All,
The Indiana Robotics Invitational website just got a ton of content added to it today.
Here are some highlights:
See ya soon,
Andy B.
Good adjustments to the rules, well thought-out.
I did not see any mention of the 5 lbs grace, the selection process and the carry your own spare that have been part of the past years.
Are all of those still in place for 2010?
Yes, since there is no inspection and no scales, the 5 pound grace rule is still in effect. Teams are expected to use GP to enforce this upon themselves.
Andy B.
Here are a few more updates:
Rules tweaks are listed here. There are no significant changes. We will have the 1-8, 1-8, 8-1 alliance selection process with 4 teams on each elimination alliance, with the alliance captain choosing who plays in each match (same as 2008, 2009 IRI). Seriously, FIRST and the GDC did an excellent job with the rules this year. The adjustments at IRI are simply tweaks and appropriate changes that we can do due to the depth of the competing field.
WPA encryption: Teams will not need to get WPA encryption code. Teams will simply need to be sure that their team number is addressed on their Classmate and their cRIO.
Practice Field: The fieldhouse will again have the wooden border practice field. Teams will simply run their robots on this field like they would at a demo, wirelessly.
120 Volts AC will be provided at the playing field driver stations for Classmate power as needed.
For Friday morning practice matches on the main field, please limit your team to one match only. With 79 teams attending, we will most likely NOT get all teams the ability to have one practice match, but we will have as many matches as we can.
Andy B.
Are you guys keeping the ranking system used this year or are you using the “old” W-L-T system?
The ranking system used in the 2010 Breakaway game is the same that we are using at IRI.
2 reasons:
After some frustration at the beginning of the year, many people grew to like this system (besides the fact that it is complex).
There would need to be a MAJOR software change to get the 2010 field management system to incorporate a different ranking system. This is the main reason we did not even consider making this change.
Andy
Do I have to actually use the layout for loading teams off and on the field?
That system would work with other years but it won’t work for this year.
Ed,
Good question. Here is the conversation I had with Mark Koors today, about this:
Andy: Mark, it’s ok that we split the scoring table and video production table so that teams can exit the field in from the middle zone, right?
Mark: No, there is no middle zone gate on that side of the field. Teams just need to leave the field through the closest gate to them.
Andy: Teams can’t leave the field on the same side that they entered. That would be baaaad, right?
Mark: That would require teams to push robots over bumps. I can’t get a 6 minute cycle if robots are being pushed over bumps.
Andy: Hmmm… what if they pushed the robots over the bumps quickly?
Mark: No
Andy: So, what should we do?
Mark: Teams need to be able to leave the field whichever side they choose, but if they can leave on the scorer’s table side, that is preferred.
Andy: OK
So, to answer your question, Ed, you que-ers will just need to follow Mark’s lead on this.
Andy
It’s gonna be organized chaos all day long.
Isn’t that the FIRST re-set crew motto?
AH! :ahh: That should have been this years saying on the t-shirts
Mark can’t add a gate to that side too? 
Hey Queue Boss,
I ‘need’ an hour off for a NEM meeting. I don’t know when it is or where it is but I know I ‘need’ to be there. If you say no, can I call in sick for 1 hour? Am I helping with the chaos thing so far? I want to be sure and do a good job.
jumping up and down in excitement as an IRI que-er, working with Koko Ed-the-AWEsome!
After reading the match list I have a few conclusions to draw:
Oh god. Just like the MSC qualifications. O.o
There was a lot of hype in Atlanta about Curie match 100. What matches stand out on this list? I know all 8 matches are going to be epic for every team, but for our team match 68 stands out a little more.:ahh:
This is going to be a blast!
So, does this mean that if we go to IHOP on Friday morning, we’re not going to get a call wondering where we are as the first match starts?
It will be nice to see that machine up close.
Personally as a member of 2337, I am looking forward most to match #15, where we are on a team with 1114 and 292 vs. 148, 503, and 1741.
If the qualification match schedule has to be updated Friday morning, will the updated schedule be posted for those of us at home?
These are outstanding questions.
Chris: no, unless (dare I say…) we have to re-create the match schedule. At this point, I believe that the only way we would have to do that is due to a team simply not showing up.
If we do re-run the match schedule, I will make sure everyone knows it at IRI with multiple announcements, and I will also upload it to the IRI website. Let’s hope that does not happen.
I am saddened that Joe won’t be at IRI. We will miss you, Joe!
Andy B.