2004 Game

[Adam Y.]

Also, for all the people who want a frisbee game, I love frisbee. However, from playing with frisbee's all the time, to make a robot that tosses frisbees well is VERY complicated. Not only would you have to develop a mechanism that adds spin to the frisbee, you'd have to develop a mechanism that can release the frisbee (WHILE adding spin to it at the same time) and a mechanism to reload the frisbee launcher, possibly with frisbees from the ground. The point is, if FIRST did decide to use frisbees, maybe one or two teams would make a frisbee launcher. For the rest, like the stacking this year, it just wouldn't be worth it and they'd build box-on-wheels plowing bots or bots that would block the goal.

Im sure some teams would find the obvious answer and just collect the frisbees and dump them without throwing them.

[DanL]

exactly, and so the point is why use frisbee's in the first place? A frisbee-based game would just come out to be a disapointment because no one would use frisbees the way they're designed to be used (kinda like this year's game was a disapointment because almost nobody used the bins the way the game was designed to have them used). You might as well use something that IS designed to be "collected" and "dumped."

[Jake177]

Going back to the end position points for a sec. I think that 2001 was the best year that I have seen as far as the right value for end position. It was small enough that some teams completely ignored it and built bots that balanced on the bridge with the 2 goals. But it was also large enough that some teams (like us) designed bots that could balance the goals on the bridge and still be able to ge the points.

[George1902]

i think the floppy in '99 was supposed to simulate a frisbee. the HP's could throw them like that, but the robots didn't have to because it would be too tough.

i'd love to see floppies return, but i doubt it will happen. FIRST has started a trend over the past 2 years that i really like. and now for a prediction to rival the skills of the great Car Knack Jr!!!

You will be able to purchase next year's game piece at your local Wal-Mart

soccer balls... storage bins... FIRST wants these things to be way easy to buy (anyone wanna argue that floppies were easy to get? no? i didn't think so). so next time your walkin through the store, look around and think, "Which of these things could i see this as a game piece in next year's game?"

[miketwalker]

Whatever it is, I'd like to see it as something aerial. Something that you need more than just a pushbot to score points. Unfortunatly the past 2 years have made it where you can be a pushbot and do really well. I'd like to have a like goal suspended in the air or something that you'd have to have a mechanism to load it and you couldn't just be a box. It would make for many new offshoots on robot designs.

[ngreen]

The frisbee game has more merit than some of you recognize.

First of all it is easy enough for everyone to compete. Who can't push a frisbee into a scoring zone.

Second, it would take at two robots to block the scoring net/bin for the high pointage frisbees. There would be at least two container maybe three on a side, space far enough apart that I would love to see someone block it.

Third, It give the HPs a fun and meaningful task. Get one of your 4-5 frisbees in the goal and you double your score of frisbees in your zone, if they don't make the net they will count as regular frisbee in the scoring zone or the other team can pick them up and throw them in their net for a multiplier.

Fourth, the bins/net will be high enough that it will take a neat design to lift the frisbees and dump them in, say 7 feet high to accomodate the people with short roofs in there robot work space.

Fifth, The autonomous could be reduce to 20 seconds, but think how fun it could be. One stategy would be to collect all the frisbee that are in the area and when autonoumous mode hits be able to locate the target, net, and lauch a frenzy of frisbees at it in the last 20 second. Others could block, would have to extend to block, seven feet,, Some could sweep the area. Many strategies could be implemented.

Many of you may say this is too complex with autonomous but their are simple and hard task for scoring, whether that is making a frisbee in a goal for a 10 times amount the points of making it in the area. You would only need to make one for every ten frisbees in the other teams scoring area, A great advantage to a frisbee tosser. But the complexity of the problem makes the points worth it. And why not try, many frisbees that fail to make the goal would fall back into the scoring area.

These are just my thoughts. Enjoy. And Frisbee Frenzy in 2004.

BTW You can puchase frisbees and nets at your local wal-mart store.

[Joe Matt]

Originally posted by George1083

You will be able to purchase next year's game piece at your local Wal-Mart

soccer balls... storage bins... FIRST wants these things to be way easy to buy (anyone wanna argue that floppies were easy to get? no? i didn't think so). so next time your walkin through the store, look around and think, "Which of these things could i see this as a game piece in next year's game?"

.........

PAINTBALL!!!

[DougHogg]

Originally posted by robohyo

Frisbee Frenzy in 2004.

Sounds good to me.

I would like a game where the alternate scoring methods can't be easily nullified, as usually happened this year to robot built stacks. Also a variety of ways to score would make things more interesting as it would be less obvious what the winning strategy is.

Hey, frisbees could be the item. I would love to see a robot send a frisbee soaring. The scoring should be arranged so that any robot that can accurately throw a frisbee gets a good sized bonus.