pic: Three Trackballs?

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Roger

The ends of the field where the drivers are have the big lexan panels. The angled corners are the chainlink fence. The center divider are 3 high lexan panels. The low outside sidewalls have lexan, but the outer outside walls are just the metal pipe - no lexan. At least I can't see any. There are no zip-ties holding the panels anyway, like the center divider wall has. I remember at the end of Final matches before the awards they were taking the pipes down on the audience side but no lexan.

Originally Posted by EricH

Oh, the OUTSIDE ones! I was thinking of the normal field walls. You're right, those don't have any visible. I'd say that's so refs, spectators, and camera people have a clear view with no chance of reflection.

You're both correct. The center wall has larger diameter pipes, and the reflective panels are laced in place with substantial cable ties. The look reminds me of leathercraft projects from childhood day camps (moccasins?). The bases for the uprights are covered with carpet pieces. The thing is a bit of a nuisance to assemble, and the cable ties are a nuisance when taking it down, but it looks to me like the greatest nuisance for the field crew is keeping the carpet pieces securely taped down. One robot in San Diego ate one of the carpet pieces, along with the sticky tape, and got "indigestion."

The bases of the outer walls are placed outside the normal side rails of the field. The outer walls have no polycarbonate panels, and have smaller diameter pipes than the inner walls. They also require little or no maintenance during the competition.

From the differing construction, I conclude that the purpose of the center divider is to prevent both trackballs and robots from crossing the center of the field, so it has to be strong enough to withstand lots of rough treatment. But the purpose of the outer fences is merely to keep the trackballs from escaping. So they are neither as robust nor as impermeable as the center divider.

Furthermore, I suspect that the GDC knew very well what the effect of reflective panels would be. After all, they DIDN'T use the stuff on the corner panels.