Planning for 2017-2018

VEX Robotics Competition Discussion VRC
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Okay, so here is the question: What is the competition most likely going to be next season? Okay so you can’t answer the question for sure, but you can make some likely guesses. First some data…

2016 - 2017…12’ x 12’ field, stars and cubes, separated robots, not team specific scoring objects, throw objects over fence, objects can be descored…Starstruck
2015 - 2016…12’ x 12’ field, balls, not separated robots, team specific scoring objects, balls in net, objects can not be descored…Nothing But Net
2014 - 2015…12’ x 12’ field, cubes, not separated robots, team specific scoring objects, cubes on poles, objects can be descored…Skyrise
2013 - 2014…12’ x 12’ field, balls and smaller balls, not separated robots, team specific objects, objects in specific locations, objects can be descored…Toss Up
2012 - 2013…12’ x 12’ field, sacks, not separated robots, not team specific scoring objects, place objects on goals, objects can be descored…Sack Attack
2011 - 2012…12’ x 12’ field, balls and barrels, not separated robots, team specific scoring objects, score balls and barrels in corners or in circular goals, objects can not be descored…Gateway

Of course the field will still be 12’ x 12’ and autonomous and user control will stay the same. The first patter I notice is the alternation of using balls and not. 2011 - 2012 there are ball, the next there aren’t, the next there are, etc. This means there is a likely chance that next season we will see some sort of balls as game objects. Also over the years they seem to use team specific objects more than none team specific objects; most likely then, team specific objects will be used. Driving around the field will of course still be necessary no matter what the challenge is…

So what do you think?

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To be honest, although speculation about next years game is interesting, there is still the US Open and Worlds to get through. Also this topic has been addressed in several threads already.

Here https://vexforum.com/t/info-leak-2017-game/39684/1

and here https://vexforum.com/t/vex-robotics-new-2017-game-ideas/39468/1

Please do a search first before posting sometimes, saves a lot of time.

3

I agree that balls will be a game object. I personally think that the game will be a return to the earlier type of Vex games. After Skyrise, the organizers realized that teams weren’t ready for that sort of challenge, and stepped back with NBN and Starstruck. I would expect next year’s game to make precision a must, and for some reason I think that shelves of some sort would be in play, although I can’t say for sure.

Personally, I have decided that good, old fashioned side rollers have been out of play for too long and will make a reemergence as the dominant model.

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It’s useful to remember that the GDC is already designing 2-3 years out. Starstruck was designed before the Nothing But Net season even started. The 2017-2018 game (which is NOT a water game, sorry) was done a year ago, at least. The lead times on getting the game pieces designed and manufactured is LONG. I am not on the GDC, but I would bet that 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 are done and they are working on 2019-2020.

This is not top-secret information, RECF and the GDC have always been pretty open about their planning schedule for new games.

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Honestly, the more I think about these recurring patterns, the more I believe that they’re gonna stray from the patterns and give us something unique. Personally, I would like to see some sort of movable goal or dynamic field element. That would create some really interesting gameplay, as a driver and a spectator. Also, it would be nice if they created game objects that could be picked up efficiently multiple ways, in order to resist excessive design convergence. No matter what, though, I’m sure it will be something totally awesome :stuck_out_tongue:

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I heard through the grapevine that next year we will have a demolition derby game. Last robot with any working parts wins a tournament. And yes, that means you must completely rebuild your robot every time you compete, further lining vex’s pockets. Keep it on the down low. It’s supposed to be a surprise.

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Demolition derby water game… Water jets… Sinking your opponents to win…

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A demilition derby game would be wildly hilarious, extremely dangerous, and obnoxiously expensive; all qualities VEX lacks.

Making VEX battlebots would require more powerful motors and a better cortex, not to mention better batteries. Even the best arms this year would have difficulty taking apart or destroying a robot.

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Our arms seem to do pretty good at tearing apart the robots they are attached to, but that’s probably just the build quality of high school robots.

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As all signs point to the water game next season, I would start studying up on the submarine warfare.

You may want to pay special attention to tactical submarine control systems and spend a lot of time practicing autonomous underwater navigation using sonar sensor and white electrical tape markings on the dark ocean floor. I am not sure how reliable quad-encoders will be with water jets, but I wouldn’t discount them yet.

Edit: seriously, it might be the best time to work on your autonomous navigation skills now, when most of the teams still have functioning robots. When new game comes out in a few weeks, everybody will get all excited about new game pieces and forget that programming skill runs are still very important.

11

Okay so the water game must be inevitable. Clearly the main scoring object will be rubber ducks, which you must get in a row to get points. To get an idea of game the field next year will look some thing like this…

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get ALL the rubber ducks!!

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I have it on good authority that next year’s game will be called “Payback”. The object of the game is for teams to load their robots with little paper airplanes made of real $50 bills. The robots will then launch the $50 bills toward their goals, called “Pockets”. These Pocket goals are attached to their mentors who are sitting on the side lines, outside the field. Mentors are encouraged to use the contents of the Pockets for their own personal enrichment (exotic vacations, beach homes, etc.). Barring that, the mentors can use the funds to re-purchase all of their personal tools, etc. that have mysteriously disappeared over the season or for personal mental health services, whichever robot-related need might be greater.

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Great idea my team will have SO many more parts this next year!!

15

Is this why my teams are asking me for “a stack of Grants” and told me it’s “for practice”?!

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I’m thinking about setting up a pre-Game Reveal practice field at Worlds. Teams will need to bring their own scoring objects, but I’ll be happy to provide the Pocket goal at my seat.

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@FullMetalMentor this is hilarious, but I have to pour cold water on your expectations. I would love to play such game myself however, I afraid, it would be impossible: official VRC game objects have to be manufactured by VEX but US government imposes certain licencing restrictions on the its currency notes…

Depending on how you count, Starstruck was supposed to be a commemorative 10th year anniversary game and @Karthik was seriously thinking about underwater theme (thus we got SpongeBob / Patrick references). Unfortunately, GDC changed their mind at the last minute and went with the dry field.

I hope that they have all their ducks in the row this year and would, not only stick with the water game, but may even be able to add a coin toss scoring method.

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Maybe so. But perhaps Vex can issue their own credit cards. Pocket goals can then accept paper or plastic!

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One more reason to be involved in VEX!

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You didn’t hear it from me, but its a capture the flag(s) game.