional points for shooting them into another, lower, goal that is activated by doughnuts. Golf balls are legal to drop on the floor to try and interfere with other bots (no shooting them). The golf balls are stored, floating (can golf balls float?) in a drum full of water. The field has walls that drop down halfway through the match turning the field from square, to rectangular, then circular. There is a ramp in the middle of the field for "king-of-the-hill," this ramp could also be used as a jump to help hit a switch that changes the field from free-for-all all the time to defense/offence mode or back. Randomly one robot on the alliance may be shut down (although that alliance then recieves 5 pts for the shut down bot) for 5 sec resulting in uneven alliances and signaled by a spark shooter firing out of the top of the robot, or they might not, resulting in even ones. There will be three 2 robot alliances, but only two single robot sized ramps that they can mount for end of match points. These ramps are activated by putting a team flag in a holder, which can be removed and "captured" by the other team for +5 pts. The robots also might be randomly dropped into auto mode, signaled with different colored sparks, a state that they stay in for a random time. (even the whole match) There is also a large fan you can aim at holes to inflate balloons for bonus points or use to interfere with your opponents shooting. But beware! one of the ballons for each alliance is full of chemicals, if you pop it and destroy a robot, it's not FIRST's fault!

[mtaman02]

You all have way too much time on your hands, don't you guys think you should be starting to prep for the nationals. =) I think the Field will have some sort of switch that toggles between offense and defense, It would be up to the alliances opponents to keep toggling that switch to either allow or not allow scoring to go on. The Field will be played on the traditional carpeted surface with the possibility of steps / ramps w/ chin up bars like in 2004 these items will either have the surface of aluminum or lexan. Scoring Objects will most likely be poof balls only because its fun to see a poof ball get ripped to shreds =). I'm still working of the object of the game and how long the match will be.

[Donut]

Originally Posted by mtaman02

You all have way too much time on your hands, don't you guys think you should be starting to prep for the nationals. =) I think the Field will have some sort of switch that toggles between offense and defense, It would be up to the alliances opponents to keep toggling that switch to either allow or not allow scoring to go on. The Field will be played on the traditional carpeted surface with the possibility of steps / ramps w/ chin up bars like in 2004 these items will either have the surface of aluminum or lexan. Scoring Objects will most likely be poof balls only because its fun to see a poof ball get ripped to shreds =). I'm still working of the object of the game and how long the match will be.

I wish we could prep for the Nationals, hopefully we will be next year.

We haven't had them for 2 years now, so FIRST is going to use some kind of PVC goals for balls again next year. If FIRST let teams control offense/defense, then teams should both be on offense normally, but they can drive one of their allinace robots onto a pressure pad to put the opposing team on defense. To ensure a 3 on 2 though, the other team only remains on defense while that robot remains on the pressure pad. The other alliance can also reduce the match to a 2 on 2 with both teams on defense by putting one of their own robots on their own pressure pad, and then the 2 remaining robots on each team will need to push the opposing robot off the pressure pad so they can get back on offense.

These pressure pads would be the top of the side ramps discussed in the bridge game above. I have no idea where the goals go.

[Mr. Freeman]

What about having multiple game pieces?
I don't think this has ever been done before (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

I don't have any ideas about what those pieces should be other than that they should be very dissimilar in order to force teams to build different mechanisms to handle them. (I.E. poof balls and pool noodles)

Also, I think that dynamic alliances would be an interesting thing to see. You wouldn't be able to use bicycle flags to ID the teams, and the LED flashers probably wouldn't work too well either (rotating bubble lights maybe?).

Anyway, after some amount of time, the alliances are randomly selected from the robots on the field. The alliances would remain the same size, but they'd be made up of different robots.
(I.E. In period 1, the blue alliance is made up of bots 1,2,3. The red alliance is made up of bots 4,5,6.
In period 2 the blue alliance is made up of bots 3,5,6 and the red alliance is made up of bots 1,2,4.)

Maybe even have 3 alliances (red, blue, green) and see what happens. Heck, you could even start the match with 2 alliances and the green one wouldn't even exist untill half way through the match. Crazy!

The field should also be covered in sand. (Wasn't the first, FIRST competition held on a field covered in popcorn kernels?)

[Arkorobotics]

2007 game will require robots that walk!

[petek]

The Ultimate Challenge for 2007:
Wrest control of the Krispy Kremes from an autonomous placebot (which bears a strange resemblance to Rich Kressly) and put them on your alliance goal. One point is awarded for each donut safely scored.
The goal, a 3 ft inflatable clown fish, is floating in dilute jello contained in a 5 ft diameter kiddie pool.
A large fan blows across the field to make sure the goal is in constant motion, not to mention blowing the powdered sugar off the donuts if not protected. Points are only awarded for intact donuts.
Two alliances face off again this year: the smooth alliance and the uneven alliance. The smooth alliances's side of the the field is all HDPE on a 30 degree slope while the uneven's is covered with the previous three year's practice carpets thrown over the field packing cases.
Autonomous periods occur at random times throughout the 2 minute 17.5 second match. Donuts scored during autonomous periods are worth 4 points.
Defensive strategies may be used but dunking the placebot into the jello is not allowed and will incur a 10 pt penalty.

[mtaman02]

Originally Posted by petek

The Ultimate Challenge for 2007:
Wrest control of the Krispy Kremes from an autonomous placebot (which bears a strange resemblance to Rich Kressly) and put them on your alliance goal. One point is awarded for each donut safely scored.
The goal, a 3 ft inflatable clown fish, is floating in dilute jello contained in a 5 ft diameter kiddie pool.
A large fan blows across the field to make sure the goal is in constant motion, not to mention blowing the powdered sugar off the donuts if not protected. Points are only awarded for intact donuts.
Two alliances face off again this year: the smooth alliance and the uneven alliance. The smooth alliances's side of the the field is all HDPE on a 30 degree slope while the uneven's is covered with the previous three year's practice carpets thrown over the field packing cases.
Autonomous periods occur at random times throughout the 2 minute 17.5 second match. Donuts scored during autonomous periods are worth 4 points.
Defensive strategies may be used but dunking the placebot into the jello is not allowed and will incur a 10 pt penalty.

I see a 2007 game in motion after reading this - lol Rescue the Krispy Kremes from becoming naked seems to be the main objective for next year just one question what about the jelly and cremed filled donuts what happens if they get squished ? What shall be the penalty ?

[kawelch]

I still want to see robots picking up batons and placing them in mailboxes. That just appeals to me. Not sure why....