2010 Game Hint #2

[LavastormSW]

Originally Posted by dustinjeremy2k

This was my second observation, but again, I think it's a mistake (like the yellow trip hazard plates that should be bent instead of flat).

On the contrary, I think that making those yellow plates straight and not curved was deliberate. It doesn't seem like they would make a simple mistake like that.

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

They cover the field wall supports so people don't trip.

Originally Posted by DUCKY

The Yellow squares in the drawing are to prevent/identify tripping hazards around the fields. All fields had them... maybe not all were yellow... but they were there.

Then why wouldn't they be curved down to touch the floor in the picture? These look like they're there to serve some other purpose.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by LavastormSW

On the contrary, I think that making those yellow plates straight and not curved was deliberate. It doesn't seem like they would make a simple mistake like that.


Then why wouldn't they be curved down to touch the floor in the picture? These look like they're there to serve some other purpose.

As a matter of fact, they may indeed be cut straight initially, and the CAD for them would show that. However, in fact, they are bent, thanks to some velcro at the ends and about three days a week of being stuck like that with everyone stepping on or near them. Trust me; I've helped set up the field for at least one event per year since 2007.

And, regarding why it wasn't done in the CAD: It can be kind of hard to get a curved surface like that. It may be that whoever did the CAD didn't know how, or ran out of time to do it.

[Danny Blau]

The yellow platforms: yes in past years there have been trip guards over the field supports but to me the question is why make those the focus of the picture? they're the first thing you see, why are they important?

I first thought they could be either game piece loading stations, or a goal. This could be where we pick up/deliver the boxes of cracker jacks and cans of Diet Coke.

And remember the GDC puts roughly a gagillion hours into this everything they do, say and post about the game is very planed and calculated, if the panels were supposed to be curved they would have shown them that way or not shown at all

Danny
~see you at kickoff

[LavastormSW]

Originally Posted by DannyB1259

And remember the GDC puts roughly a gagillion hours into this everything they do, say and post about the game is very planed and calculated, if the panels were supposed to be curved they would have shown them that way or not shown at all.

That's exactly what I was saying. Thanks for reinforcing my point.

[Elgin Clock]

So, they drop the animation award for 2010 (going by the awards section already released for this year), yet they offer 2 hints that are made with a CAD and/or animation program.

That's kind of odd... don't you think?


Oh, & btw... for anyone who wants to go scale this field picture, here is the drawing for the (2009 & previous) outrigger device shown.
If it has changed dimensionally for this year since 2006 when this pdf was released, then I would be surprised.

http://www2.usfirst.org/2006comp/Dra...Fab_&_Assy.pdf

Oh, & here's the gate assembly document just for kicks as well:
http://www2.usfirst.org/2006comp/Dra...Fab_&_Assy.pdf

Oh, & one more thing. If the gate shown were to be put into the middle of the field, it could happen with the same size field BUT you would have to get rid of an upright support that is right in the middle of the field.

Or just put the gate between the outriggers which exist already (2009 field shown).
http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/FE-00032.pdf

[bladetech932]

Can you explain more/show pictures? I want to understand this better.

ok the side railing is made of 7 pieces for easy setup and each piece looks roughly like this
============+============+============
_______==______________==______________==________
============+============+============
with the + being the link between two pieces the = being frame and the _ being empty space
now since their is an odd number of pieces it cant be in the middle but their is always the old position
but if you look at the picture here http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/FE-00032.pdf
the old position does not have two yellow things on both sides their-for it must be in the position between the old spot and the middle
and like i said before they did not move it for no reason

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by EricH

Sean: Animation can be a form of CAD. For example, you can use it to determine whether or not you can see a particular part you need to see at X time. Of course, this doesn't seem quite in your dad's style of animation, so it's safest to assume that 1) he got some major help doing the game animation; 2) he got another few computers to run parts of it; or 3) this isn't from the game animation per se (that is, it's a scene from it that has been substantially upgraded).

My comment was intended for people to consider the usage of this image, rather than the origin. People were puzzled over the omission of the polycarbonate siding or why the yellow guards weren't bent. If this image was intended for the same or similar purpose as the animation (whether or not it is actually part of the animation), absolute detail is not essential. This may well be a rough graphical representation (a "cartoon") rather than an in-depth draft.

[Kims Robot]

So I have been pondering, and my mind keeps going back to Ladder Logic. I couldn't find any great photos of the field... anyone have any good ones on their websites? I remember it vividly, but its hard to describe. And its a good example of odd shaped fields for those who have never seen one 96-98 were odd fields, if I remember right 99 was the start of the rectangular size...

The reason I keep thinking back to this, is that I agree with the idea that the first hint could be some sort of ball track when it is flipped upside-down from how it is shown in the image.

Now if you look at the second hint, if we guess that this is just a typical field gate in the corner, but guess that it is showing that there are no corner structures like the last two years, that means the corners of the field are open from obstruction. (See my guess on the FOV in the attached image).

Then, somewhat like Ladder logic, you could have some sort of grid or high ball track structures that slant down to portions of the field, possibly from the centers of the player station walls... or maybe they go in an upward fashion? or maybe they go from the centers of the sides (more like rack & roll). The center could be a bin or a ramp or anything really, not sure we can tell anything about where the "ball tracks" might actually be/lead to.

I attached a crude drawing to show what I mean (fastest for me to draw in powerpoint).

I dunno... active imagination and flashbacks from too many past games!!

[Mike Soukup]

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

So I have been pondering, and my mind keeps going back to Ladder Logic. I couldn't find any great photos of the field... anyone have any good ones on their websites? I remember it vividly, but its hard to describe. And its a good example of odd shaped fields for those who have never seen one 96-98 were odd fields, if I remember right 99 was the start of the rectangular size...

Not great pictures, but they're better than nothing. Here's one and another.

[jamie_1930]

A lot of people have been saying that there won't be regolith this year, and I was myself, but I'm starting to miss it already. With the regolith we didn't have to worry about pinning or ramming penalties and it gave us a chance to really see how robust are robots are.

Also thinking about it now, I know we don't see any regolith in the picture, but would FIRST really get all new flooring for the fields costing them money as well as every team, and then never use it again? I don't think regolith is gone and maybe it won't cover the entire field like it did last year, but it will probably be on some sections of the field. Like how last year for FTC there were certain panels with different properities, like bumpy surfaces and rollers.

Lastly when we're thinking about what the game will be this year don't think there will be some sigh of relief and the game will be easier than last year. That's not why we're in this competition, we're here to challenge ourselves with new and harder problems, and thankfully FIRST has been keeping up with that and challenging us every year.

[IndySam]

The regolith was a specific solution to the problem of simulating gravity last year. It was used very hard over many regionals. There was much damage and cracking. Just like the carpets from past seasons it will not be reused.

[EricH]

FIRST also uses two rolls of carpet per regional, both for the field. Both arrive new. Neither travels with the field to the next event. Local teams typically get to the carpet to help them run offseasons and other things of that nature.

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by jamie_1930

Also thinking about it now, I know we don't see any regolith in the picture, but would FIRST really get all new flooring for the fields costing them money as well as every team, and then never use it again? I don't think regolith is gone and maybe it won't cover the entire field like it did last year, but it will probably be on some sections of the field. Like how last year for FTC there were certain panels with different properities, like bumpy surfaces and rollers.

The carpet has always been replaced at every event, as was the regolith last year. They have a one and done policy.

[Cooley744]

My guess is that this photo is being used to communicate 2 things: 1) WE ARE ON CARPET!!! Praise God. 2) assuming the field is built symmetrically, the 1st game hint is somewhere else on the field.

I know both of these issues have already been presented. My main reason for posting is to say that I don't see the ramp size or yellow pads to be part of the actual hint. Yet again, WHO KNOWS! I never guess right lol