Kickoff 2009 Discussion

[Greg Marra]

Kickoff 2009 Discussion

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With less than 24 hours until the FIRST Robotics Competition Season Kickoff, everyone is starting to get excited to find out what this year's game is. Here are some useful links for people who will be tuning in with their teams.

This thread can be a place to consolidate everyone's discussion and speculation as the Kickoff unfolds. We're sure to learn some new and exciting things about the new control system's capabilities and what we'll all be getting in the Kit of Parts. Some big unanswered questions remain!

• What will we be using the camera for?
• How will autonomous mode take advantage of all this new computational horsepower
• What challenges will the Game Design Committee throw at us this year?
• Water game?

Stay tuned, less than 24 hours until we all find out!

Go teams!

[Alex Dinsmoor]

On the camera issue, there has to be something that goes along with the camera. It could be a tool for teams to view the robots prespective in a match, or it could be used for tracking. Could we be playing the game without view of our robots? We will find out tomorrow!

Also, how long they will talk before they finally reveal the game?

[DonRotolo]

I predict that 2009 will be the year of the sensor. Teams mastering several different sensors will have an advantage, at least more so than in prior years.

I also think teams with mature drivetrains may be in for a shock. Pure speculation.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

I predict that 2009 will be the year of the sensor. Teams mastering several different sensors will have an advantage, at least more so than in prior years.

I also think teams with mature drivetrains may be in for a shock. Pure speculation.

Sensors may be very important this year, especially with the new control system.

If we are seeing elevation in the field drive trains will have to be simple

[Nate Smith]

Originally Posted by Alex Dinsmoor

Also, how long they will talk before they finally reveal the game?

Looking at the agenda, it looks like a little more than an hour allocated for the actual kickoff "event"...Kickoff and game announcement is scheduled for 10, and kit handout starts at 11:30 at a different site, so I'm guessing it will work something like this...
10:00 - 10:35ish -> the usual "welcome to the season" speeches, etc, maybe with something thrown in about the new controls
10:35 - 10:37 -> Dave's masterpiece (aka the game description animation)
10:37 - 11:00 -> More specific description of game
11:00 - 11:30 -> Q&A and mass exodus to FIRST loading dock kit pickup

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by Nate Smith

Looking at the agenda, it looks like a little more than an hour allocated for the actual kickoff "event"...Kickoff and game announcement is scheduled for 10, and kit handout starts at 11:30 at a different site, so I'm guessing it will work something like this...
10:00 - 10:35ish -> the usual "welcome to the season" speeches, etc, maybe with something thrown in about the new controls
10:35 - 10:37 -> Dave's masterpiece (aka the game description animation)
10:37 - 11:00 -> More specific description of game
11:00 - 11:30 -> Q&A and mass exodus to FIRST loading dock kit pickup

Thanks for the info last year I remember sitting there and wondering if they would ever announce the game.

[cbudrecki]

that pretty much seems to be the standard schedule of what goes on. That first half hour of intro speeches seems to take forever though!!!!

Be sure to keep an eye out for my scoring spreadsheet. With all luck, I'll have at least an Alpha version posted tomorrow.

[NorviewsVeteran]

don't forget the montage of dancing teams from previous years

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Haha, that is always a necessary part of kickoff

[alex1699]

hey every one well im here in the first "headquarters" you can say.. they wont let me in the room with the kop... i try lol but any way some pretty cool stuff... i cant wait till tomorrow and see what the game is ill be in the crowd at the kick off woottttt...........

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by tb222

Be sure to keep an eye out for my scoring spreadsheet. With all luck, I'll have at least an Alpha version posted tomorrow.

Where will it be posted?

[Tetraman]

Here is how I think it will go...

Paul will be up first to welcome us, give us the current stats of FIRST like teams, the other FIRST programs, rookies, counties, and sponsers. We'll have a safety video to watch and a chairman's video to watch. Next, we'll hear from at least two governers/representitives/senators from various locations and/or hearing from a sponser CEO or higher up. Dean will offer his homework to better FIRST as well as talk about the future of something in the world, Woodie will discuss our mentors and GP. We'll have Dave come on to show off the new control system as well as any other technical problem solving we have to look forward too. Then the GDC will gather together in front of one/two/three large curtians, open them up...croud and other crouds over the world gasp. Que game animation. After that, people in boxes will play out the game. Then Dean, Dave and Woodie will play our some game show with Paul as host, giving up various important points to the game, ending with the encryption code for the manuals. Then the three will have some sort of ending sign off that will hint that next near will be the water game.

But thats just my opinion.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Tetraman

Here is how I think it will go...

Paul will be up first to welcome us, give us the current stats of FIRST like teams, the other FIRST programs, rookies, counties, and sponsers. We'll have a safety video to watch and a chairman's video to watch. Next, we'll hear from at least two governers/representitives/senators from various locations and/or hearing from a sponser CEO or higher up. Dean will offer his homework to better FIRST as well as talk about the future of something in the world, Woodie will discuss our mentors and GP. We'll have Dave come on to show off the new control system as well as any other technical problem solving we have to look forward too. Then the GDC will gather together in front of one/two/three large curtians, open them up...croud and other crouds over the world gasp. Que game animation. After that, people in boxes will play out the game. Then Dean, Dave and Woodie will play our some game show with Paul as host, giving up various important points to the game, ending with the encryption code for the manuals. Then the three will have some sort of ending sign off that will hint that next near will be the water game.

But thats just my opinion.

You left out at least one interesting item.

Tonight's homework is figuring out what that is.

Blake
PS: Water game!

[GGCO]

Wow, I cannot believe that kick off is tomorrow! I was wondering; is there any way to get the chat room to work with a an ipod touch? I won't be taking my laptop to kick off because I really don't feel like hauling around a huge 6+ lbs. computer with me. If not, no big deal. Thanks!

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by GGCO

I was wondering; is there any way to get the chat room to work with a an ipod touch?!

Meebo is not supported by the Touch at this time. It is a flash object, and unfortunately not all are supported.

Originally Posted by tb222

My spreadsheet will be found in the white papers (CD Media), under scoring. I'll also start a thread about it when it's posted. If you want a sample of my previous works, just search for papers posted by me.

I will be sure to check your work out!