Canadian Reigonal
 

This year marks the first Canadian regional ever. There will be almost 50 teams, and almost half of them are new teams from Canada. What worries me, is that the new Canadian teams are going to get destroyed by the veteran Americans. Teams 610, and 188 are trying our best to help new teams in any way we can, financially, technically, with organization, there is even another team (863), building their robot in our lab.

But, I'm afraid our help won't make enough of a difference. As much as we try to help, we are a small school with a small team (30 students 3 engineers) and only one year of experience in FIRST. It would be really awful, if the new Canadian teams all got badly beaten by American teams. If you look at the American teams going to the regional, over 70% of them are odd numbers. Likely, several of those teams are thinking the will be able to easily beat the Canadian newbies and get a pass to the nationals.

I was wondering if there has been a similar situation when other regionals started-up. It is common, that when a new regional starts up, there are a crop a local teams that quickly get slaughtered?

Is there a ray of hope? Maybe the American teams won't be used to playing the game in -40 degree temperatures. Maybe the Canadian beer will knock them all out. Maybe they will be paralysed with laughter at what all of the stoopid rookie Canucks have built.

Please tell me if you have any relevant FIRST experiences or anecdotes. Or if you just want to laugh at my misfortune, that's ok too. And how do you think the Canadian teams will do? The new ones going to the regional, not the 3 veteran teams.

I don't think the rookie teams will get slaughtered per say, they may not do as well as some of the vets, but it will certainly be a learning experience for all involved. The rookies will get the chance to observe and learn from these veterans. I expect a great deal of mentoring will be involved in this regional.

~JVN
Clarkson University
Team 229

Don't worry. Everything will be ok. They won't try to smuther you into the ground just to go to Disney World. Most games in the past alowed roockie teams to participate. Most past rookie teams did a little job, nothing like get the goals.

My recomendation for the rookie teams is to make a robot that can get to the other endzone and mabe even score some points w/ balls. A bumper bot to push away the compotition may even be easy for you.

Take a deep breath, everything will be ok...

Do not be faint of heart!
 

As long as spelling doesn't count (or perhaps Reigonal is just a funny Canadian way to spell it, eh?), I wouldn't make any assumptions about anything. Plenty of underdog teams without mega-sponsors or cadres of titanium welding, fancy shmnancy machine shop jockey engineers and machinists have performed well at the competitions. Three engineers and 30 students is a lot more than some other teams have. A great game playing strategy or slick driving can conquer the most complex machine. We were able to completely stymie the Delphi juggernaught at the Mid-Atlantic regionals two years ago, with about the same resources you have, and wound up as finalists there. And, you're right about the -40 temps (was that centigrade?), those southern 'bots will just shatter in the cold. Go get 'em, ya hosers!!!

Our Team
 

Our Team 907 in Toronto, Canada (East York Collegiate)

No Engineers (At least I don't think so)
One/two coaches (Our teachers)
No money (or very little of it)
Rookie (obviously)
20 students or less
Coaches who do practically nothing (meaning they don't build the entire robot for us LOL, they give us ideas and help tho!)

Lol, we'll have a blast anyway. We're already staying up 'til 6:00 PM and are going to put together our prototype in the end of the week. I'm not worried, and I'm pretty sure our team isn't either.

Brian

Good for you guys!

Man, that makes me feel good... seriously... rock on!

I think this is what FIRST should be all about...

Wolfe, were you involved with your robotics team last year? If not, a piece of information for you:

Crescent did quite well at the nats last year, ranking higher than many veteran teams - without having a particularly sophisticated robot. Same situation with us in our rookie year, we won the Judges award for Outstanding Human Player and Exceptional Strategy.

So as a message to all rookie teams, don't feel intimidated by veterans simply because they are veterans. Just do the best you can in the 6 weeks, and come competition time, live and learn.

After all, you never know what can happen :)

I was part of the Crescent team last year and I was down at the finals. I was impresses with how we did, however I must admit much of it was due to luck being paired with other good robots. Also, there are many stories of rookie teams doing very well, but it’s unlikely that it will happen to a few dozen Canadian teams. Still, what can you do but hope for the best?

Thanks, Lewis for your encouragement and spelling corrections. By the way, at –40 Centigrade and Fahrenheit are equal.

Brian, if you ever need any help, don’t hesitate to post on our forums at www.crescentschool.org/robotics. Or call us, and if one of us can’t help you, we have a few engineers who can.

Thanks all.

Let's see...

North Toronto Team:
1 Teacher advisor
3 engineer mentors
30 or so students

Only problem is...we lack the tools and machinery necessary to make something like this. We're forced to borrow time at other schools - kinda makes it a pain :mad:

Oh....and this robot (for our rookie team at least) is insanely overwhelming. We all just stare at the parts and wonder how the heck a functioning robot is gonna come from it.

Well if you guys ever need help at competition, come visit us... I'll be glad to lend a hand, and I know a few other people would help out...

JVN
Team 229
Clarkson University

Kincardine Ontario Team:
Less than 20 members
2 captains (myself and another)
2 Teachers
2 Engineers (one electrical other mechanical)
AWSOME sponsor

Hopefully the resources from BP will make up for the inexperience of our team.

I have to admit though, I am intimidated by Woburn(sp?) Team 188 owns me :D

Lol Jordan, try not to look at it that way (comparing your team with ours).. whenever we compare ourselves with Beatty Hammond they own us too :)

Truly though, if you have questions for us feel free to drop by the forum at www.team188.com. We'll try hard to make you feel less "owned" :)

Woburn Robotics:
5 Mentors
1 Engineer
40 Students (approx)

^ Well...he'll try :D ^

Rookies........
 

Guys....Don't be scared, affraid, or overwheelmed. It's your first year in the program. Learn something as the time goes by, make new friends, and have an oppertunity to take on more knowledge in the fields of engineering, advertising, and audio visual. These things as well as the personal expirence will be greatly used in the years to come. It's a great program and it's great so many new teams aren't scared about joining the vets in the program. Can't wait to come to Canada.....It's during our Spring Break!!

Shelley

All I hear in this thread is best of luck Canada. My team 886 is a new team this year but we plan on going all the way.
We have approx 40 students, 7 teachers, and 4 mentors, which may be the highest for any Canadian teams but every team has a equal opportunity of making the finals. No one team should be counted out or no one team can say they are going to win because no one knows what just might happen on the day of the meet. Anything can happen, hopefully not by luck but by hard work.

Hello from Syracuse, NY
 

Our rookie team (891) will be going to the Canadian Regional. I hope to see all of you up there. Being the last regional, I hope our robot, if it ever be finished, will not rust while waiting for the competition.

I wrote a VB program to monitor and record data from the Dashboard port. It should help debugging, calibration, and driver training. Please download it from the White Papers area of this web site.

If it helps, please don't forget team #891. If it doesn't, I will deny its existence.

Peter, is the Canadian Regional the only regional your team is going to? Or are you going to others?

Being a rookie team, we decided to go to only one regional. We might go to more in the future.

We are also only going to the CR.

I was talking to Justin from 188 a while back about a student run tradition. What do you think? Something fun quirky and only for and run by students.

Ive been trying to think of something but cant, perhaps if there is a hill by the venue we could go grass toboganning.

Throw out some ideas.. and you Toronto guys, let us know what there is near the venue it might aid in some creative thinking :D

Hmmm...you could organize a game of soccer with the yellow Puma balls...or not.

Grass toboganning sounds terribly silly. I like it...

Forget soccer... Ultimate Frisbee!

Whoa!
Ultimate is definitely the way to go!!

Are college students allowed to play too? Or just HSers?

Ultimate frisbee is from what I hear a tradition at nationals. We cannucks have to come up with something new and crazy.

I will ask my team members, tons of freaking loons there.

An idea?!?
 

Just to throw something out in the open.......... Our team doesn't travel with a football. We sit during lunch and at least go outside and play catch or something. It gives us all a chance to get out doors before going back into the competition. Just a thought.

All other onther one..... One year we were at a rest stop and we started playing hack with a spirte bottle. There are at least two hacks carried by our team as well. Indoor sport that can be played at the hotel as well!!


Shelley

opps!!
 

I meant to say WITHOUT a FOOTBALL



Shelley

While were on the subject of hotels, where is everyone staying?

Home :D

Crossing the border......
 

Our team had to cross the border......... Not bad though only four hour drive!! :o)

Shelley

Victors
 

Greetings from Team 907, East York Collegiate Institute

Our team is running short of time -- we need one more victor! If any team in Toronto, Canada is not using a victor, we would appreciate one more.

Thank you,
Brian

Phone : (416) 396-2355 EXT. 256
Voice Mail : (416) 396-2366 EXT. 256
E-Mail : brianeyci@yahoo.ca

well
 

Greetings

from Shafi, of 907, we don't need a victor anymore.
thanks :) I've conviced my team we don't need an added big foot (for torque) and calibrate it.

Well, I personally think a huge factor as to why Team 610 did pretty well as a rookie team last year was because of the nature of the game. I'm just speaking from reading the rules and comparing the games from last year to this year. This year, the game is more physical (as in lots of contact). What I'm afraid of is that many of the Canadian rookie team's robot might get bashed to pieces and never even make it to Florida (if they are going at all). Last year, the game wasn't as much contact and thus, robots were generally in good shape when they arrived in Florida.

For example, our robot actually totally disabled another robot during the recent practice competition. It was an accident. We almost destroyed their control system and their drive system as well.

Having their robots bashed and killed the first year they get into FIRST isn't exactly a nice welcoming. Some teams might back off and give up the next year because they feel that they can't win. I dunno, I'm just a little afraid ....

Canadian Teams
 

Wolfe
I'm from an american team in New Jersey and I have to say that new teams don't do as well as veterans, but there is hope. I have seen rookies do quite well in their first year. Our team will be at the Toronto Regional. If you guys need help with anything we'd be glad to assist you.

Pictures
 

SSwaszek,

Can you post a picture of your robot?

I dont have any pictures of my robot, but I'll try to get some. I can describe it though. It has a lot of rollers going up at an angle. We believe we can hold about 10-14 balls easily and roll them up into the goal. It is quick and very manuverable. We have a miniature robot that comes out of the bottom of the robot to go and reach the endzone ( I hope the judge doesn't declare it as entaglement). And we have a goal hook on the back. I'll try real hard to post a picture.