Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

Our drive team is normally able to fix most of the problems on the robot, so I only keep 2-3 other students around to be in charge of organizing the pit, charging batteries, fixing things, and talking to the judges. Others are allowed to stop by but they shouldn't stay for very long; they have other jobs already that are best handled out of the pits like scouting, spirit and helping other teams. We bring enough stuff that having 13 people and the robot in the pit would be close to impossible with out pushing out into the aisle.

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

13 people in the pits is too many. We Use 2 mechanical, 1 electrical and 1 programming in the pit crew. We will also allow 1 or 2 students to temporarily work in the pits to spread pout the experience. Add 2 mentors and the pit still gets too crowded.

Our drive team is not part of the pit crew and do not work on the robot. The scout team will spend time in the pits but not hanging around our pit.

We will also have other students from our team helping other teams in the pits

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

Last year we had no cart but we did have a solution: four U bolts attached to the corners of the robot. We had four strong people carry the robot this way. It helped that our robot only weighed in the 90s before battery+bumpers.

We are making a cart for our 120-lb robot but keeping the U-bolts to get it on and off the field.

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

13 is way too many. Sometimes we'll have 8, and that's a lot. Usually it's it's maybe 4 students and 1-3 mentors working at a time. Programmers and Drive Team stay close (in districts, really close because there's no time to go anywhere) and work on the bot directly when they need to or code/strategize when they can. Mentors and scouts come down for consults and practice field time as well as when we go to the field (to ensure there are people there to talk to judges and other teams).

Remember pits are at best 10x10' with a 30x40" robot in the middle and usually a 2.5'? table at the back, plus whatever else you bring. With our shelf and rolling toolbox, 13 people wouldn't have room to move. We get there occasionally, but clearing the pit is a delicate art.

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

In my now 9 years of being on a drive team and moving robots to the field, the most effective way to clear a path is the following:

Send one drive team member ahead of the robot, not pulling it, an independent person. This person walks ahead of the robot, and politely asks anyone who may be in the way to please move out of the way momentarily for the robot to pass by. If they are facing away from the robot, a gentle tap on the shoulder followed by the same explanation does wonders.

Our team hasn't yelled robot in the 7 years I have been on it, and we don't need to. We move through the pits just fine without creating extra noise pollution. Teams should try it, you will be surprised how much easier it is to move to and from your pit.

-Brando

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

This is SO effective! We migrated to this from yelling over the past few years, and it works so much better.

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

how many people can you fit inside your 10x10 pit, with a robot, table, and tools, and still be able to work safely? The pit can get badly crowded, and I've never seen a team able to fit 13 people around 1 robot at the same time! If you have people who are sitting there doing nothing, send them into the stands. If you have so many people you're overflowing into the isle, send some into the stands.

Then again, if you have enough people to do all your scouting, compose the drive team, make repairs to the root and still have some left over... send them around to help out struggling teams! Have them go talk with the Rookies and see if they need help or fill them in on how the competition goes. Help those rookies with scouting so they know how to do it. Help them get to a point where they can pass inspection.

We have the drive team (4 people) whenever they aren't driving, and 3-4 others who are responsible for fixing anything that breaks and talking with judges. Add 1-2 mentors and we're under 10 people total... and the drive team doesn't actually spend much time inside our pit - they're off talking with their next alliance, or in the stands talking with our scouters.

There are special occasions when we bring more of the team down to the pit, though - being the only all girls teams at the regionals we attend leads to some face time with different VIP's, and when we know ahead of time they're coming over, we can bring down additional members for the experience.

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

I suppose it depends on how effectively your team utilizes the space. Between our robot and our storage we use approximately 29% of our floor space. This is with bumpers on our robot and 160 cubic feet of storage space. We have had thirteen people in the pit working on several occasions and at times had over sixteen before. Perhaps teams should invest in how they utilize the space provided instead of heaping 'material' in their pit?

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

This should be the recommended way to move robots around at an event. The "ROBOT" screaming actually causes problems. It tends to give kids the idea that robots have the right of way over people and they expect people to clear a path for them instead of clearing a path themselves, and it adds to the overall noise in the pits, making the environment more hazardous.

Thanks Brando!

- Mr. Van
Coach, Robodox

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

A best practice that the safety inspectors can pass on while they do their rounds. I need the lingo. What would be a good name to call this position, leading the team robot safely through the crowded pits without yelling. Robot docent? Robot Page? Help!

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

This has been a problem at every event I've been to. And worse at Championship considering the distances people need to travel.

I would hope that this is something that the green shirts could address. But it seems like their attention is focused on what is going on inside individual pits more than what's going on around them.

Maybe events could post big signs at the pit entrances with some basic "Shop Safety" rules on them. At least it might get people to think about the right mindset that they need while in the pits.

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

This was a massive problem in St. Louis last year. I keep meaning to say something to FIRST about this. Having a robot is not a license to run people over.
I do remember a more civil time when kids walked slowly in front of their robots and yelled "robot" with their arms out or waving a flag. And ALWAYS waiting for people to move out of the way.

I think we need to change the culture back on this one.

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

Vanguard.

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

Another Problem with shouting "robot" and also loud cheering in the pit is that it interfers with teams being interviewed by the judges.

Re: Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud
 

I like it!!