Hey Guys!
My team is currently working on creating an online scouting system for both the scouts and our strategy people to view analytics. One issue we are facing though is the problem of internet. Some competitions don’t have wifi available and some of our scouts don’t have mobile devices with data. We have considered using a mobile hotspot for all our scouts, but we all know that hotspots during a competition is not a good idea. Do you guys have any ideas on how we could get around this issue?
The only 100% guaranteed solution is to not rely on the Internet. QR codes or USB sync solutions are much more reliable.
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I thought that establishing a mobile hotspot in the arena/venue was against FIRST’s rules.
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Correct
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Agreed, not having to rely on internet is the best way to go, but we are wanting to have live data that the scouts have gathered that our strategy team can use, without having to go up into the stands and talk with our scouts.
Per the 2019 event rules (and are unlikely to change), parts E12 and E13:
Given that constraint, your options are essentially Bluetooth, cellular, or some otherwise non-Wifi method of networking. Bluetooth PANs are a thing, some teams were experimenting with 900MHz radios between pit and stands. Given the sheer cost or technical expertise required for some these solutions, I suggest that you start doing sprints in the halls at your build space to practice pit running speed-walking.
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Roblu is a scouting solution that will have real-time USB syncing this year. I know this because I’m in the same boat as you
We’ve used Bluetooth —> master tablet —> cell signal for about 5 years now. Works pretty well as long as all the equipment is working.
in reference to the “Bluetooth —> master tablet” is the master tablet just a data dump for the rest, and not a scouting tablet? Does that one then project to a device in the pits/wherever the strategy team is?
Essentially yeah, though we have it set up so the master can also be scouting. The master uses a cell signal to transmit data to our web server, then the drive team (or anyone on the team really) can look up data in report format on their phones.
If you are working with all Apple devices, AirDrop is also a surprisingly useful and easy to use way of transferring basically any kind of data you want.
I don’t have an iPhone, but last I checked, you had to have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on to use Airdrop. Bluetooth is allowed, but using Wi-Fi in client mode has the potential to interfere with robots.
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Correct, But you can send files strictly over bluetooth. Us personally we just use slack and our phones. Sometimes we get lucky and get Wi-Fi from the venue, Other times we just use cellular. Worst case, SMS or Email over SMS comes into play. (A couple of us have pre-paid cell phones and data is expensive and easy to burn thru on the way to further competitions)
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