I noticed over several webcasts this past weekend that field reset for fuel typically consisted of hand-counting 50 fuel and placing them into each hopper. While this works, I thought it may be worth looking into a more efficient way to help reduce field reset time, so I modeled this quick and easy hopper reset box.
The idea is pretty simple - the box is dimensioned such that two levels of fuel arranged in a 5x5 square fit snuggly into the container, holding a total of 50 fuel cells that can be quickly and easily counted. As long as field reset arranges the fuel such that they sit neatly, they know for sure that 50 fuel are in the box, and can dump that batch into a hopper. I think it’ll be faster than counting by hand, and less prone to mistakes.
On the stream for northern lights it looked like they had boxes that held 50 balls divided into 5 channels, although that is different than your idea it still is something comparable
I heard there was an event somewhere that somebody made a PVC hopper modeled after a tennis ball hopper to pickup fuel more efficiently. Was thinking about modeling one myself to see if I could make one or two before my Week 3 event.
At the NC District Event this past weekend (Pitt County), they had boxes in a similar dimension as what you show with dividers, breaking the box up into 25 compartments. Then, 2 balls were stacked into each compartment. Looked like too-tall, too-wide wine box.
At the Peachtree District qualifier in Gainesville this past weekend, we used a set of tall square tube boxes from our friends at Automation Direct. The standard box is like this box from Uline . They were assembled individually with the bottom sealed and then grouped into a 2x3 configuration of boxes. The flaps around the outside were taped together and the flaps on the insides were removed. This means you have a tall box with a tall egg crate inside. Dump balls into that and they self sort into the tubes yielding 48 balls. Add two to the top and dump into the hopper - 50 balls exactly every time.
Collect the balls however you want into totes without counting them, then dump them into the counter and they will assemble into the tubes without jamming. We also use the boxes to transport the balls from event to event.
I think if you try to use a box with no interior dividers, the balls will not self assemble as you’ve shown, but instead alternating layers will nest with one less ball in both dimensions. so that second layer will be 4x4 instead of 5x5.
Looks like every event I didn’t watch used a better version of this That’s great though - I’m glad it’s not as large a problem as I thought. I’m down for any and all suggestions, so if anyone else has some yet-to-be mentioned things they saw to help speed of field reset, I’d love to hear them.
The Durham event in Ontario had boxes divided into 5x5 sections tall enough for 2 balls each. They seemed to save a lot of time for the field reset crew. It showed as well with that event being only 1 hour behind at the most and that was caused by a couple of issues with a touchpad on the airship. The field reset crew was even able to make up some of that lost time.
To be fair tho there were not a lot of hoppers used during quals, we didn’t see many 5 hopper dumps until elims.
At the Team 537 Mini-Regional (Week 0 scrimmage), they had sweeps that were an axle/wheel on a pole. It was really slick and easy to push around. Much less clunky than the PVC sweeps.
Just saw a box similar* to your idea used in Israel district event 1 anyone know what the specifications are for those ones
*They are boxes that are brown and hold 50 balls
Ball cleanup has two phases that independently contribute to cycle times. The first phase involves moving balls out of the way so that the teams can safely enter the field; the second phase is putting the balls back in the hoppers.
My experience last week is that the first phase contributes directly to cycle time, and the second does not. Having good people on the sweepers, moving balls out of the way, is key. We had six sweepers available.
I picked up some boxes from my local plotter supplier, 24" x 24" x 24". One box makes 2 Fuel Resetter Boxes, plus cutting up another box to make the dividers. Not quite the right size for a 4 x 4 x 3 high (plus 2 extra), but what do you want for free?
For FiM at southfield, we used pre-populated boxes of 50 that where staged off field.
Post match, we used lawn rakes to collect them in concentrations and load them in whatever empty boxes we had. Once we had them clear and off the field, we had a wood frame that fit 4x6 balls in it that fits on top of one of the travel cases FiM uses to transport the field. You fill the frame and when you slide it off the edge it drops the balls right in the box. Do that twice + 2 balls and you’re all set.
Once we got in our groove, we’d have the boxes all re-filled before the next match started. Our field supervisor got a video of it somewhere.
This is exactly why I have put together boxes 20.5" x 20.5" x 13.5" out of corrugated plastic. 4 layers of balls, 16+9+16+9=50 and they arrange that way pretty much on their own when dumped in. As a bonus they can easily dump into the hopper without much finessing and are very light. I prototyped first with 3/16" plywood and although still light, after 3 days of hauling them around I was thinking my field reset people would mutiny.
Kinda funny that I prototyped with plywood to end up using corrugated plastic in the end.
That’s great though - I’m glad it’s not as large a problem as I thought. I’m down for any and all suggestions, so if anyone else has some yet-to-be mentioned things they saw to help speed of field reset, I’d love to hear them.
