Team Update #1

[Mark McLeod]

The first FIRST team update is out.

We'll find them at: http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...nt.aspx?id=450

FIRSTsearch off the Chiefdelphi portal has been updated.

[65_Xero_Huskie]

7.3.6 - "Game Pieces are considered Field Elements"

Many strategies for getting off the floor are cut with this change. Is there any other way of getting 3 robots off the floor now?

[Jeff Rodriguez]

Section 4.3.4 - Teams must include the robot and robot controls (Operator Interface, OI power supply, joysticks, etc.) when they pack their crates.


This is a change from last year, isn't it?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Ogre

Section 4.3.4 - Teams must include the robot and robot controls (Operator Interface, OI power supply, joysticks, etc.) when they pack their crates.


This is a change from last year, isn't it?

Yes, it is a change. After all the frustrations over ours last year on 1293, I'm sort of glad to see the change.

[Sean Schuff]

Based on the first topic of this update my guess is FIRST won't even consider reversing its decision regarding the batteries.

Sean

[Brandon Holley]

Good update...FIRST clarified several concerns for teams

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Ogre

Section 4.3.4 - Teams must include the robot and robot controls (Operator Interface, OI power supply, joysticks, etc.) when they pack their crates.


This is a change from last year, isn't it?

It also raises the question of whether or not a dashboard would have to be packed with the controls. Dashboards tend to be laptops, and laptops tend to be expensive and constantly needed.

Even as is, I would be pretty worried about packing up two USB Chicklets. Those things aren't cheap, and if anything happened to them it would be nigh impossible to get replacements at the competition.

[Elgin Clock]

Darn, no covering of the Vision System targets allowed with the spoiler or any other tubes for that matter.

Oh wells!

I guess GP does still take precedence over a good strategy.

[Arkorobotics]

Are we allowed to move the alliance teams tubes? Pick it up and move it? Not score or anything. I cant find it in the rules, and it not in the update.

[roboticshirt]

Originally Posted by 65_Xero_Huskie

7.3.6 - "Game Pieces are considered Field Elements"

Many strategies for getting off the floor are cut with this change. Is there any other way of getting 3 robots off the floor now?

ok ther is no way to get 3 robots off the floor unless your robot can fly while lifting 240 extra lbs

[flightofone]

Or jumping, so that you are in the air at the instant the clock expires, which is known by the controller so it can be precisely timed

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by roboticshirt

ok ther is no way to get 3 robots off the floor unless your robot can fly while lifting 240 extra lbs

Actually, there is. Convince one of your opponents to deploy his ramp, while trapping him in your home zone. Have your partners climb on top, and then lift you. The 360 pounds on the unfortunate opposing robot will ensure that he stays put, and receives no penalty points.

(Yes, I know that this isn't remotely likely. And I don't care.)

Originally Posted by flightofone

Or jumping, so that you are in the air at the instant the clock expires, which is known by the controller so it can be precisely timed

In previous years, the score was counted after objects in motion came to rest. 7.1 and <G56> seem to imply otherwise: a jumping robot satisfies the end-of-match conditions for scoring, provided that it is correctly positioned. But be careful how you accomplish this; big springs are probably asking for trouble at inspection.

(As a practical matter, expect this to change. The referees can't just be guessing who's 12", and who's 11.8" off the ground.)

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by flightofone

Or jumping, so that you are in the air at the instant the clock expires, which is known by the controller so it can be precisely timed

I can't seem to find it atm in the rules, but I'm assuming that like previous years, the game is scored once all objects (including robots) have come to rest.

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by Tristan Lall

Convince one of your opponents to deploy his ramp, while trapping him in your home zone. Have your partners climb on top, and then lift you. The 360 pounds on the unfortunate opposing robot will ensure that he stays put, and receives no penalty points.

Man... just when I think that something is totally impossible, somebody comes out and proves me wrong. Unfortunately, this is a violation of <G35>, but I never would have thought of this way of getting three robots off the ground.

[Graham Donaldson]

I guess that means teams will have to build a second control panel if they intend to practice driving before comps with a practice bot...(note to self: make sure team knows of this change...)