I’ve looked through the rules and team updates, and can’t find any description of how the practice sessions are structured.
For example, does each team get a chunk of time with exclusive access to the field? Or is it shared field time? (And if so, with whom?) Does it include auton mode time? What level of control do the teams have during practice? (For example, can they run through multiple auton scenarios during a practice session? Do they have ability to manually enable/disable auton mode?) Can the human players run through their part multiple times? Will the team be able to stop a practice session, enter the playing field to make robot adjustments, then resume practice?
Is practice structured the same at all regionals, (we’ll be at Cleveland), or does it vary from regional to regional (based upon number of participants, etc)?
PRACTICE DAY – THURSDAY AT EACH EVENT
Last season, there was a 10-minute running clock, which was comprised of 6 minutes of
driving time and a 4-minute field reset. Each team had 3 practice sessions spread out over
the day.
This year we will use a 10-minute running clock (it will not stop all day) again but broken up
as follows:
3-minute field set-up/reset
15-second human player time
15-second autonomous period
1:45-driver control period
2:30-field/robot set-up/reset by team members
15-second human player time
15-second autonomous period
1:45-driver control period
10 minutes
The human players would NOT have to start or end on the player mats near the gates but this
is good practice as 10 seconds to enter and leave the field is not much time. The autonomous
period would actually be initiated from the control console at the scorer’s table.
Each team would get three (3) 10-minute cycles during the day, which are actually 6 practice
matches.
*Originally posted by dave_l *
**I’ve looked through the rules and team updates, and can’t find any description of how the practice sessions are structured.
For example, does each team get a chunk of time with exclusive access to the field? Or is it shared field time? (And if so, with whom?) Does it include auton mode time? What level of control do the teams have during practice? (For example, can they run through multiple auton scenarios during a practice session? Do they have ability to manually enable/disable auton mode?) Can the human players run through their part multiple times? Will the team be able to stop a practice session, enter the playing field to make robot adjustments, then resume practice?
Is practice structured the same at all regionals, (we’ll be at Cleveland), or does it vary from regional to regional (based upon number of participants, etc)? **
Practice sessions are done as a normal match is. There is no difference. You share the field with 3 other randomly assigned teams. You are not allowed on the field to make adjustments. Note that you do have 2:30 seconds to make quick adjustments to the robot, but only the drivers are allowed on the field for access to the robot.
Score does not count in any way, so you can do as you wish. If you want, you can make a switch that “turns on” the autonomous code if you wish to test it more than once. Other than that, it is run just like a normal match, except you get to do it twice.
*Originally posted by Jnadke *
**You are not allowed on the field to make adjustments. Note that you do have 2:30 seconds to make quick adjustments to the robot, but only the drivers are allowed on the field for access to the robot.
**
That’s not entirely true. In the past, we have sent people onto the field to stand the robot back up or pick up balls for HP practice, and FIRST never had a problem with that. Just be safe, stay far away from any robots, and only do it if you really need to (robot breaks, etc…).
*Originally posted by Jnadke *
**Practice sessions are done as a normal match is. There is no difference. You share the field with 3 other randomly assigned teams. You are not allowed on the field to make adjustments. Note that you do have 2:30 seconds to make quick adjustments to the robot, but only the drivers are allowed on the field for access to the robot.
**
More clarification on this…FIRST has explicitly said that nobody will be allowed on the field during the autonomous portion of practice only…I imagine that all other parts of the practice will be run as in years past, allowing team members on the field as needed…im some cases in previous years, and I have no information as to whether or not it will be this way this year, one additional team member in addition to the drive team was allowed into the field area during the practice rounds for troubleshooting purposes ONLY…