Team Update #1

[Paul Copioli]

I heard a rumor that they will hold down the surface with double sided carpet tape underneath and fiberglass tape at all of the seams and edges. We are using 4 x 8 sheets and have 3/4 of a field put together. We are only using the fiberglass tape and the field doesn't move. The tape is clear with fibers going the long way and sideways like a grid. I found it in the paint department at Home Depot. The double sided tape is in the flooring / carpet department at Home Depot.

We have driven about 6 hours on the floor and it is holding up just fine. All of the forces this year are much, much lower than in previous years.

[Ryan Albright]

Originally Posted by Stuart

I don't know, the whole way that FIRST does team updates . . kinda feels like a waiter brings out your food, puts it in front of you. then just as you get your forks out, hurries to change your order because the chef wanted to make soup not steak . . kinda unprofessional. In this regard is where I really have to say BEST manages better than FIRST.

but ohh well. on to how to place balls while being at least 10 inches away from where they need to be.

Edit: to elaborate on BEST's team updates method. they have a Q&A much like FIRST where rules are clarified. Past that there are no updates to the official rules or additional rules. Once the game is out that is the game that will be played. If BEST had intended for teams not to steal they would ( and have in past games) simply said teams cannot remove game items from other teams scoring areas.

I think its a little far to call it unprofessional. You have a set number of game designers that have been designing a game for so many months. When that set of people look at something for so long of course you are going to miss something.

Then when you release this game to 10,000+ critics. The game is going to be picked apart and strategy and robot ideas are going to come up that they did not even think of.

I think FIRST does a great job with their updates and trying to keep the game fair. Granted I do like having a defensive robot makes the game exciting. Thats why 2003 game stack attack was one of my favorites. that last 30 seconds of the game, all hell broke loose trying to get your robot on the ramp to get the extra 50 points.