I break my Delphi Board silence with my usual somewhat controversial post. I wonder if perhaps the FIRST community has gotten stagnant and unimaginative. I was reading over the responses to Andy Grady’s post about “slinkys” and other balls we’ve never seen before. I was particularly amused by the responses “we’ll they won’t use foam balls because they used soccer balls before.” FIRST has a tradition of being unpredictable and unique. I also wonder if the FIRST community hasn’t stagnated. To me I think that “slinkys” would be great!!! It’s new it’s unique and it’s something that NO TEAM HAS DONE BEFORE!! To often I think the teams that have been in this for a while have stagnated their designs a majority of the teams in FIRST have been picking up soccer balls or some other kind of similar ball for the last 5 years, some teams even more, isn’t it some kind of drastic change?? I say cut 10 pounds off the weight and 2 inches off the size requirements. Now if FIRST were to do that, my prediction is that the veteran teams, many of whom use the same components year after year would mutiny. I wish instead of declaring that’s not fair, or dismissing it as impossible or what have you that we embrace the new challenges put before us and be excited by them. I can think of quite a few games I’d like to see tried w/a robot half the weight and half the size.
If we do anything we balls this year Ill make sure we’ll be flinging them instead of collecting them. Remeber money is always an issue when making these games. With the bad economy First really can’t go for anything to wacky but by they way they talk about it on the first site we are in for some surprise.
Well, I know that the didn’t change the weight/size requirements, they did change the game, and once again did something new… but interestingly enough, my dad predicted a game involving block objects, I’d say that was pretty darn close. Anyhow, It’s new, and you asked for that… (Not that they did it for you…) so how do you like the game this year?
I personally think the game is interesting, allowing-once again-for a lot of uniqueness…It will definately be interesting to see how FIRST teams design their robot and establish it within the FIRST ranks, especially the more widely known teams. Being my second year in FIRST, it really expands the imagination and proves that anything can be done, even if you must find the “not-so-proper” way of building an idea…heh, after all, we do have a 6 week limitation and money limitation.
With all the teams this year, it’s sure to be an exciting year, and with the previous years ideas, etc. this year, i feel, will mark a great year for all of the FIRST community.
These are just my ideas on this years’ game…Until next time,
I’m sure some team has thought of the idea but ruled it out or just didn’t post about it…but it’ll be interesting to see all the new stuff that’s going to come out
STAKATAK, as I sometimes call it, is going to be quite interesting. I was very pleased when it was FIRST announced. I also can’t wait to see all the robots designed to meet such a complicated objective. This year is going to be great.
In all seriousness… I kinda agree with you… to a certain extent… But a robot with half the weight… Would be a heck of a lot harder to build… it is already hard enough to cut the robot down to size…
This is only my second year but from what i know of years before that this year seems pretty unique. Stacking boxes is tricky and pretty different from pickingup balls and pulling goals around. The bridge of course adds another level of complexity and trickiness. I think this years game is great. Better than last years at least.
I think that even though balls have been used alot in the past and even the same ones year to year 2000 to 2001. The variety is in the playing field. The balls have normally provided only a small portion of the score. The real game is in the field and the obstacles first provides. Early games had odd and expensive fields but the past 4 years have seen stability in field size shape. Any bot that could stack a big ball in '01 could easily grab a box. Obstacles have been the best parts of the game in the past and I think FIRST should come up with creative obstacles in teh future.
I like the idea of changing the dimensions of the bots. I know of teams that have pre-built chasis they can pull off the shelf the day after kickoff. So dropping the dimensions by 2 inches is a good idea. Or be bold and make the bots fit in a box thats a equilateral triangle 30" on a side and 5ft tall would be even better.
of course, by cutting down size and weight, you cut down what each robot can, using current technological devices, actually do… there just isn’t the kind of equipment avalible to (most) high schools to make robots do the same thing with smaller demensions or weights
wysiswyg, wouldn’t a light robot be easier to push around?
*Originally posted by illumanat’i * of course, by cutting down size and weight, you cut down what each robot can, using current technological devices, actually do
Exactly CURRENT TECHNOLOGY. If they changed the requirements FIRST technology would change to as well.
If you’ve ever seen some of the early years there was a lot more variety in bots, very few robots contain original and unique systems. The materials used as well have stagnated lately. Most robots are just a collection of systems used on their bot or others in previous years. Changing the requirements slightly would force teams to be more creative.
If we do anything we balls this year Ill make sure we’ll be flinging them instead of collecting them. Remeber money is always an issue when making these games. With the bad economy First really can’t go for anything to wacky but by they way they talk about it on the first site we are in for some surprise.
With all the teams this year, it’s sure to be an exciting year, and with the previous years ideas, etc. this year, i feel, will mark a great year for all of the FIRST community.