When does "build season" begin?

[Madison]

We all know kick-off is January 5. When, exactly, can we begin work on January 5? The start of the broadcast; the end? The game reveal? Midnight the evening before? :)

Just curious and (mostly) kidding.

:)

[StephLee]

The "build" part of it begins the second our group that attended a local kickoff makes the 3 hour drive home with the kit; the brainstorming starts the second we have any idea what the game is (so yes, if we think we've got the clue figured out, brainstorming starts then).

[EricH]

Thinking of ideas: during the webcast. Officially (on my team): pretty much right after the webcast, we start strategy talks.

[aaeamdar]

I think it would be a little un-Kosher to start building the morning of - not trying to criticize anyone who does that, just my gut feeling. Personally, I think build season starts after the animation ends, just to pick a more-or-less arbitrary point.

-Paul

[CraigHickman]

For us, the moment the field is unveiled, it all gets rolling. We immediately start scribbling down ideas, and thinking of the best strategy.

[Akash Rastogi]

We usually have a full day meeting right after the broadcast and basically go everyday from there.

[synth3tk]

Well, I don't think I've ever seen anyone say they start the morning of. Strategy or ideas can always be thought up, but it's sort of hard to plan a build for the game you're on your way to see the game.

We plan on coming up with ideas after we get back, but because of our school's schedule, we won't start until Tuesday.

[midway78224]

the min. we get home from the kickoff our buildseason starts

[aaeamdar]

I think what the OP meant was not "when does your team start work" but more technically, "when is it allowable in the rules to start building". Please correct if I'm wrong.

-P

[alex1699]

i would thing the second they release the code for the rule book...:)

[Billfred]

Well, the rules covering robot fabrication are historically in the Robot section of the manual. I imagine that having the full rules unlocked would be key (no pun intended) to success...so I suppose the answer is "1.618 seconds after they put the encryption key on the screen".

[alex1699]

Well, the rules covering robot fabrication are historically in the Robot section of the manual. I imagine that having the full rules unlocked would be key (no pun intended) to success...so I suppose the answer is "1.618 seconds after they put the encryption key on the screen".

well i would have to say how ever long it takes me to type 20 digits the right way... so more like a minute

[Mark McLeod]

The rules typically say "the period between the Kick-off and robot shipment deadline," so I'd say the moment the kickoff broadcast counts down and goes on the air.

But we're all pretty busy right about then, what with our favorite show on and all. :yikes:

[dr1008]

hey, are there any rules against ordering parts before the kick off, such as andymark transmission blocks or wheels or such?

[EricH]

There haven't been previously, in regards to COTS items and raw material. No telling what this year's rules will say, though.

[Madison]

The rules typically say "the period between the Kick-off and robot shipment deadline," so I'd say the moment the kickoff broadcast counts down and goes on the air.

But we're all pretty busy right about then, what with our favorite show on and all. :yikes:

Some of us will be watching from our lab this year, so we'll probably be distracted by other things like cleaning and eating breakfast. Y'all don't have to be there at 7 AM :)

[Alan Anderson]

hey, are there any rules against ordering parts before the kick off, such as andymark transmission blocks or wheels or such?

Off-the-shelf components and raw materials have been fine in the past, as long as they aren't modified before kickoff. There was a rule last year that could have been interpreted as prohibiting the use of off-the-shelf assemblies (e.g. gearboxes) that were purchased before kickoff, but FIRST quickly clarified that was not the intent of the rule.

[skimoose]

We all know kick-off is January 5. When, exactly, can we begin work on January 5? The start of the broadcast; the end? The game reveal? Midnight the evening before? :)

Just curious and (mostly) kidding.

:)

From the "just kidding" stand point.

Does the season really ever end or start? Many of us are constantly thinking up new ideas and possibly building or designing off season projects, reflecting on other teams great performing robots, or mechanisms. In just a few days now, we'll all start "building" when the GDC drops the official game clue. We'll all try to imagine what the game will be like, what the scoring pieces are, start dreaming up mechanisms to win our imagined game. Doesn't that count too?

From the more serious side, I'd say the minute the Kickoff webcast begins. You're still taking a slight risk that something you're designing/building won't comply with a game rule. What if they change robot dimensions this year, and you're already milling a frame? So it's a somewhat risky start without having read the rules fully. During the Kickoff event we're always taking notes of key points, and tossing design ideas back and forth. When we attend the Manchester event in person (most years) it's a three hour car ride and non-stop discussion home. Fellow mentor, Bengineer, even had his girlfriend read the rules to him on the car ride home one year! (I'm sure that scored points with her :p )

Unfortunately, we won't be attending the Manchester Kickoff this year, but a local remote Kickoff. We'll be much too busy preparing for our Kickoff evening Pasta Dinner Fundraiser which will also be our 10th Anniversary Celebration. Lots of alumni, former parents, mentors, and faculty to impress with how far the team has come in ten short years. Any friends of GUS Team 228 are welcome to stop by and talk about the 2008 game.

[Dick Linn]

We watch the broadcast, usually over at VCU, then have a leisurely lunch. Then we meet at the school in the afternoon, where we chain up the best and brightest, and beat them thoroughly. They we leave them in the robot closet until Sunday or Monday. This makes it much easier to get all the ideas out in the open and secure agreement over the best strategy and design goals. It also prevents second-guessing later in the season. :yikes:

[Danielle H]

Like most teams, last year, 393 sat at the webcast with notebooks or loose leaf paper and jotted down specifics about the game as it was revealed. Then we usually spend the rest of the webcast trying to brainstorm on our own.
We usually go to lunch on the trip back from Kokomo, and most of us will discuss ideas on the bus to lunch, during lunch, and then we have a semi-organized discussion on the bus the rest of the way home.
I love the dedication of Robotics kids. :)

[JaneYoung]

I love the dedication of Robotics kids. :)

Me, too.

[RyanZ]

i would have to say right after your entire team has seen the animation video.

[DonRotolo]

I'd say the moment the kickoff broadcast counts down and goes on the air.I'd say the minute the Kickoff webcast begins. .
That's my vote too: The moment the kickoff webcast starts. But wise teams watch the kickoff before cutting metal...
Does the season really ever end or start?
No, not really. It has its ebb and flow, busy and slack times, but realistically, it never really goes away.

Don

[Stuart]

the FRC season starts when Acosta me and what ever students happen to be with us (usuly the core team pleus some) get together after the webcast at a chillies and draw out what we plan on doing. thats when the season starts for 1745.

this year may be alittle different seeing as ill be in a car driving back from mexico. . the season may start as early as half way through the webcast when I insist on calling every one I can and setting up a conference call so they can describe whats going on to me in real time. this will more likely end up being a big 4 hour strategy meeting over a cell phone(but hey its a weekend so who cares about minuets).