Robot Numbering, Attractive Solutions?

[MrJohnston]

Originally Posted by MrForbes

The reflectorized ones are fun....try taking a flash picture of a robot that has them

I wonder if they would interfere with another robot's vision tracking...

[MrJohnston]

I really don't see the numbering rules as that big a deal. It makes perfect sense to have some sort of uniform way for bumpers to be displayed and there are many ways to put some simple black and white numbers on a robot.... It may not be "pretty," but that does not mean that it's truly ugly. Make the numbers sharp and clean and it will look fine - even on a beautiful robot.

Heck, if you're really worried about pretty your robot is, make the numbers easily removable so that you only have to look at them when you are competing. When the robot is on display, doing outreach, etc., take the numbers off. After all, most Olympic athletes don't wear their numbers when they aren't participating in events....And, during events, I am certain they do care about the way their uniforms look.

We're required to have black and white numbers? Whatever - no problem.

I've had the idea that simple black numbers with a white outline on polycarb (possibly smoked) would be an effective and good-looking solution.

[KrazyCarl92]

Originally Posted by Gregor

We're not even at that stage in build season, but we'll probably end up with a freshman going crazy with paint and some polycarb.

Gregor: be aware that some paints, adhesives, and also thread lockers don't play nice with polycarbonate. Some may dissolve it, others may cause it to become brittle. Make sure you are either aware of a certain paint's effects on polycarb or go ahead and test a small are yourself to see if there are any adverse effects.

[pfreivald]

I'm planning on using full sheets of white sticker paper, with the number printed in sufficiently large font on it. Stick to polycarbonate, and done.

Cheap, crisp, and better looking than most numbers painted on bumpers.

[JeffersonMartin]

I'm pretty disappointed with the numbering rules. I feel like they could have just said that the text has to reasonably contrast with the background, and if it isn't easily legible, the inspector will attach a hand written, legible sign on poster board over your pretty, illegible numbers. I think that threat would have been enough.

[pfreivald]

Remember, if you're in charge of anything, there are only two ways to make people complain:

1. Do something.
2. Do nothing.

If you can avoid those two things, you'll be fine.

FIRSTers in particular want very strictly delineated guidelines so that they know exactly what parameters under which they're working, except when they don't. And different people will come to different conclusions on how which area of what should be handled.

...so people will get grumpy about it either way.

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by JeffersonMartin

I'm pretty disappointed with the numbering rules. I feel like they could have just said that the text has to reasonably contrast with the background, and if it isn't easily legible, the inspector will attach a hand written, legible sign on poster board over your pretty, illegible numbers. I think that threat would have been enough.

What I think reasonably contrasts when I'm in my lab might vary greatly from what someone else thinks reasonably contrasts on the field. It's better to have incredibly strict guidelines for this than have something that the boundaries/restrictions can be pushed to a limit.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Steven Donow

What I think reasonably contrasts when I'm in my lab might vary greatly from what someone else thinks reasonably contrasts on the field. It's better to have incredibly strict guidelines for this than have something that the boundaries/restrictions can be pushed to a limit.

There's been a fair bit of study on contrast... http://colorusage.arc.nasa.gov/luminance_cont.php http://colorusage.arc.nasa.gov/Percept_layers_1.php

And I'm gonna stop there before I end up down the rabbit hole of reading all about color usage today.

[Gregor]

While there's some good discussion here, this thread was intended more for innovative solutions than complaining. Keep talking, but let's talk solutions given our constraints.

[Thromgord]

Would it be considered legal to have four different signs on each side of the robot, each with only one number?

An example would be as follows (note: crude drawing ahead. Sensitive types might want to shield their eyes...) -

_|3|_|8|_|0|_|7|_
[ ~ ~ ROBOT ~ ~ ]

Or vertical signs?

|3|
|8|
|0|
|7|

Or signs with two of the numbers on top and two on bottom?


|38|
|07|

How about angled signs?

\3\
.\8\
..\0\
...\7\

Can the numbers be different sizes?

|3807|

If any one of these options are legal (as long as the font is legible, it's black on a white background, etc). then I'll be happy.

I do think that there is a certain amount of originality that can be preserved with robot numbering... though I would hate to see us have any problems with the judges over something that's pretty trivial.

[K-Dawg157]

Originally Posted by Thromgord

Would it be considered legal to have four different signs on each side of the robot, each with only one number?

An example would be as follows (note: crude drawing ahead. Sensitive types might want to shield their eyes...) -

_|3|_|8|_|0|_|7|_
[ ~ ~ ROBOT ~ ~ ]

Or vertical signs?

|3|
|8|
|0|
|7|

Or signs with two of the numbers on top and two on bottom?


|38|
|07|

How about angled signs?

\3\
.\8\
..\0\
...\7\

Can the numbers be different sizes?

|3807|

If any one of these options are legal (as long as the font is legible, it's black on a white background, etc). then I'll be happy.

I do think that there is a certain amount of originality that can be preserved with robot numbering... though I would hate to see us have any problems with the judges over something that's pretty trivial.

I actually think you can have your number vertically, as long as it is on all four sides.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by K-Dawg157

I actually think you can have your number vertically, as long as it is on all four sides.

Nope! That's 'ambiguous'. https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Question/...least-one-side

[K-Dawg157]

Originally Posted by Libby K

Nope! That's 'ambiguous'. https://frc-qa.usfirst.org/Question/...least-one-side

That's good to know... we'll have to change that now...

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by K-Dawg157

That's good to know... we'll have to change that now...

I only know because I checked - we were planning on doing the same thing. I heartily disagree with that call, but this thread isn't for complaining. How else would you read that number, especially when it's the only thing with a white background?!

What it looks like we'll end up doing is very-long white plates along the edge of the drivetrain with the right numbering on it. Still ugly, but at least existing in its own zone away from our pretty paneling.

I think the biggest thing teams can do to make these plates less horrible is use their correct font. (If your team doesn't have a consistent font use for your numbers ... take a look at your team's branding & fix it!) As long as it fits the stroke requirements it'll at least make the placard look sort-of-intentional.