Einstein 2012

[Azores]

"Dear FRC Teams:

Thank you for your incredible enthusiasm and Gracious Professionalism throughout the year and at the Championship.

We apologize for the technical problems that affected the final matches at our Championship. We will examine all of the facts, report our findings and ultimately solve any and all identified issues.

Sincerely,
Jon Dudas
President, FIRST "

Just received this, posting it here in case anyone doesn't receive it.

[AlecMataloni]

I couldn't even watch the matches. My eyes were glued to the alliance station lights.

My thoughts go out to all the teams affected by this mess.

[hiyou102]

http://redd.it/syry2
This.

[techhelpbb]

http://redd.it/syry2
This.

I would like to ask as a Mentor that while I, possibly more than a lot of people, deeply understand the concerns about what happened here.

Please, please, please think about the consequences to FIRST in the future with regards to things you write today.

FIRST is a wonderful organization that has done a lot of very good things. However, there are people that have issues with FIRST that would love to extend the single failure to troubleshoot into evidence of a pattern.

Just remember that when you remove your posts from the vacuum of ChiefDelphi you run the risk that they might stick around longer, attract more attention, and even that you might not be able to go back and close the matter when the issues do get resolved.

I am not saying that what I read at that link is disrespectful, just please realize that the bigger FIRST gets the bigger the politics around it get.

[frdrake]

LabVIEW

We ran C++ this year.

I also want to thank 987 and 207 for their tremendous effort in their part for our alliance this year. I know we couldn't triple, but we each had the right pieces to bring to the table to maximize our strategy. Thank you both for the maturity of your drive teams and enthusiasm to play.

[jspatz1]

FIRST is a wonderful organization that has done a lot of very good things. However, there are people that have issues with FIRST that would love to extend the single failure to troubleshoot into evidence of a pattern.

Unfortunately in this case they would be right. This was not a single failure, and was indeed a pattern all season long. The train whistles before this wreck could be heard far in the distance for those that listened. There was more than enough discussion of this issue throughout the season to make it clear that we were heading for a calamity at Champs if something did not change to fix it. As far as I am aware, there was never any official acknowledgement from FIRST that there was a problem, or instructions for teams about how they could help prevent it. As a team that was affected by this issue both before and during Champs, I feel there is at least a silver lining to what happened on Einstein: It will guarantee a fix. The complaints of individual teams throughout the regional season were not enough to bring about a solution, but the events at Champs most surely will. It was painful and disappointing to watch it happen, but there was also a little voice inside me saying "I knew this wasn't just us."

[Nick Lawrence]

OK, that's Newton #1 (on Einstein), #2, #3 all immobile at some point or other.

How about the other divisions?

Alliance 7 also had issues on Newton. Both 488 and 610 had comms issues in the quarter finals.

-Nick

[techhelpbb]

Unfortunately in this case they would be right. This was not a single failure, and was indeed a pattern all season long. The train whistles before this wreck could be heard far in the distance for those that listened. There was more than enough discussion of this issue throughout the season to make it clear that we were heading for a calamity at Champs if something did not change to fix it. As far as I am aware, there was never any official acknowledgement from FIRST that there was a problem, or instructions for teams about how they could help prevent it. As a team that was affected by this issue both before and during Champs, I feel there is at least a silver lining to what happened on Einstein: It will guarantee a fix. The complaints of individual teams throughout the regional season were not enough to bring about a solution, but the events at Champs most surely will. It was painful and disappointing to watch it happen, but there was also a little voice inside me saying "I knew this wasn't just us."

Based on what I read today in topics related to this issue. I completely agree.

[Hjelstrom]

We ran C++ this year.

I also want to thank 987 and 207 for their tremendous effort in their part for our alliance this year. I know we couldn't triple, but we each had the right pieces to bring to the table to maximize our strategy. Thank you both for the maturity of your drive teams and enthusiasm to play.

We also ran C++ this year. We definitely had comms issues (or whatever was happening to everyone) in the finals but I don't believe we did during the first series against 1114. We were blue in all of the matches so whatever was happening was not isolated to one side of the field or one language.

It was awesome being with 233 and 207 on Einstein! 233 was a really solid robot and your team had great strategy. When you told us about the drills you practiced to out score the triple balance that sealed the deal in my mind. Thanks for picking us, 3 long robots almost went all the way!

[S.P.A.M.er 17]

My thoughts about Einstein. (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1164806&postcount=67)

[MooreteP]

I believe that this will be remembered as a watershed year for FIRST

There are things that will change after this year.
There are many intelligent people cogitating on the season.
We will engineer a better solution.

This was a great game this year. The winning alliance were teams with 15, 16, and 17 years in FIRST.
The universe conspired and after all is said and one, the result was inspiring.

[Libby K]

However, the most important feeling and experience to get away from this, is the spirit of FIRST teams. They are completely separate from fields and external chaos such as sever weather, curses, coms issues and all else. Every team on Einstein was united in their dislike of what happened, and treated each other graciously and professionally.

That's why I'm so proud to be a part of FIRST. I'd like to thank all the Einstein teams for being as incredible as they were this weekend.

Dean Kamen was on the field, as was Dave and the look on their face said it all. They were disgusted and Dean was almost in tears as a Girl from a team I cannot remember pleaded the cause of her team. Dave was gone it seemed by the time the finals were over, and Woodie's face from the stage looked like he was viewing somebody drown and could not help.

That's exactly how I felt as well.... like I was watching a catastrophe and couldn't do anything about it. Because that's exactly what it was for me. FIRST is something I love and believe in with all of my heart and soul, and that was impossible to watch. I still don't feel any better about it.

I know a lot of people there with me felt that way, and I am sure that FIRST will make sure that something like this never happens again.

As I've said a few times on other threads: I have absolutely no bearing on what happened, but I am truly sorry it did.

I insist, the truest qualities of FIRST were never seen in such bright colors and they were here. Technology failed us and perhaps the field crew have a huge catastrophe to correct. These finals will be remembered as the day the field chose the winner. BUT IN NO WAY, SHOULD THESE EVENTS TARNISH THE IMAGE OF FIRST, ITS MISSION, ITS STUDENTS, TEAMS, OR FOUNDERS.

I hope a lot changes next year, but only as far as the field goes with technology, and in organization and error management. the Human aspect of FIRST and it's competitors is something we can be prouder today of than ever.


You make really good points. I appreciate your support for not tarnishing the image of FIRST... As awful as Einstein was, I am confident that FIRST will use this as a learning experience and a place from which to make changes. They'll make things right. As JVN said in another thread, we just have to wait and trust that the 'powers that be' will make this right. As FIRST teams deserve.

[Kearse]

As others have said, the teams down on the field came together during the complications that were presented by Einstein. One moment in particular struck a chord with me…

After the competition was over and medals had been awarded to the Finalist alliance, a couple team members from 233 approached myself and another member of 2056 and attempted to give us their medals. These two students were crying as they tried to explain that they wanted to give us their medals. They stated that they felt they didn’t deserve to have the medals any more than we did and that it wasn’t fair for them to have them. It literally broke my heart to see these two in such shape. I myself was having a hard time keeping a level head in a moment where I was still trying to comprehend how the Finals had been allowed to continue.

To those two students on Pink, thank you for your generosity. What you did that day will stick with me longer than any Championship win ever could.

[Nawaid Ladak]

I figure i'd throw my hat into the ring and have added my thoughts here (http://blog.ladakn.com/post/22250863278/thoughts-on-einstein-2012-the-disaster-that)

[stundt1]

After the competition was over and medals had been awarded to the Finalist alliance, a couple team members from 233 approached myself and another member of 2056 and attempted to give us their medals. These two students were crying as they tried to explain that they wanted to give us their medals. They stated that they felt they didn’t deserve to have the medals any more than we did and that it wasn’t fair for them to have them. It literally broke my heart to see these two in such shape.

Wow this is what makes First. Inspiring

[hiyou102]

I have a recording I made of Einstein final 2 up here (http://youtu.be/m-zQZn4a_1Y).

[CalTran]

I didn't notice this then, but I found it kind of funny how it turned into a 207vs16 battle for the barrier. Seemed like every ball Bomb Squad put over the barrier, 207 promptly shot right back over.

[JB987]

I didn't notice this then, but I found it kind of funny how it turned into a 207vs16 battle for the barrier. Seemed like every ball Bomb Squad put over the barrier, 207 promptly shot right back over.

Right...207 was definitely keeping up with 16 in that match and did very much the same in all of our previous matches together. Definitely under-recognized by others but highly appreciated by us!