Successful ingredients

[archiver]

Posted by Andy Baker.

Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 8/13/99 9:19 AM MST


In Reply to: Length of Match? posted by Kate on 8/13/99 8:14 AM MST:



I think that 2 minutes is a paradigm that we need to look past.

The real key for time constraint would be the cycle time between matches, not the length of one match.

Let's look at last year:
Match introduction:.........................1/2 minute (ANYONE! please correct these numbers)
Match:............................................ ..2 minutes
Referees figuring the score:.............3 minutes
Removing 'bots and resetting field:...2 minutes
Announcing score and winner:.........1/2 minute
Total:............................................ .....about 8 minutes (is this right???)
Two matches were going on each stage, so that means one match would take place every 4 minutes (this is without snags like dqs, restarts, time outs, etc.). 4 'bots were in each match, so that means 60 'bots could play in one hour. Realizing ther was snags, this number can be reduced by about 20%, getting it down to 50 'bots per hour.

Let's look at Basket'Bot:
Match intro:............................................ ..1/2 minute
Match:............................................ ..........10 minutes (score is known during the match)
Removing 'bots, and announcing score:...1.5 minutes
Total:............................................ ............about 12 minutes
One match would play per stage (court) with 6 teams on each side (3 could be designated as starters and 3 as subs). With two teams (12 'bots) this gives about the same 'bot per minute ratio as last years game.

Generally, what I'm saying is that longer matches could be possible if the game would be easier to score, especially if we kept track of the score as the match progressed. There would be less 'down time' between matches, therefore more action.

I'm not so sure about the sub (bench player issue) and how teams would get to go to the finals (maybe teams with the best win - loss record would go to the finals), etc.... but it sure would be fun to watch!

Hey, I'm brainstorming here... so kick the tires and make my idea better.

Andy B.