4FX Design 2011 Kickoff Setup Day pics

[pitzoid]

Hey all,

Continuing my self impossed tradition of taking field pictures during Kickoff Setup day, here's a link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/botbash...7625697427745/

Of particular interest may be how much the targets on the scoring matrix reflect, I don't think that came across all that great in the Game video

THX BOB

[alectronic]

So it looks like there will be live scoring, right? I assume those were touch screens. That will be nice.
And you are right, those targets really do stand out. More than expected.

[whytheheckme]

Thanks, Bob!

[Roger]

Originally Posted by techalex

I assume those were touch screens.

Yes - touchscreens (with scoring shapes shown) -- kinda fun to play with, actually. Rather easy orientation, too "Scoring table side" "Audience side".

Thanks for the photos -- you should impose yourself more and take lots of field photos. It's a lot easier to see it without a crowd of people on it.

(And get that cup of coffee off the field!)

[GaryVoshol]

Nice pictures.

I've wondered, what happens when a tube gets deposited in the netting above the driver stations?

[pitzoid]

Originally Posted by Roger

Thanks for the photos -- you should impose yourself more and take lots of field photos. It's a lot easier to see it without a crowd of people on it.

Well I wouldn't have to "impose" myself just get busy on setup day and try to stay out of the way of filming. I thought I had got more pictures, but when I looked at my camera this morning, thats all I had on it. You guys will see it soon enough. I think the one thing important about that was the target reflecting. It'd be cool to see some really cool auto tube placement this year, 2007 had too few bots that could do it. Can't wait to see the minibots also

Good Luck all!

[Tom Line]

I hope everyone notices the intense glare created by the flash bulb reflecting off the clear polycarb on the driver stations.

IF you were to put your lighting mechanism for the retro-reflectors on the same plane as your camera and aim both horizontally, you're going to be dealing with some issues with the reflection.

I'm also curious to see how the lights reflecting off the polycarb looks from a low angle like one would expect from the robot camera.

Perhaps we can turn off ALL the arena lights and overhead lights for autonomous. That'd be a riot (if somewhat unsafe).

[Roger]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

I hope everyone notices the intense glare created by the flash bulb reflecting off the clear polycarb on the driver stations.

Good point. We tested the reflector tape with the camera, just to see what it looks like on the driver station screen. It was being held up by a student in a white shirt, and the shirt glare matched the tape. Further testing with different light sources to follow.

The camera on our 2007 robot was set low, and it was picking up (and following ) the reflection off the low side walls. A quick cardboard blinder helped that problem. But it's not something anyone thought about, and unless you have an actual field to test on at home, it would not likely come up.

[Kevin Ray]

4FX, On behalf of the many veteran teams who do not venture to Manchester for kick off anymore (and those who just cannot make it there), thank you for the great photos. It really makes a difference seeing "the real thing" sometimes. Reading the schematics and watching game video just doesn't do justice for some aspects of the game--espectially proportions and spacial concepts.

I don't know how it is now, but in 2000-2004 (last times I went), they used to let us swarm all over the field taking pics, touching and feeling the field. It always proved quite useful in strategizing.

Thanks for the pics

[synth3tk]

Wow, it looks like I underestimated the reflective tape. Even reading the document about using the camera, it still shocked me to see just how well it reflects a light source at every angle.

[Roger]

They still let us swarm, which is unfortunate for pictures and measuring.

There should be an official set of "photographs of the Field". In construction, some retail chains used to have a set of photos taken prior to opening that show how everything is set up and what everything looks like in their designed locations. (If the contractor took the photos, it was probably for proof that "that ding on the wall was by you guys; if you look in this photo you can see it wasn't there when we turned over the space to you.")

For those that never get to see the Kickoff Field, the first chance usually is at their first competition, and even then they don't allow you on the Field. Photographs like these show much more than the official drawings. "Picture worth 1000 words" and all.

I can understand why FIRST doesn't want to provide these photos -- "It was shown at Kickoff, why is it different at competition?" sort of complaints. But it does show an official record of how the Field is supposed to be set up.