The field layout diagrams are a little confusing in terms of placing cargo in the proper locations relative to the flat walls of the lower hub. I want to make sure that we have cargo in the right spots relative to the flat walls for autonomous testing, so by any chance is there a better diagram out there of how to set up the balls on the field? We have half of a lower hub so a right tarmac and left tarmac, and I want to make sure we are placing the cargo correctly in relation to our field element.
I also noticed at the Israeli Pregional and a few of the matches at the Week 0 event that ball placement varied a lot, and some didn’t even seem centered at all. Is there a protocol to double check ball placements? May screw up a lot of autos.
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I resorted to measuring in the CAD field with Onshape as the easiest for me to replicate.
My method was to get the x and y distances from the center of the hub to the cargo. To clear all selections use spacebar, then click something like this circular plate, then the cargo, then the measuring tape, and look at the center distance (hovering over shows each part).
Once I knew those, I worked off the tape line we have that splits the field lengthwise. You can work off other points or in some other way, with what works with points you have. Like maybe distance from the walls is better.
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Ah, okay, I might have to try doing it this way. Thanks for the tip!
Section 11.4 of the manual describes a “measurement” period at every event. Cargo is placed on CARGO RINGs, and those should be in place at measurement time. If you notice it is incorrect, let the FTA or Field Supervisor know. This is the best time to identify a problem because the FTA and Field Supervisor have plenty of time to correct it.
If you suspect that there is an issue with ball placement later in the tournament, you are still welcome to alert the FTA or Field Supervisor, but be sure to do so prior to the start of the match. Because the head referee is not allowed to look at video footage there is no way for them to confirm incorrect cargo placement after a match and it is unlikely that it would be considered an ARENA FAULT.
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Tools like Pathweaver and Pathplanner are helpful in finding positions on the field (gives x and y coordinates from the bottom left of the field), especially for programmers who may not have CAD software.
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I decided to use the Fusion 360 CAD model of the field to create my own layout diagram of where the balls should be placed relative to the lower hub, and I think it turned out pretty well 
So thanks for the suggestion to use CAD @ngreen!
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I also discovered with the Onshape cad it gave me the distance as well as X and Y. I then used it to triangulate the position of the ball, or any other element needed on the field. Seems very workable.