[Official 2008 Game Design] New Technology Discussions

[David55]

Field Enhancement

As the webcasts and TV broadcasts become more common in FIRST events (more and more people are watching events on the internet), I think the video coverage of the field should be upgraded from the traditional 2 camera setup. What I am suggesting is integrating video cameras into the field (similar to the way sensors and the green light have been integrated into the field in previous years). This has happened several times in the past (for example having a camera inside the high goal in 2006 or having a camera inside the Rack in 2007 - as seen here). Obviously this generates new expenses for FIRST, but I think they are unsubstantial:
Camcorders can be bought relatively cheap (300-400$) which provide great video quality (especially for a webcast and even for TV standards). These cameras can be used year after year, which make it a one time expense. I also believe that most (if not all) video production companies at events can handle the switching with an extra camera.

I believe that having more video angles (or even on-robot video) will help make the game look a lot more interesting for people watching on the internet or on TV (especially people who have never heard of FIRST before).

(If this is not the right thread for this idea feel free to move it).

[raymaniac]

Originally Posted by dlavery

There are no assumptions about the need for three-team alliances, limiting each round to just six teams, play fields in a single plane, real-time radio communications, etc.

So we could throw in a slight delay between a command and the robot's responce?

This could create an interesting challenge for the drivers, having to anticipate what will happen and react accordinly, making controlling the robot much harder, especially when it comes to avoiding defense. Longer delays would make it more challenging and interesting, but anything more than 3-5 seconds might require longer match times.


This could simulate the delay in response times when commands are sent to the Mars rovers.

[Billfred]

Technologies I'd like to see in a new control system:

1) Integrated disable/autonomous dongle. No team should be without one, but there's a lot of things that can go terribly wrong with the ones we build ourselves (frying the OI processor, bad soldering jobs keeping the robot from disabling, a short triggering autonomous, etc.). My ideal setup would be putting a Big Red Button for disabling the robot and a covered switch for enabling autonomous operation right on the OI itself. If everyone's running the same dongle, every team member on every team in FRC will know what to hit to stop a robot in an emergency.

2) Secure connectors for cables. Vex robots already get RJ11 jacks for their radio and tether ports--what's stopping us from sticking the same on the motor controllers and RC? As a bonus, you're far more likely to find a handset cable in a hurry than a PWM cable.

3) The return of some sort of large, bright, visible-from-four-sides flashing light. Require teams to have a patch of Velcro and two spade connectors from the kit handy for the light, hand it out in the queue and take it back after the match. The flags, though cheap and modestly effective at showing alliance color, don't seem to impart the same "GET THE HECK AWAY FROM THIS THING, IT'S TURNED ON!" attribute as even the brighter IFI lights. Speaking of lights...

4) Red LEDs are fine, green LEDs are fine, but do something about yellow LEDs. If I'm checking an RC to make sure it's functioning, I can easily tell the red lights and the non-red lights. But discerning the blinking yellow lights from the blinking green lights takes more time. Maybe it's just me.

Other than the new control system, I'm largely fine with the level of technology in the KOP as it stands. Some refinements would be nice, but overall it's fine for me as it sits.

There are, however, a few other areas where things could be improved. I'm stretching the definition of "technology" here, but I think it's the best place:

1) Be more specific about team numbers on robots. We all know 4" high, 3/4" stroke, but sometimes that still results in numbers that are less-than-great in their visibility. Compare the numbers in this picture with the numbers in this picture. Both were to the satisfaction of the inspectors at the Palmetto Regional, but one is clearly easier to read. Granted, the inspectors could hold a team back until they made theirs more distinctive, but some examples in the manual of what should and should not be done here would probably be helpful to teams.

2) Change out the flags. Ringing issues aside, the flags tend to go projectile a little much--and as an inspector, the flag holder is definitely on my Top Five Things I Despise Inspecting for the simple reason that it is often the one thing holding a team from passing. Yes, it should be in place when they ship. Yes, it should be easy to inspect. Somehow, though, it is a thorn in the side for both the teams (who have to listen to me say they can't pass yet) and for myself (who has to listen to the teams gripe about how they can't pass yet, then invariably pass their flag holder thirty seconds before their first match). There has to be a better way.

The idea in my mind is to require a large trading card holder mounted upright on the top of each robot--let them extend beyond the maximum height like the flags currently do, and give teams an inch at the bottom to modify for their mounting needs. They're durable, easy to mount, and run about 40 cents each in quantity 100 for a good-sized one. Get to the queue, get a slip of (laminated) paper, slip it in the toploader. Get a yellow card? Get the slip with a yellow stripe. Done.

3) Steal the NASA Field's clock and put it on each FRC field. The white tape on the clock LED sign this year was a step in the right direction, but the rack still could block the view at times. A nice big one off to the side of the field would all but eliminate such problems for all time.

I'll think of more, I'm sure.

[EHaskins]

(1) Field positioning system(s)
One thing I think really needs to be added is an easy to implement, accurate, field positioning system. Many teams have been developing positioning systems, but a standardized system that any team could implement would open so many possibilities for autonomous operation.

(2)Inter-robot communitcation
Assuming a field positioning system was developed, then inter-robot communication specifically for position data would, I think, be reasonable and fairly easy to implement. Knowing the position of the other robots opens so many possibilities for autonomous modes and user control modes.

[EDIT] I don't believe inter-robot communication could be implemented for data not specified by FIRST. Un-regulated inter-robot communication could be an unfair advantage for teams which work together during the build season. [/EDIT]

(3) Processing power, and remote processors
I also would like to see the ability to have two-way communication between the robot and an off board processor, such as a laptop at the OI. The ability to have the almost unlimited processing power, compared to that of a PIC, of a laptop computer would open so many possibilities for programmers.

I see no reason why the RC programming should be limited to the embedded programming of the PIC, or a low power co-processor, when most real-world applications allow access to the processing power of one, or more, PCs.

Sorry if this is an incoherent rant.