[NSRCA-dist1] PatternScoring System

Wed Oct 28 04:06:34 AKDT 2015

I want to qualify my comments. I only have a passing interest in Peter's scoring system, so take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt. Bottom line, "I think" that it scores each maneuver directly into a database and produces immediate results after each pilot has flown. That's really cool! If I understand it right.

I think that for D1 it's likely a mater of logistics. How many contests are there and what is the real workload the system likely to alleviate? Having the instant response is a nice to have but is it absolutely necessary? Are the required people who have been doing the job no longer available? Or is it one big hassle every Saturday morning and that's the real benefit? But someone still needs to manage something with this software, don't they?

Money: Chances are that you the pilots will need to put up the money. You may ask the NSRCA board for assistance and might get 200$. And what about new pilots coming into pattern (in D1)? When do they participate with their wallets?

Is the app enough technology to help a contest or do you have to have the full blown system?

Matt

-----Original Message-----
From: Dana Beaton via NSRCA-dist1 <nsrca-dist1 at lists.nsrca.org>
To: Anthony Romano <anthonyr105 at hotmail.com>; CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT <nsrca-dist1 at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Wed, Oct 28, 2015 6:27 am
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-dist1] PatternScoring System

Aside from the obvious question of where would the $2,500 investment come from, I wish I could say that contest scoring has NOT been an issue in D1, and that we really don’t need a some solution.  With all due respect to our clubs, CDs, their assistants and volunteers who have been doing their very best with what they have to work with; we have had challenges in recent contests with legacy laptop computers and that remains an issue, albeit a local one for contests in 2016.  Now I would not go so far as to say that Vogel's solution is the right fit for D1; but it’s availability does beg the question if we can do better as a District; and raise the question if there is an alternative to continuing with the various local laptops? Perhaps D1 acquiring/updating a laptop or two to support contests at the District level as an intermediate step?  If we cannot supply/support a D1 laptop or two, and manage the logistics of who has it, where & when, then we are not likely to pull off a full conversion to Vogel’s system. 

My observation is that we have enough capable volunteers at each contest to enter scores, many of whom are now familiar with Master Scoring software; but we have had an uneven experience with the the laptops themselves in recent years.  What do others think and is this an issue we want to address as D1 (or just let it stay local knowing that contests may not go as smoothly as they could if we had some robust D1 hardware backing our local efforts)?  Perhaps if we can manage the logistics of shepherding two D1 scoring computers around in 2016, we might upgrade to Vogel’s system in the future once additional members have been exposed to it enough to decide if they want to use it at their local contests (most D1 members do not travel to the Nats)?

On Oct 27, 2015, at 9:00 PM, Anthony Romano via NSRCA-dist1 <nsrca-dist1 at lists.nsrca.org> wrote:

Please read the below message from Peter Vogel about the electronic scoring system he brought to the Canandaigua contest this year. Should D1 invest in one of these systems? Anyone willing to manage this?

Anthony

After 2 very successful trouble-free runs at the SAM contest 2 weeks ago and the Cajun NATS last week.  Last Monday I finally decided it was time to submit the app formally to the app store rather than relying on development loads to individual iPod touches or TestFlight 30-day conk beta loads for my friends in Australia who have been experimenting with the app.  As more districts reach out to me with orders for fully configured setups I wanted to make sure I had a path to get software updates out to devices in a timely manner.  

So I'm pleased to announce that as of today the PatternScoring app for iOS is live on the App Store as a free app!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/patternscoring/id1018433564?mt=8

If you've never used the scribe app before, feel free to download and, with a good internet connection, use the "demo contest" mode to play with it.  Naturally the intent is to use it with a game controller, but the buttons on the screen with the picture of the game controller do work to give you a flavor for how things work.

If you are using it on iOS 8, you will notice that the voice is a little bit fast.  That's because iOS 9 changed the pace of the voice synthesizer and I submitted the version to work best with the latest iOS (9).  

I've also completed a complete Bill of Materials for the contest scoring system, including two handy rolling cases with custom-cut foam for everything needed (except the laptop) to run a contest, I sell these at my cost of $2500, fully configured to run a contest out of the box (i.e.: I'm not trying to make money on this).  D8 just bought one, and D7 has bought two. If any other districts have an interest in getting one or more sets, please contact me directly and we can make appropriate arrangements.  Please make sure you have one or more people in the district who are willing and able to take on the running of scoring at a contest using the system.  I'm making continuous refinements to the system to make it easier for anyone to run scoring, but it does require a certain level of comfort and familiarity with technology in general.

Thanks!
Peter+

-- 

Director, Fixed Wing Flight Training
Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark
Associate Vice President, Academy of Model Aeronautics District X
Treasurer, National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics (NSRCA)

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