Just a recommendation, while you can typically figure out roughly where the mission models can be placed on the mat, please ensure you follow the specific guidance which will be released in September (and potentially clarified during the season). Sometimes there are unplanned variations in the mission model and mat designs which show up during production. The specific guidance should be followed during your team's setup since this is what will be used at the tournaments. Here is an example from last year (new guidance should be provided by FIRST in September 2011 for Food Factor). I have highlighted the specific guidance to which I refer via the extra underlining below:

FIELD MAT PLACEMENT
Step 1 - Vacuum the table top. Even the tiniest particle under the mat can give the robot trouble. After vacuuming, run your hand over the surface and sand or file down any protruding imperfections you find. Then vacuum again.
Step 2 - On the vacuumed surface (never unroll the mat in an area where it could pick up particles), unroll the mat so the image is up and its north edge is near the north/double border wall (note the location of the double wall in each table sketch below).
-----Remember to check the Robot Game Rulings often as new posts may affect your team strategy.-----
Step 3 - The mat is smaller than the playing surface by design. Slide and align it so that there is no gap between the south edge of the mat and the south border wall. Center the mat in the east-west direction (look for equal gaps at left and right).
Step 4 - With help from others, pull the mat at opposite ends and massage out any waviness away from the center and re-check the requirement of Step 3. It is expected that some waviness will persist, but that should relax over time. Some teams use a hair dryer to speed the relaxation of the waviness.

MISSION MODEL CONSTRUCTION
Build the mission models - Use the LEGO elements and instruction CD from your Field Setup Kit. It should take a single person between two and three hours to do this, so it's best done in a work party. If there are any team members with little or no experience building with LEGO elements, mission model construction is a great way to learn. This step is also a nice time for new team members to get acquainted with each other.

MISSION MODEL ARRANGEMENT
Dual Lock
For models where "Dual Lock Needed" appears in the mission model details below, that means the model needs to be secured to the mat during use. The connection is made using the re-usable fastening material from 3M called Dual Lock, which comes in the flat clear bag with the LEGO elements in your Field Setup Kit. Dual Lock is designed to stick or "lock" to itself when two faces of it are pressed together, but you can unlock it too, for ease of transport and storage. The application process for the Dual Lock is only needed once. Later, the models cansimply be locked onto the mat or unlocked. To apply Dual Lock:
-----Remember to check the Robot Game Rulings often as new posts may affect your team strategy.-----
Step 1 - Stick one square, adhesive side down, on each box you see on the mat with an "X" in it.
Step 2 - Press a second square on top of each of those, "Locking" them on, adhesive side up. TIP: Instead of using your finger, use a bit of the wax paper the squares came on.
Step 3 - Lower the model onto the squares.
CAUTION - Be sure to place each square precisely on its box, and each model precisely over its marks.
CAUTION - When pressing a model down, press down on its lowest solid structure instead of crushing the whole model. Pull on that same structure if you later need to separate the model from the mat. TIP: For large/flexible models, apply only one or two sets at a time.

Model Details
Artery - Dual Lock Needed - Position this model perfectly on its mark at the northwest of the field.
Ramp - Dual Lock Needed - Position this model perfectly on its mark at the northwest of the field, with the low end toward Base. There are no other instructions or cautions for it.
Syringe - (NO Dual Lock Needed) - Place red and white blood cells in the order shown below (from the low end: white, red, white, two red, white, two red, then 2x3 open space). Then lift the ramp's lever as far as it will go. The park the syringe at the high end of the ramp, so the red stopper keeps the syringe from rolling. Then be sure the west wheels are both touching the red railing. Be sure to tighten the syringe's body pieces once in a while, especially the needle.

<more...>

Best of Luck!
Bill Aucoin
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>


From: First Lego League in Virginia and DC [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Brown
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 10:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: EXT :Re: [VADCFLL-L] Field set up instructions


The actual set up is released with the rules.  However if you look at the mat closely you can easily figure out where the pieces go.  Need more help, there is a you tube video out there.

Mike
On Aug 18, 2011 10:02 PM, "Larry & Loreen Thompson" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
> Hi -
>
> We've received the mat and assembled the structures. However, we
> aren't able to find any instructions for how the structures are
> placed on the mat or the position of the mat on the table. In past
> years, we seem to remember that there were instructions for both
> included with the mat. For instance, some structures can be oriented
> in various ways, and in some years the mat is centered on the table,
> while in other years the mat may be pulled all the way into one of
> the corners, (usually the base). Where are the instructions for the
> actual field set up.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Loreen
>
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