anyone have any ideas about next years game?

[PAR_WIG1350]

when building walking robots, 6 legs is over-all the easiest, but you still need to keep the left and right synchronized. the simplest to program have 8 or more legs since they are stable and their legs don't need to be synchronized.

Only 2 motors are needed to build walking robots with six or more legs, one for each side, mechanical linkages take care of the rest. If you use less than six legs, additional balancing motors are needed.

[Robert Cawthon]

Originally Posted by biojae

I don't think that 18 rc servos would move a 120 lb robot very far.

But, if you were to use cims (or FPs) in a closed loop positioning control, then you would have much more powerful servos.

(And it would be a reason to allow us more more motors on the bot (and drain the battery really fast))

Just do the whole things with pneumatics. It would make it so much simpler.

[Bjenks548]

I have no idea on what the game will be, but it would be crazy to have a game piece with a movable cg. Like the 2007 pool tubes with 1/3 of it filled with little steel balls. It would be crazy to try to control an object like that durring collisions and just manipulating it.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by electron

I was able to talk to Steve Cremer, a regional director for FIRST this weekend at MIT, and he said "I think I am authorized to tell you this, but Bill told us all this week that the game for next year would include water elements of some kind."

We've already had a game with water elements in it - Rack and Roll. And for the last 4 years, we've used pool noodles. I wouldn't read too much into the words "water elements". And a red herring is a water element, is it not?

[NickE]

Originally Posted by apalrd

I don't think as many motors as you think (18) are necessary.

I see it being done with as few as 4:

This giant spider is powered with two motors.

[PAR_WIG1350]

Originally Posted by Robert Cawthon

Just do the whole things with pneumatics. It would make it so much simpler.

Just out of curiosity, how would you accomplish this?
Rotary actuators? How many cylinders per leg?
It just sounds really heavy. <not that it's easy to make a light weight walking drive train>

[dag0620]

For me, I just want the game to include a King of the Hill element. I don't care how its portrayed, or done, I just want it to be there.

[bam-bam]

Originally Posted by yarden.saa

I'd like to put my history teacher in the center of the field and then we will see who is the boss. I hate history and I have test next week.

Erm... I'm sorry?

Anyhoo, think about instead a game where you have to hold a ball/game piece of some kind and having to hold onto it for the longest time in the match.



But that won't really work...

[hg273]

Originally Posted by Robert Cawthon

How about "shooting" laser pointers at a target on the opponents robot?

I feel like this would go against the GDCs commitment towards making the game more audience friendly. Breakaway was a great game for getting people who had never seen a FIRST competition up to speed. This was not the case with Lunacy.

I predict we'll see a return of the interchangeable bumpers, as well as another game with spherical objects.

As much as a Civil War game would be great, FIRST probably does not want to promote warfare.

[theprgramerdude]

What if they boosted the power the dist. board can handle, and gave us two battery's in serial for 24v monsters? I think I would smell a racing/speed based game.

[Radical Pi]

Originally Posted by theprgramerdude

What if they boosted the power the dist. board can handle, and gave us two battery's in serial for 24v monsters? I think I would smell a racing/speed based game.

They would never do a repeat Overdrive within 3 years of the original

[The_Rail_Tracer]

Most likely something like this: How to cap off an oil leak thats 5000 feet under the ocean OR, how to clean oil up quickly and efficiently.

[PAR_WIG1350]

Originally Posted by bam-bam

Anyhoo, think about instead a game where you have to hold a ball/game piece of some kind and having to hold onto it for the longest time in the match.



But that won't really work...

it's not that crazy, in FIRST, this often takes the form of "king of the hill" games.
it was used in '03 and in that game with the 'puck'

[Andrew Schreiber]

I have some questions about next year's Jello game.

What is the coefficient of static friction between the required tires made of waffles and the Jello?

May we use Ego Mini Waffles instead of the full size ones provided in the KOP?

What is the depth of the Jello?

Will touching the material supporting the Jello be an automatic DQ?

Where can we purchase a second Mr. Fusion for use on our practice bot?

[Zach O]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

I have some questions about next year's Jello game.
May we use Eggo Mini Waffles instead of the full size ones provided in the KOP?

Where can we purchase a second Mr. Fusion for use on our practice bot?

Mini waffles MAY be used, but only if they follow the same toasting guidelines as regular waffles, which may result in burns.

Yes, the first one will be supplied in the Kit of Parts, but any additional Mr. Fusions can be purchased at AndyMark, along with Eggo waffles and instant Jell-O packets. Note, the use of plutonium is NOT allowed, and any robots using plutonium to power their flux capacitor will not pass inspection. (There goes FIRST, going green again!)