QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
 

Posted by Andy Grady at 03/11/2001 2:55 PM EST


Other on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and Nypro Inc..



Hi all, time for the question of the week...

Question 3/11/01: Do you feel that the change in the bridge dynamics at competition was a fair one?

Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
 

Posted by nick237 at 03/11/2001 4:48 PM EST


Engineer on team #237, sie h2o bots, from Watertown high school ct and sieman co.


In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by Andy Grady on 03/11/2001 2:55 PM EST:



I think making the bridge narrower and longer had no real problems for our robot but the steeper angle "20 degrees" will make it hard for many teams to climb.
Raising the center to 15" will cause problems to robots that are wedges under 12". still we shall see.
nick237


: Hi all, time for the question of the week...

: Question 3/11/01: Do you feel that the change in the bridge dynamics at competition was a fair one?

when did this come about? (eom)
 

Posted by bill whitley at 03/11/2001 5:03 PM EST


Student on team #70, Auto City Bandits, from Powers Catholic High School and Kettering University.


In Reply to: Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by nick237 on 03/11/2001 4:48 PM EST:



: I think making the bridge narrower and longer had no real problems for our robot but the steeper angle "20 degrees" will make it hard for many teams to climb.
: Raising the center to 15" will cause problems to robots that are wedges under 12". still we shall see.
: nick237

:
: : Hi all, time for the question of the week...

: : Question 3/11/01: Do you feel that the change in the bridge dynamics at competition was a fair one?

Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
 

Posted by Travis Covington at 03/11/2001 5:05 PM EST


Student on team #115, MVRT, from Monta Vista High School and 3com - NASA-Xilinx-Hitachi Data Systems.


In Reply to: Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by nick237 on 03/11/2001 4:48 PM EST:



ok...im lost!!

since when was the bridge changed?

sorry for sounding ignorant, but i never heard that...

i heard that it had less traction and teams were having difficulties getting up it but was that due to this change?

when did this happen? at the 1st regional or these last ones

thx and sorry-

-TC

Remember what forum Nick's post is in ;o) [eom]
 

Posted by Lora Knepper at 03/11/2001 7:36 PM EST


Other on team #177, Bobcat Robotics - Adoptee, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.


In Reply to: Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by nick237 on 03/11/2001 4:48 PM EST:



: I think making the bridge narrower and longer had no real problems for our robot but the steeper angle "20 degrees" will make it hard for many teams to climb.
: Raising the center to 15" will cause problems to robots that are wedges under 12". still we shall see.
: nick237

:
: : Hi all, time for the question of the week...

: : Question 3/11/01: Do you feel that the change in the bridge dynamics at competition was a fair one?

Re: Remember what forum Nick's post is in ;o) [eom]
 

Posted by nick237 at 03/11/2001 7:56 PM EST


Engineer on team #237, sie h2o bots, from Watertown high school ct and sieman co.


In Reply to: Remember what forum Nick's post is in ;o) [eom]
Posted by Lora Knepper on 03/11/2001 7:36 PM EST:



Weeeeeeellllll lora, it was worth a try but it could happen, besides "ANDY" made me do it.
nick237


: : I think making the bridge narrower and longer had no real problems for our robot but the steeper angle "20 degrees" will make it hard for many teams to climb.
: : Raising the center to 15" will cause problems to robots that are wedges under 12". still we shall see.
: : nick237

: :
: : : Hi all, time for the question of the week...

: : : Question 3/11/01: Do you feel that the change in the bridge dynamics at competition was a fair one?

MEANIE!! ;-) i told u i was gullible
 

Posted by Travis Covington at 03/11/2001 8:56 PM EST


Student on team #115, MVRT, from Monta Vista High School and 3com - NASA-Xilinx-Hitachi Data Systems.


In Reply to: Re: Remember what forum Nick's post is in ;o) [eom]
Posted by nick237 on 03/11/2001 7:56 PM EST:



i hate rumors..

haha...j/k

Clarification on...QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
 

Posted by Andy Grady at 03/11/2001 10:56 PM EST


Other on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and Nypro Inc..


In Reply to: Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by nick237 on 03/11/2001 4:48 PM EST:



The change i speak of is the angle thats used on the fulcrum of the bridge is thicker causing the bridge to stick, which is different than many teams had on their own bridges

dont worry, we're prepared.
 

Posted by Anton Abaya at 03/11/2001 11:07 PM EST


Coach on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and If only we had free donuts....


In Reply to: Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by nick237 on 03/11/2001 4:48 PM EST:



we have several arms that are interchangeable with the one we have. one of them allows us to pick up balls too.

moreover, it's also adjustable in height from 8" to 16".

did i mention that we were able to convert our drive train into transitional driving in three days?

-anton

Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
 

Posted by Patrick Dingle at 03/12/2001 9:36 PM EST


Coach on team #639, Red B^2, from Ithaca High School and Cornell University.


In Reply to: Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by nick237 on 03/11/2001 4:48 PM EST:



You got my heart pounding a little bit faster for a few seconds, i must admit.

Patrick

: I think making the bridge narrower and longer had no real problems for our robot but the steeper angle "20 degrees" will make it hard for many teams to climb.
: Raising the center to 15" will cause problems to robots that are wedges under 12". still we shall see.
: nick237

:
: : Hi all, time for the question of the week...

: : Question 3/11/01: Do you feel that the change in the bridge dynamics at competition was a fair one?

Till the Cows come home.
 

Posted by Justin at 03/12/2001 12:42 AM EST


Other on team Blue Lightning Alumni Association from RWU sponsored by FIRST-A-holics Anonymous.


In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by Andy Grady on 03/11/2001 2:55 PM EST:



Hi,

Okay I am going to harp on this one until the cows come home. I know the rules state that anycase where the bridge is off the ground is "balanced" but lets all be real here. We're engineers, we're intelligent people and a brige that is 2mm off the ground I'm sorry but that is not anyone's ideas of what the word balanced is supposed to mean. I appeal to the FIRST community let's correct this problem, change the rules (there I said it!!!) and let's really balance the sucker.

Amazed,

Justin

Re: QOW and response to Justin's balancing comments
 

Posted by colleen - T190 at 03/12/2001 1:54 AM EST


Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science and WPI.


In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by Andy Grady on 03/11/2001 2:55 PM EST:



Moving from UTC to LongIsland.. I think FIRST may have heard the yells from the crowd and changed the bridge cause it seemed to have much more slop then the one in UTC.. and on a couple occasions, got lifted off the hinge.. all the banging with that slop I think started making the bridge a bit iffy as the days went on.. at one point.. the refs had to go in a try to fanagle the bridge to get it to stay flush on the ground (it was about an inch off the floor and didn't seem to wanna go down).. it caused some flukes and hazards at points..

However.. this is FIRST.. and as declared.. a game of "diabolical dynamics".. balanced means not supported by anyone else.. it doesn't say it has to be exactly x-inches off the horizontal.. if such is the case.. it would be a rarity that anyone would balance.. cause even that "one balanced position" is variable.. who's to judge that 1/8" off the ground is less balanced than 12" off the ground? Either it's gotta be exact.. and thus measured for such every match.. or ANY non-supported bridge counts

The latter is how it stands.. and as far as I think, is how it should stay.. it's part of the game... it's part of what makes it harder.. and it's part of what makes you have to build a versitile robot that can handle the situations arising...

As Ive said before.....
 

Posted by Jessica Boucher at 03/12/2001 6:29 AM EST


Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.


In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by Andy Grady on 03/11/2001 2:55 PM EST:



No matter how you consider it "balanced".....I can't wait to see what will happen when a bridge like UTC's bridge is on a field next to a bridge like VCU's bridge. The reactions should be surprising.

-Jessica B, #237

no problem to big or small
 

Posted by Erin at 03/12/2001 10:38 AM EST


Other on team #65, Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.


In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by Andy Grady on 03/11/2001 2:55 PM EST:



i was going to post about this yesterday, but i didnt really have anything but indifferent feelings towards the issue... so now I will just give an answer, I don't think it really matters, or was fair or unfair; it is just a change that we have to adapt to. we are smart people, we should have no problem adjusting to anything new they throw at us.

-erin

Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
 

Posted by Andy Grady at 03/12/2001 11:20 AM EST


Other on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and Nypro Inc..


In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!!
Posted by Andy Grady on 03/11/2001 2:55 PM EST:



I just feel that all those teams who put so much work into a gyro program specific to a looser bridge really got the shaft. Its amazing how one little insignificant change can effect the presision design of some machines.