Next Year's Game?

[RoboMaster]

People on this thread have mentioned no bumpers and such, and while the discussion has faded, I would just like to add something that I think is important. People on this thread were constantly saying that bumpers matter because of damage to robots/don't matter because damage to robots doesn't happen. I would like to say that they are also there for human safety reasons. Having a 120lb robot smash it's metal frame into your shins or something else around the room is not a pleasant experience.

Autonomous mode at the end sounds interesting. I like pool noodles and safety cones, but you can't get neither of them very easily...(pool noodles in January?? and where could you ever by safety cones?)

I also like the idea of a big wall in the middle that you can't see around. Teams could go around using their cameras, or teams that want to go simple can stay on their side and get points. They could especially do defence agains the other alliance's robots that come around the wall.

How about if FIRST builds these little movable platforms which are basically flat moving dollys (not the ones with handles that you tip) with strong boards on top of them. If at the end of the game your robot is on top of this platform, bonus points! That seems like a really interesting challenge.

And maybe a game where you don't have to drive around with wheels (stationary robots). It's kind of hard to think of a game where you could do this and make it fun for the crowd, but it's thinking outside of the box.

I agree that a water game is totaly unpractical. But I thought once that the game pieces could be large water-tight boxes partially filled with water. The robots would have to transport these by picking them up (maybe they could push them...). The big deal is that they are heavy, awkward, and if a robot stops, the water has a lot of momentum and sloshes around in the box, making it hard to manuver and actually stop. Oh, and tinted water that you could sense with the cameras.

I like the pillow idea. Maybe large bags/beanbags with hard-to-break fabric/netting? Or balloons! Decrease points if you break them!

Have a big rectangular box that is just barely bigger than the robot size limits. If a robot manuvers itself into this box through an open face on one side at the end of the match, bonus points!

NO BALLS FOR GAME PIECES!!! GIVE US SOMETHING UNIQUE!!!