[BB] 2010 Game Hint #1

[GGCO]

Does anyone think that if it really is a marble track, then this clue is WAY too obvious???

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Tetraman

If this isn't a Marble track, I don't know what is.

For what it's worth, I agree. The hint shows it upside-down. This is a field element, one of several. It is used to connect longer pieces of pipe forming a marble raceway of sorts, but for 7.5" balls (or similar objects).

[Tetraman]

Originally Posted by GGCO

Does anyone think that if it really is a marble track, then this clue is WAY too obvious???

The clues are way too obvious EVERY year. The problem is, we usually always miss the obviousness.

And if it's not a marble track, its at least a place where balls are set, like they may be placed on this "track" as a kind of "platform loading station".

I also have a feeling that this has something to do with Pipes. Like that game where you have to move the parts of the pipes to get the water flowing in the right direction. What if there is a continuous stream of "water balls" that are sent out a single "pipe" and then roll their way down pipes to "goals". We may need to form robots that can complete sections of these "pipe-ways" to get the "water balls" to "flow" into our goals, and avoid opponent's goals. Or move sections of "pipe-ways" from one place on the field to another. There may be a way for us to funnel "water-balls" to the human player, and they have better and more direct access to the goals, so maybe letting the "water-balls" drip to the floor is an option.

EDIT: And to be more grandeous with this idea, there may be some device above the player stations that is where the balls "drip" from, and they can end up going either to the left or right. So you have to do some good timing and figure out where and when the water will fall, and make good calculations to when you can make the score. I'm sure there will also be "bonus balls" scattered in the "water-balls" that will be released at a variable time.

EDIT 2: I call this game - Pipeworkx - and the X is shaped like two pipes, which is a central field element to the game.

EDIT 3: If I get this right Dave, can I be on the GDC? hahaha

[Lowfategg]

Hmmm, looks to me like some sort of mount for a signal device, such as a light.

This would explain why it is made of polycarb and appears to fit into the existing FIRST field setup along with the placement of the mounting holes.

[pandamonium]

Originally Posted by CHI DONG08

If soccer balls are the game piece, blue and red soccer balls would match the alliances nicely, but on the field they will have one brand. I don't think they will have a bunch of different brands on the field, but for practice I guess you could use any brand. The FTC hockey pucks last year I think were Franklin. So if we have soccer balls then I'm guessing they would want to use Franklin. Like these

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=3540673
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=3439879

I called the online number and provided the product info to the sales rep He was unable to find this product. Leading us to conclude that it was recently discontinued. In the future do not search for products from google as they can be old links. Although werent the orbit balls discontinued too?

[staloch]

i also think that the center piece could be able to slide back and forth along the 2 pipes

[ATannahill]

I was thinking earlier that this thread has been good about no repeats of ideas. I have been proved wrong. Please read the whole thread or at least search it with the button at the top of the page.

[Nin_estarSaerah]

Originally Posted by Tetraman

The clues are way too obvious EVERY year. The problem is, we usually always miss the obviousness.

Usually, Game Hint #1 isn't so obvious. Even when we get it right, it isn't so revealing. Like the Opah "Moonfish" last year, really only told us the "theme" of the game, not much about the field or how it is played. If this is a track, and is so obvious, we may not get another hint.

[Beta Version]

Why do we assume balls, when we could be easily talking about cylinders.

This "track" idea is pretty nice, however, simply because the track indicates a curve in two coordinates, doesnt mean in needs to be a curved in all three. In fact, a modular rail system like this would actually be a pretty poor choice for a rolling track, every joint is an opportunity for the ball to get hung up.


Sorry about the bad stock image, I cant draw a cylinder in photoshop, but Dave mentioned diet coke cans in his blog, and I thought it apropos.

Instead of a track designed to roll balls on, a game piece we've used too many years in a row, this could be a scoring rack, in which cylinders are placed to score points. It would be a new game piece, not unreasonable, but presenting excellent manipulation engineering challenges.

It could also go along with an earlier discussion on what good real life engineering challenges could turn into games, in which waste management came up, but thats just speculation.

[Nin_estarSaerah]

Originally Posted by Beta Version

Instead of a track designed to roll balls on, a game piece we've used too many years in a row, this could be a scoring rack, in which cylinders are placed to score points. It would be a new game piece, not unreasonable, but presenting excellent manipulation engineering challenges.

It could also go along with an earlier discussion on what good real life engineering challenges could turn into games, in which waste management came up, but thats just speculation.

I really like this idea, and the point of real life engineering challenges is one we haven't addressed much in this thread.
If this was a scoring rack, the cylinders would still be easy to de-score but probably not as easy as balls. Plus, we have had balls the last 3 years, a change in shape would seem to be in order.

[RoboMaster]

A bunch of people have now said that it would be easy to take balls or cylinders off the track idea. I suggest that this isn't the whole part and there might be side rails that keep the object from going off the side.

[jerry w]

Originally Posted by Beta Version

Why do we assume balls, when we could be easily talking about cylinders.

This "track" idea is pretty nice, however, simply because the track indicates a curve in two coordinates, doesnt mean in needs to be a curved in all three. In fact, a modular rail system like this would actually be a pretty poor choice for a rolling track, every joint is an opportunity for the ball to get hung up.

The angle of the support to the rail indicates that gravity is involved. A sphere is the object that tends to move most easily in response to the force of gravity when placed on a track. If the ball has a firm surface, the small bumps at the joints would have little effect. Once static friction is overcome, the inertia of the rolling ball will take it over the bumps.
So the puzzle here is "where might these rails be placed?"

[Chris is me]

Perhaps the most obvious answer isn't the correct one? I would not be surprised if this has nothing to do with balls now.

If you put the poles vertically, you could easily hang a ringer or something on the end of the lexan. You could even mount it in a way that the lexan is tipped upward slightly to prevent it sliding. I think the game object will dangle from the tongue.

Can someone tell me what things can fit in or around that tongue easily? Handles for things, maybe? My suitcase I tredged through airports is the first thing that comes to mind, but probably not Approximately how wide is the tongue?

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Perhaps the most obvious answer isn't the correct one? I would not be surprised if this has nothing to do with balls now.

Thankkkkk you. I've been feeling like I'm the only one who was thinking this :/

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Can someone tell me what things can fit in or around that tongue easily? Handles for things, maybe? My suitcase I tredged through airports is the first thing that comes to mind, but probably not Approximately how wide is the tongue?

A lot of things could fit around that tongue easily, mostly things with handles - suitcases, purses, laptop bags. Things could even be draped across it, like scarves and coats.
Though...assuming that is 1/4" Lexan, there aren't many things that could be draped/hung on it without it snapping.

I feel like the orientation that we've been given is the correct orientation for the piece in the game. The curve at the bottom might just be for some structural aspect. Just throwing that out there.

And for those talking about how things are going out of production after FIRST used them as game pieces - aren't the balls from 2006 still being made?

[Bharat Nain]

Originally Posted by Karibou

A lot of things could fit around that tongue easily, mostly things with handles - suitcases, purses, laptop bags. Things could even be draped across it, like scarves and coats.
Though...assuming that is 1/4" Lexan, there aren't many things that could be draped/hung on it without it snapping.

FRC2010 - The flying purses