Ode to a Crate

[Joe Ross]

Prior to the 2001 season, after using 2 different crates in previous 4 years, 330 decided it was time to make a crate that could be used for many years. We just started the 11th year with that crate. During that time, it’s traveled to events in 7 states and 2 countries. It’s been dropped, banged, stabbed by a forklift, and tagged by many teams (especially 254 and 980).

Event Years Miles (one-way)
Southern California Regional 2001-2010 20
Silicon Valley Regional 2001, 2002 350
Championship (Orlando) 2001, 2002 2500
IRI 2002, 2005, 2007-2010 2000
Paris Air Show 2002 5600
Arizona Regional 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010 400
Championship (Houston) 2003 1500
Championship (Atlanta) 2004-2008, 2010 2200
Sacramento Regional 2005 400
San Diego Regional 2007, 2008 100
Las Vegas Regional 2009 300
That totals over 80,000 miles round trip. How many miles does your crate have?

With bag and tag becoming more prevalent, our crate may never make 100,000 miles.

[WizenedEE]

Our crate has gone 4,451 miles. (http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=distance+from+Anacortes,+WA+to+Seattle,+WA+%2B+ distance+from+Seattle,+WA+to+Atlanta,+Georgia+%2B+ distance+from+Atlanta,+Georgia+to+Anacortes,+WA)

[rsisk]

Paris Air Show? Can't wait to hear that story

Right now, our crate is hanging out down in San Diego on it's inaugural trip.

[Mark McLeod]

Cool!

Our current crate's only been around since 2005 and we haven't clocked near the miles you guys have.
We actually still have our previous crate dating from 2000, but it's used to store a few old robots.

I'll have to add up the mileage though...

[dodar]

Man our crate has been in existence only since 2008, you guys have like the Godfather of crates.

[Chris is me]

Our crate this year is new and it's unlikely it will clock even 150 miles. It is being shipped only to WPI, at which point we are bagging for the rest of the season.

[ATannahill]

Our crate was donated in 1998, used. We keep it because it is simple and reliable.

[Eagleeyedan]

We made ours 4 years ago. It's ben re-furbed a few time. This year was no exception. We had to re-build the base.

[JaneYoung]

It’s been dropped, banged, stabbed by a forklift, and tagged by many teams (especially 254 and 980).

Any photos of this marvelous crate?

Jane

[Joe Ross]

Any photos of this marvelous crate?

It's such an unsung hero that going back through 5 years worth of photos from multiple people, I could not find any pictures of it.

[JaneYoung]

It's such an unsung hero that going back through 5 years worth of photos from multiple people, I could not find any pictures of it.

Ok, that made me LOL.

:)

Some crates are like people - totally unsung but totally deserving of a pat on the back or the board.

Maybe take a photo when you see it again and update this thread. Thanks for looking, Joe.

Signed,
I ♥ crates Jane

[Joe Ross]

Some crates are like people - totally unsung but totally deserving of a pat on the back or the board.

The thing about Bag and Tag is that we still have the crate.

[MrForbes]

ok, what I want to know is why do I have a picture of your crate? (vegas last year)

[Chris is me]

I like the clever blur effect you applied to obscure the robot. Almost unnoticeable. :)

[JaneYoung]

I'm very surprised that your crate did not write a letter of protest demanding improvements such as a fresh paint job. Crates have their rights, you know. They have a right to be strong. They have a right not to fall apart at the least little bump in the road. They have a right to express themselves. They have a right to stand tall. If your new crate needs any help with stating its rights with its mentors/students who don't even take photos of its rightness - just let me know.

Do you have a trailer? Trailers have rights, you know...

:)
Thanks for the photos. Hopefully, some day, I'll see it for myself in the 330 Hall Of Fame Museum.

Jane

[Nick Bouressa]

We use our crate as a work bench in our pit. We can open it up and after we take out the robot we can fold down a table with a vise to work on and a shelf for battery's. We also keep a trash can and tool chest in it.

It also has wheels so its very easy to move. Its so easy to move we put our robot in it for GSR, even though GSR was a bag and tag event!


Crate

http://images56.fotki.com/v127/photos/5/1485315/9524697/DSC_9588-vi.jpg

Crate with last years robit

http://images112.fotki.com/v189/photos/5/1485315/8520200/NIKOND3000DSC_2574-vi.jpg

[KarenH]

ok, what I want to know is why do I have a picture of your crate? (vegas last year)
It called your name, and asked you to take its picture, because deep down you knew it was a crate with character.

[MrForbes]

Could be. But I think it was conspiring with the cheesy crate next to it

[George Nishimura]

I know we have used the same crate since 2007 (ie since I joined the team) and since then we've gone to:

City (One-way in miles)

Worcester (3300)
Boston (3300)
Anapolis (3600)
Orlando (4400)

= 29200 miles

If we include since the beginning of the team (it wouldn't be surprising if we have used the same crate as it is pretty beat up), we've also gone to:

Houston (4800)
New York (3500)

= 45800 miles

Can't find a pic of it's exterior yet. Only the interior.

[Joe Ross]

With bag and tag becoming more prevalent, our crate may never make 100,000 miles.


Despite Bag and Tag, on the way home from St Louis this year, our crate will cross the 100,000 mile threshold.

Event Years Miles (one-way)
Southern California Regional 2001-2011 20
Silicon Valley Regional 2001, 2002 350
Championship (Orlando) 2001, 2002 2500
IRI 2002, 2005, 2007-2012 2000
Paris Air Show 2002 5600
Arizona Regional 2003-2004,2006,2010-2011 400
Championship (Houston) 2003 1500
Championship (Atlanta) 2004-2008, 2010 2200
Sacramento Regional 2005 400
San Diego Regional 2007, 2008 100
Las Vegas Regional 2009 300
Championship (St Louis) 2011, 2012, 2014 1900


How many miles does 359 have?

[dodar]

Denver Regional: 2008 and 2010 - 1,891 miles
Boston Regional: 2006 - 1,284 miles
Connecticut Regional: 2009 - 1,198 miles
Waterloo Regional: 2007 - 1,306 miles
Smokey Mountain Regional: 2011 - 697 miles
South Florida Regional: 2012 - 162 miles
Alamo Regional: 2013 - 1,203 miles
World Champs(Atlanta): 2005-2010 - 485 miles
World Champs(STL): 2012 - 1,037 miles
Florida/Orlando Regional: 2005-2013 - 38 miles

She was retired at the end of last year after being beat all to heck after 9 years of amazing service and accumulating 23,000 travel miles. She will be missed.

[TikiTech]

I am sure 359 has many more miles than we do but here is our breakdown.

Our crate was only 3 years old and has been well worn.

Our 3 year old crate traveling log

2011 - Rookie Year
Kona to Oahu > 200+
Oahu to St. Louis > 4885
Return home > 5085

2012
Kona to Oahu > 200+
Oahu to St. Louis > 4885
Return home > 5085

2013 - First attempt at mainland regionals
Kona to Oahu > 200+
Oahu to LA > 4161
2 LA area regionals >60
Back to HI regional >4161
Oahu to St Louis > 4885
Return home > 5085

3 year total on our rookie crate = 38892

Most freight from Hawaii generally gets shipped through Seattle first. Then is trucked to the final destination.

The crate was dismantled this year since it wouldn't make another trip to the mainland..

You can visit our new crate in St. Louis!

Hope to see you there,
Aloha

[Jon Stratis]

Our first crate lasted 7 years:

(miles are 1-way)
2007 - St. Louis Regional: 530 miles
2008 - St. Louis Regional: 530 miles
2008 - Minneapolis Regional: 12 miles
2009 - Kansas City Regional: 440 miles
2009 - 10,000 Lakes Regional: 12 miles
2010 - St. Louis Regional: 530 miles
2010 - 10,000 Lakes Regional: 12 miles
2011 - Champs: 530 miles
2013 - Champs: 530 miles (with another team's robot, whiles ours stayed home!)
2013 - Alpha Test weekend: 1360


Both going to and coming back from the alpha test weekend the crate took some significant damage. Going out, one side was knocked clean off, with much splintering off wood and some apparently improvised nails to fix it along the way. Coming back, a different side was partially caved in. The robot survived though, and even picked up a few extra parts along the way!

So, it had to be rebuilt. The only thing remaining from that crate is the base - a nice plastic base designed for use with forklifts. Since we're reusing the base, does it count as the same crate? ::rtm::

[Alan Anderson]

Since we're reusing the base, does it count as the same crate? ::rtm::

See the grandfather's axe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus) question.