Can somebody point me at something indicating how far back the Outpost Seat is mounted from the Outpost Shield? I’ve looked at the detailed drawing for the Outpost Base, but the overall field drawing indicates that the Outpost Base does not go flush against the arena wall, and that particular distance isn’t labeled in anything I’ve seen.
I never saw anything about this, either I missed it too, or perhaps you should take it to the Q&A.
Hopefully. it’s adjustable.
This is the best picture I could find in a few minutes of searching:
The drawings should say how far back in relation to the wall, but I haven’t had a chance to look at them all yet.
When I do, & if I find out, or can calculate that distance by drawing everything up, I’ll get back to this thread.
Also:
Judging by the size of the ball in relation to the arm of the seat (bottom right black part), it would seem to be about 2-3 ball lengths away, or about 20-30" away.
But that is a gross estimate of a guess here.
Looking at the game-specific drawings (specifically GE-09032), it appears that the outpost base is 24" deep with a square pattern of mounting holes starting 3.5" from the back that might be associated with the seat.
From the picture (thanks, Elgin), it looks like the seat back ends up flush with the back of the base plate and the payload specialist is basically sitting at floor level plus an inch or two, but I can’t find any drawings of the chair to see where the mounting holes match up 
.
That’s the best guess I’ve got from the drawings and pictures. The remaining question, though, is the distance between the base plate and the shield.
The outpost seat position will be the best seat in the house for viewing the match. 
It depends on your idea of best seat.
If you mean most uncomfortable for people with long legs, then yes. 
Also, while it may give you the best view of the field ideally at the start of the match, a field full of 12 robots/trailers will lead to a heck of a blind spot for seeing the whole field with an unobstructed view as soon as the match starts I’m sure.
Has anyone figured out this distance yet? From the pictures, it looks to me like it’d be difficult to reach the hole in the shield while buckled in, but it’s hard to say without actually knowing the distance.
http://www.team228.org/media/pictures/view/4521
http://www.team228.org/media/pictures/view/4522
More pics of the Outpost.
From update 3.
The Basic Field Assembly Diagram, posted at
http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=11624, has been updated to include details about the Payload Specialist seat at the Outpost.
Wetzel
Jeff, though the update claims the Basic Field Assembly Diagram has been modified, this doesn’t actually appear to be the case. If it has been, at least, it doesn’t contain any information I didn’t already know about the seat. Do you see something I don’t?
I should know better to post something without checking first, sorry.
I never downloaded that document to begin with. I was the local kickoff coordinator and field builder, but the detail on the outpost is similar on what I have. Maybe they just haven’t published the new file to the website yet.
Wetzel
Okay, here’s what I have calculated for the location of the Outpost Seat form various sources.
Form various pictures it appears that the seat back is flush with the back of the Outpost Base piece. Here’s how I calculated where the back of the Outpost Base was:
~20.75" to the edge of the Outpost Shield (24*cos(30) from drawing GE-09014)
+17.00" from from the edge of the Outpost Base to where it meets the Outpost Shield (from drawing GE-09032)
= 37.75"
I believe the information added to the Basic Assembly Diagram was the info about the chair itself.
Ozark Trail - Folding Stadium Seat (with armrests)
Available at Wal-Mart
SKU: 727001411740
Tongs are provided for the payload specialists for retrieving game pieces through the hole. I believe they are supposed to be 36".
What I’ve read indicates that tongs are at the fueling stations. I’ve seen no support for them being available at the outpost. Can you point me to where you’re seeing this?
Awesome… thank you for this. Now, seeing as how the center of the hole is 37.25" off the ground, am I correct in figuring that not even Michael Phelps would be able to hand an empty cell through the hole while buckled into the seat?
I guess that depends on the height of the chair. 37" is a long reach, though I know someone who could reach that without much trouble.
To note, I’m fairly average size, and my shoulder to fingertip length is 33". I can lean forward more than 4" easily with just a seatbelt on.
Wetzel
I would hope they are positioning the seat based on the person using it. That may be why there is no specification on the seat from the wall.
Sitting in the seat Indian-style, your knees should not be touching the wall, but yet you are close enough to use the tongs to pass a ball to the robot through the opening.
Simple geometry of the human physique states the outstretched arms from finger tip to finger tip equals a person’s height. Half of that will be in the lower extremity. If you are shorter than than the norm, you will be sitting a little closer than somebody 6’6".
The intent is probably that everyone will have the same ability at the hole through the wall, but I think taller individuals would have a slight advantage throwing them over the wall.
There are no “tongs” in the outpost. The Nifty Nabber “grabbers” are installed in the fueling stations.