VEX Robotics World Championship Webcast

[Brandon Martus]

http://www.robotevents.com/vexawards/vexrwc.png
For those of you not attending the Inaugural VEX Robotics World Championship
in Northridge, CA this weekend, you can view the webcast online courtesy of NASA.

http://robotics.nasa.gov/

You can also view up to date scoring and ranking and other event information linked
from the event page on robotevents.com (http://www.robotevents.com/event.php?eid=333) or the event page on vexrobotics.com (http://www.vexrobotics.com/championship/).

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Thanks for the link I will be sure to watch! Any teams that I should look for?

[Andrew Bates]

Watch for 38 VEXellent! We can't wait to compete.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Haha, why didn't I think of you guys when I saw that. Being one of the only Michigan teams there I will back you guys 100%!

[ManicMechanic]

Does anyone have a schedule? In particular, does anyone know when the elimination rounds will be?

[fredliu168]

I believe its 2pm on Saturday

[Dave Flowerday]

Does anyone have a schedule? In particular, does anyone know when the elimination rounds will be?
There's an agenda link at the Championship page:
http://www.vexrobotics.com/championship/

[lynca]

This is the most international Robotics competition I've ever seen. Props to IFI for going around the world to bring countries to a very diverse robotics competition.

Here is a team list of Championship
http://www.vexrobotics.com/championship/Vex_Robotics_World_Championship_Team_List.pdf

[Rick TYler]

I'm watching the opening ceremonies on the Webcast. Very professional looking so far. The flags of all those countries are an impressive display -- sort of like looking at the FLL world festival.

The Webcast quality is excellent. I wish all the FIRST Webcasts looked this good.

[Billfred]

I'm watching right now--looks pretty awesome. Only kink thus far was a bit of a sound misfire on Karthik's announcing (in that the music was cranked up to the point of drowning him out).

Keep it hot out there in California!

[Rick TYler]

I love the way they put the fields up at waist-level. It would be much easier to see than floor-level fields. Let's steal it for FTC next year...

[Dave Flowerday]

I'm really impressed by how professional this event looks, with the raised platforms and changing colors beneath, and how fast they're moving from match to match. Very little downtime - that really keeps the viewer's interest.

[RoboMom]

I'm watching right now--looks pretty awesome. Only kink thus far was a bit of a sound misfire on Karthik's announcing (in that the music was cranked up to the point of drowning him out).

Keep it hot out there in California!

I thought so too and text messaged someone.

They answered.
Is it any better?

[Billfred]

I thought so too and text messaged someone.

They answered.
Is it any better?
I'm watching Q23 right now (which should be on Karthik's field unless I missed something), and it's only a hair better than it was; Eiffel 65 is still dominating my speakers.

[bellpride]

The Webcast quality is excellent. I wish all the FIRST Webcasts looked this good.
Thanks NASA (Mark Leon especially)!

[fredliu168]

Wow great day of competition. IFI ran the event extremely well!

So far my prediction is doing well. The top 3 seeded teams are Canada, China, China. Canucks, the number one seed have excellent driving (I think I spot Brandon the lead driver of FRC1114 coaching) and a very good robot. However, I think if they select 1114 as their number one pick, they will fall to the very dangerous chinese 11 and 13 alliance. 11 can descore as well as score mass balls, while 13 can pick up 20 balls in autonomous. If Canucks want any chance of winning, I think they should break up this alliance.

[NoahTheBoa]

11 is amazing. I'd also like top point out that team 24 is pretty impressive as well. They can score and descore very quickly, we were playing against them in our 3rd match when we scored all three black balls and almost filled up the rest of the bridge section with balls, we went to pick up a few more balls and when we got back all three black balls and about half the other balls were gone!:ahh:


Also, is anyone archiving the webcast, I would like to watch some of our matches...

[Andrew Bates]

Ok so someone mentioned that they liked the fields being up high. The general consensus among drivers at the competition is that it is not helpful. We find it annoying that we have to duck and weave in order to get a slightly better view. Even then I still can't see what is going on in front of the robot. I'm almost 6' tall and I have trouble, now imagine how much trouble that people who are only 5' or 4' tall are having...

[ManicMechanic]

Is anyone besides me attempting to capture some of this video for posterity? We tried to record the FTC finals 2 weeks ago -- found that we could successfully capture what we were viewing, and set up for timer because the time difference meant than no one could be physically home to start the recording. Disappointingly, it didn't work, and was frustrating because we could have recorded it if we were only 1 time zone earlier and could have been at the computer during the finals.

Gone again yesterday, will return mid-late afternoon today. If we get to our home computer in time, we'll try to record the finals and will try to work with NASA on the legalities of showing the recording on YouTube.

Big IF, though. I'd hate to lose yet another fantastic opportunity due to heavy traffic or other unexpected mishaps.

If you've never recorded live feed before and want to give it a try, there's some helpful stuff at this link:

http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/record-streaming-video-windows-media.htm

Don't ask me to explain it -- my son works the video magic.

[Lowfategg]

Is anyone besides me attempting to capture some of this video for posterity? We tried to record the FTC finals 2 weeks ago -- found that we could successfully capture what we were viewing, and set up for timer because the time difference meant than no one could be physically home to start the recording. Disappointingly, it didn't work, and was frustrating because we could have recorded it if we were only 1 time zone earlier and could have been at the computer during the finals.

Gone again yesterday, will return mid-late afternoon today. If we get to our home computer in time, we'll try to record the finals and will try to work with NASA on the legalities of showing the recording on YouTube.

Big IF, though. I'd hate to lose yet another fantastic opportunity due to heavy traffic or other unexpected mishaps.

If you've never recorded live feed before and want to give it a try, there's some helpful stuff at this link:

http://all-streaming-media.com/record-video-stream/record-streaming-video-windows-media.htm

Don't ask me to explain it -- my son works the video magic.

Use VLC and tell it to save the network stream as an .asf.

[RoboMom]

However, I think if they select 1114 as their number one pick, they will fall to the very dangerous chinese 11 and 13 alliance. 11 can descore as well as score mass balls, while 13 can pick up 20 balls in autonomous. If Canucks want any chance of winning, I think they should break up this alliance.

Oops, the Chinese teams 11 and 13 did not understand the declining part of alliance selection. There goes their plan.

[popnbrown]

woww..im watching alliance selections and they are talking in chinese...wow chinese TEAMS!!

[yongkimleng]

Hey im view from webcast, need some quick help since google failed me.. where do I find the list of all team names and their corresponding numbers? Having a hard time figuring out whos who :p

edit: whoops my bad, found it!

http://www.vexrobotics.com/championship/Vex_Robotics_World_Championship_Team_List.pdf

[ttldomination]

the webcast won't work for me???

Any suggestions?

[fredliu168]

Alliances
1. 97, 1114, 599

2. 13, 8, 6

3. 11, 7, 10

4. 554, 400, 83

5. 7011, 3, 803

6. 1892, 7012, 2467

7. 117, 249, 1001

8. 627, 24, 19

My Predictions

QF
1v8
2v7
3v6
4v5

SF
1v5
2v3

Finals
1v2

Edit (before any competition)
I think alliance 5 can take down alliance 4 in the QF, 3 was an excellent pick by 7011.
The match between 2 and 3 will be tight, but I think 2 can take it with the much needed assistance of team 6 who can throw away balls from the trough.
In the match between 1v2, it will also be tight. However I think simbotics and canucks have the driving to pull this off.

[Rick TYler]

Mark Leon is announcing the eliminations! These Vex people are for real.

(I already knew that, of course...)

EDITED TO ADD: Team 803 is in the finals, and is from Huntington Beach High School. That's my alma mater, class of *cough*.

[artdutra04]

I like the nice, high-quality (and widescreen!) webcast, and the multitude of camera angles, and the cool lighting effects of the fields make it even better. The high fields are also nice; I know Savage Soccer has used raised playing fields for some time, but they only been raised about 24-30". It can make driving a little more difficult, but it makes the fields easier to see for cameras and the audience, and eliminates the subtle "looking down on these robots" aspect of FVC/FTC.

Overall it looks like a slick and professional setup.

The new compass, gyro and accelerometer sensors, and the new beefier gear announcements were cool as well, as was the announcement of their new upcoming free online competitions for any student, anywhere in the world.

[fredliu168]

Well, my predictions were pretty off. But at least China will be guarenteed to have at least one world champion.

[gblake]

I like the nice, high-quality (and widescreen!) webcast, and the multitude of camera angles, and the cool lighting effects of the fields make it even better. ... The new compass, gyro and accelerometer sensors, and the new beefier gear announcements were cool as well, as was the announcement of their new upcoming free online competitions for any student, anywhere in the world.And it's a hoot to see the Robodox teaching the Chinese students the chicken dance :) :) :)

Blake

[Lil' Lavery]

Hmmm, I wonder how hard it's going to be to persuade Drexel and/or ASME to have a Vex team next year. Given the amount of FIRST-alums I know, hopefully not very difficult. :D

[fredliu168]

Wow total Chinese sweep.

[Lowfategg]

Ok I recorded alliance selections and all finals including awards until the very end.

Its a very large file since its a straight rip from the NASA feed.

So is there anyone that wants me to post it or has a place I can post it. (its about 1 GB)

[fredliu168]

Members of the IFI/FTC community needs to start their version of TBA (http://www.thebluealliance.net) (the blue alliance).

[Lowfategg]

Members of the IFI/FTC community needs to start their version of TBA (http://www.thebluealliance.net) (the blue alliance).

Or the TBA needs to add an FTC section to the site.

[artdutra04]

Or the TBA needs to add an FTC section to the site.The only problem is that FIRST issues brand new team numbers every year to FTC teams, which makes keeping archives of team matches difficult and kind of pointless. (Especially if you want to track teams across multiple seasons...) :-/

But if IFI were to institute a fixed team numbering system for their Vex competition registration, then it would be problem solved. ;)

[Rick TYler]

The only problem is that FIRST issues brand new team numbers every year to FTC teams, which makes keeping archives of team matches difficult and kind of pointless. (Especially if you want to track teams across multiple seasons...) :-/

But if IFI were to institute a fixed team numbering system for their Vex competition registration, then it would be problem solved. ;)

With smaller robots, I would prefer that FIRST, CD, IFI, and TBA keep track of team names rather than numbers. Last year, we fielded two FVC robots, this year we went up to three FTC robots, and next year we will have between four and eight FTC/Vex Competition robots. As the size of our program grows and shrinks over the years, the numbers will continue to change, but our organization name (Exothermic Robotics) will remain the same. None of our team marketing, like t-shirts and signs, have team numbers on them as we are explicitly tying our brand image to the name of the team, not the numbers.

To some extent, this is already true in FRC. You might know about 254, 233, 111, and 1809, but I bet you think Poofs, Pink, Wildstang, and Exploding Bacon. I'd go the other way -- deemphasize numbers and celebrate team names.

[Billfred]

To some extent, this is already true in FRC. You might know about 254, 233, 111, and 1809, but I bet you think Poofs, Pink, Wildstang, and Exploding Bacon. I'd go the other way -- deemphasize numbers and celebrate team names.

Actually, I only think Exploding Bacon when I think about 1902. ;)

The point remains, though--if numbers shuffle, continuity is going to be nigh impossible.

[gblake]

The only problem is that FIRST issues brand new team numbers every year to FTC teams, ...
FIRST/FTC announced recently that FTC teams will keep their numbers from year to year. I think that teams that return from this FTC season (the one just finished) will keep this year's number.

Blake

[Lowfategg]

FIRST/FTC announced recently that FTC teams will keep their numbers from year to year. I think that teams that return from this FTC season (the one just finished) will keep this year's number.

Blake

Sweet I aways liked the number 74.

[Billfred]

FIRST/FTC announced recently that FTC teams will keep their numbers from year to year. I think that teams that return from this FTC season (the one just finished) will keep this year's number.

Blake
Do you have a link on that? I didn't see the announcement, but there's also been a lot of FTC traffic of late that could cause me to miss it.

[Rick TYler]

Actually, I only think Exploding Bacon when I think about 1902. ;)

See? "Exploding Bacon" is memorable, but their number isn't.

The point remains, though--if numbers shuffle, continuity is going to be nigh impossible.

My point exactly. Deemphasize numbers and make it so they don't matter so much.

There would be a lot of resistance to the idea, but FIRST is about change, not tradition. We should never be afraid to change the program to make it better.

[Rick TYler]

FIRST/FTC announced recently that FTC teams will keep their numbers from year to year. I think that teams that return from this FTC season (the one just finished) will keep this year's number.

Can you point me to the announcement, please? Thanks.

[gblake]

Do you have a link on that? I didn't see the announcement, but there's also been a lot of FTC traffic of late that could cause me to miss it.Bill,

It was in a message from Darlene P., the Virginia FTC AP. She said, "You are keeping your team number from this point forward. Your '07-'08 team number is 'etched in stone'."

Blake

[Lowfategg]

Ok, here it is, video of alliance selections, all awards, final matches, and announcements.

http://www.vexplosion.com/lowfategg/IFI%20WORLD%20CHAMP.wmv

"http://www.vexplosion.com/lowfategg/IFI%20WORLD%20CHAMP.wmv"

Its a rather large file so it would be a good idea to stream it rather then downloading it a at once. I also recommend playing it with VLC.

Thank You, Quazar (from Vex Forum) for the hosting space on his own FTP server.

[Nawaid Ladak]

Ok, here it is, video of alliance selections, all awards, final matches, and announcements.

http://www.vexplosion.com/lowfategg/IFI%20WORLD%20CHAMP.wmv

"http://www.vexplosion.com/lowfategg/IFI%20WORLD%20CHAMP.wmv"

Its a rather large file so it would be a good idea to stream it rather then downloading it a at once. I also recommend playing it with VLC.

Thank You, Quazar (from Vex Forum) for the hosting space on his own FTP server.

nice: almost 2 gigs of video, i tried recording on real player and it didn't work out so well.... so thanks a bunch

[bellpride]

To some extent, this is already true in FRC. You might know about 254, 233, 111, and 1809, but I bet you think Poofs, Pink, Wildstang, and Exploding Bacon. I'd go the other way -- deemphasize numbers and celebrate team names.
But what about 1114? On our scouting team, we know every team by their number, not name (except PINK). We were pretty ticked when we couldn't get 254 as our FTC number, and 1114 actually named themselves Team 339: 1114 Simbotics.

I think people just know teams by their names if their names are exotic (Exploding Bacon, Pink, Cheesy Poofs). Hardly anybody knows 968's name though (RAWC - Robotics Alliance of West Covina).

[dtengineering]

My point exactly. Deemphasize numbers and make it so they don't matter so much.

Well to take the quote entirely out of context, there is a joke in there somewhere about deemphasizing numbers in a program that promotes math and science! And yeah, I know that isn't what you meant.

However it is entirely possible to have two teams with the same names. For instance we are 1346, "Trobotics"... but which could easily be mistaken for 1386, the "Trobots". I wouldn't be surprised if there were 2 or more teams out there with even more similar names. What is interesting is that by using the team numbers I can tell that both Trobotics and The Trobots registered with FIRST within weeks of each other and have been around for five seasons.

The team number also provides a fixed format for displaying team results at competitions. This makes it much more efficient to display match results, perform alliance selections, and print match schedules.

Finally keeping the team number the same allows students to recreate the team "brand" at appropriate intervals, while keeping their FRC/FTC history consistant. For instance our school started out as "Thompson Robotics Development", but that was in our first season where we had no marketing/communications team. Once we learned more about FRC we shortened the team name, changed the team colours, and created a new logo and mascot. Each of those elements is reviewed every year and updated to ensure they maintain relevance, but our team history is tied to our team number.

So I'm a strong supporter of the permanent team numbering system not simply because that "is the way it has always been done" but rather because it offers several practical advantages over a team naming system.

Jason