Important Rules - 2007 Season

[lukevanoort]

Does anyone know how you could go about finding out if your glasses are ANSI approved? I know mine are some sort of shatter resistant plastic, but I have no idea how to find out if they're ANSI approved. I probably would use goggles anyway (my glasses are rather small) but it'd be nice to be able to just put on the side shields and take off the goggles for a short period of time to let some air in.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

Does anyone know how you could go about finding out if your glasses are ANSI approved? I know mine are some sort of shatter resistant plastic, but I have no idea how to find out if they're ANSI approved. I probably would use goggles anyway (my glasses are rather small) but it'd be nice to be able to just put on the side shields and take off the goggles for a short period of time to let some air in.

I'd look on the package, if you have it. For regular glasses, you'd probably have to ask.

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by Raul

Chris,

That same rule has been in the manual for many past years. They are not saying it is against the rules to have your crate weigh more than 400lbs. They are just saying that you will have to pay an extra fee at the competition if it does.

Raul

I think what he means is that he's worried about the rule below since their crate does not use OSB or plywood.

All Crates must:
...
4) *Use 3/8” or 1/2” plywood
5) *Use 3/8” or 1/2” Oriented Strand Board (OSB), a solid panel quality with no laps, gaps, or voids.
...

[Ricky Q.]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

I think what he means is that he's worried about the rule below since their crate does not use OSB or plywood.

I believe the rules have said that wood is required for a couple years. Our crate does not used wood or OSB either and has been perfectly fine.

[Brandon Holley]

As much as some people may think of the music coming form carts as distracting, it really serves a good purpose. We all know how difficult it can be maneuvering your cart from the field to the pit or vice versa...the music may seem obnoxious but it makes life so easy because people who are having conversations in the pit hear the music and immediately move out of the way. If you ask me its helps safety.

[Ian Curtis]

Does anyone other than myself find the following statement rather disconcerting?

Originally Posted by Section 3 "At the Events" 3.3.4

• While competing – mentor, human player, 2 operators

Last years manual refers to coaches...

Originally Posted by Section 7 "At the Events" 7.3.4

Operators, players, and coaches will not be allowed on the competition field without them.

As I see it they have either renamed the coach, which would be rather random but I wouldn't have a problem, or eliminated student coaches.

On the bright side, it looks like we can continue to contemplate the possible duties of the human player as they will be making a return.

[JamesBrown]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

Does anyone other than myself find the following statement rather disconcerting?



Last years manual refers to coaches...



As I see it they have either renamed the coach, which would be rather random but I wouldn't have a problem, or eliminated student coaches.

On the bright side, it looks like we can continue to contemplate the possible duties of the human player as they will be making a return.

These are for the 2 operators, 1 human player, and 1 coach/mentor. The badge with the dot is the mentor’s. The mentor can be an adult or student. He or she cannot score points or operate the robot.

That seems to clarify that a coach can still be a student.


James


Edit: I would also like to thank whoever decided to mark things with the word New in red, it makes it very easy to find changes.

[Mike Schroeder]

Originally Posted by MORT~11

As much as some people may think of the music coming form carts as distracting, it really serves a good purpose. We all know how difficult it can be maneuvering your cart from the field to the pit or vice versa...the music may seem obnoxious but it makes life so easy because people who are having conversations in the pit hear the music and immediately move out of the way. If you ask me its helps safety.

also look at it this way, with loud music playing next to you, how are you supposed to hear important announcements that the Pit Announcer makes

Originally Posted by RoboMom

Really?!
I guess I'm hanging out with the wrong volunteers...

you and me both

[Jherbie53]

Originally Posted by MORT~11

As much as some people may think of the music coming form carts as distracting, it really serves a good purpose. We all know how difficult it can be maneuvering your cart from the field to the pit or vice versa...the music may seem obnoxious but it makes life so easy because people who are having conversations in the pit hear the music and immediately move out of the way. If you ask me its helps safety.

You should ask people too move, rather than assume they will move. Also it is hard to hear the pit announcements with all the other noise in the pits. I like that they said your cart needs to be in your pit area when not transporting your robot. It gets annoying when peoples carts start getting left in the way a little bit. For the most part we just leave BOB on the cart and work on him there.

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by MORT~11

As much as some people may think of the music coming form carts as distracting, it really serves a good purpose. We all know how difficult it can be maneuvering your cart from the field to the pit or vice versa...the music may seem obnoxious but it makes life so easy because people who are having conversations in the pit hear the music and immediately move out of the way. If you ask me its helps safety.

Unless you're in the pits trying to communicate with a teammate that you are, say, turning the robot on and warning them to be careful. In that case, loud music can prevent your teammate from hearing your warning.

Another thing with the music-I find that when judges are asking me questions, it's really hard to hear them because so many teams have loud, bad music playing. It is also difficult for them to hear us when we answer their questions. Of course, the arena is already loud because of music playing by the field and people cheering, but individual teams blasting music from their carts because they think it's cool that they put speakers into their cart is just plain annoying and excessive.

[eugenebrooks]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

Does anyone know how you could go about finding out if your glasses are ANSI approved? I know mine are some sort of shatter resistant plastic, but I have no idea how to find out if they're ANSI approved. I probably would use goggles anyway (my glasses are rather small) but it'd be nice to be able to just put on the side shields and take off the goggles for a short period of time to let some air in.

The following guideline is listed elsewhere in the manual posted so far:
"Approved glasses have “ANSI Z87” imprinted somewhere on the frame."
This rule is very specific.

[Jak DiGriz]

You guys...

It's what, 10 weeks until the first competition, and you all are going through rules on pit behavior and approved safety goggles with a fine-toothed comb! Not only is this ridiculously over the top, there is a good chance that any rule combing done today will be forgotten 8 weeks down the line, and you'll have to go over the rules AGAIN.

Use your time for something more... interesting. Like trying to get the game leaked. All FIRST volunteers know the game 2 weeks in advance. They're just sworn to secrecy and will disavow all knowledge! But seriously. They know the game.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Jak DiGriz

All FIRST volunteers know the game 2 weeks in advance. They're just sworn to secrecy and will disavow all knowledge! But seriously. They know the game.

Really?!
I guess I'm hanging out with the wrong volunteers...

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

Really?!
I guess I'm hanging out with the wrong volunteers...

I fairly certain that only the GDC and FIRST senior management know the game before kickoff.

Some key volunteers find out about field elements and gamepieces in advance (starting a few weeks ago), but these adventurous souls must:

1) have no team affiliation, and 2) sign a secrecy agreement.

I know the guy who does this mostly thankless job for the St. Louis region -- he's building whatever it is in his basement right now (and cursing the incomplete and ever changing documentation), so I won't be visiting his house until after kick-off.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Richard

I fairly certain that only the GDC and FIRST senior management know the game before kickoff.

Some key volunteers find out about field elements and gamepieces in advance (starting a few weeks ago), but these adventurous souls must:

1) have no team affiliation, and 2) sign a secrecy agreement.

I know the guy who does this mostly thankless job for the St. Louis region -- he's building whatever it is in his basement right now (and cursing the incomplete and ever changing documentation), so I won't be visiting his house until after kick-off.

Don't forget those few individuals who get to build the field the day before at the kick-off events, but are kept locked in the room till the game is shown.