<R11> Dimension wrong?

[Paul Copioli]

All,

Ok so I was freaking out last night about this ridiculous restriction, but I noticed a discrepancy in the manual.

The Thunderchickens design in metric so we were looking at the metric dimensions in the table in <R11>. You English system designing teams have to stay within a 60" cylinder, but us metric designing teams get 213.4cm! For those of you that are reaching for your calculators, that is the equivalent of 84"!

In all seriousness, I will post a Q&A when it is up on Wednesday to ask which dimension is the real dimension. I am hoping for the 213.4cm.

Paul

[Cyberphil]

That is interesting. How could they possibly mess that up? That is a HUGE difference, and I would also prefer the 84 in!

Another great find in the manual!

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by Cyberphil

That is interesting. How could they possibly mess that up?

Especially puzzling given that the proper conversion is right there next to it for the starting height.

[MagiChau]

I am confused? I downloaded the nonencrypted 2011 manual and it shows the proper metric length of 152.4cm

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by ZonChau

I am confused? I downloaded the nonencrypted 2011 manual and it shows the proper metric length of 152.4cm

For the maximum horizontal dimension of the playing configuration in the table that is part of rule <R11>?

I just double checked the individual Robot section and the complete unencrypted manuals and both have the discrepancy.

[dodar]

Ok, me and a teammate are discussing the 60" rule and we were wondering if you measure from the center of your robot and the center of the cylinder to anything extending out past your robot or from one end of the robot to the other end of whatever is extending out?

[MagiChau]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

For the maximum horizontal dimension of the playing configuration in the table that is part of rule <R11>?

I just double checked the individual Robot section and the complete unencrypted manuals and both have the discrepancy.

Oh now I see it indeed, Playing Configuration & Maximum Horizontal Dimensions - 60" (213.4cm) diameter vertical right cylindrical volume

[big1boom]

Your robot must be able to fit inside of a theoretical cylinder. The cylinder is not fixed center to your robot.

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by dodar

Ok, me and a teammate are discussing the 60" rule and we were wondering if you measure from the center of your robot and the center of the cylinder to anything extending out past your robot or from one end of the robot to the other end of whatever is extending out?

A note regarding this discussion: The way this rule is written in the 2011 manual makes it substantially different than the similar 2008 rule. In 2008 the cylinder was the example, in 2011 the cylinder is the definition of the rule.

As an answer to your question, my reading is that your robot must fit inside a 60" diameter right cylindrical volume while playing the game. Meaning if you had such a cylinder you should be able to place it over your robot without deforming any robot parts.

Your second definition is closer than the first, but still not accurate. An equilateral triangle with 60" edges laid flat on the ground would pass your second definition, but would not fit inside the cylinder.

[Katie_UPS]

Originally Posted by dodar

Ok, me and a teammate are discussing the 60" rule and we were wondering if you measure from the center of your robot and the center of the cylinder to anything extending out past your robot or from one end of the robot to the other end of whatever is extending out?

Not from the center of your robot. The idea is that if you had a cylinder that is 60" in diameter, your robot would fit inside it in all configurations. Another way to think if it is that if you find the two points that are farthest away from eachother (horizontally), they would be no greater than 60" apart. That's a little confusing, but the best way to describe it.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

In all seriousness, I will post a Q&A when it is up on Wednesday to ask which dimension is the real dimension. I am hoping for the 213.4cm.

Paul, I am also hoping for the 213.4cm dimension, the 60" Cylinder gave us a quite a bit of grief in our initial discussions.

[nuggetsyl]

you better have some retractable arms if you want a mini bot with this 60 inch rule.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by nuggetsyl

you better have some retractable arms if you want a mini bot with this 60 inch rule.

Agreed, unless the rule isn't 60" and is, in fact, 84".

If it is 60", long based robots aren't going to be able to push there minibots out far at all...

[Brandon Holley]

Wasn't 84" cylinder the rule that was used in previous competitions? I believe 2008 most recently?

Could be left over from a rule change the GDC agreed on?

-Brando

[Richard Wallace]

At ~9:43 in the Game Demo Video the example robot appears to exceed a 60" cylinder while deploying a mini-bot. Its ~15" wide sliding stage extends about 17" beyond its front bumper.

Then again, examples used in a demonstration might not adhere to all rules. The GDC will need to clarify the rule. Thanks, Paul, for catching the inconsistency between the stated inch and metric dimensions of the playing configuration limit.