2005 Manual
 

The 2005 FRC manual has been posted at the 2005 Documents and Updates page. Some of it is encrypted and some is decrypted which is not event sensative. Please remember though FIRST has put out the manual in advance with Gracious Professionalism mind.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

good, I am glad to see that FIRST did in fact put up an encrypted manual this year, I'm glad to see the rumors weren't true

Re: 2005 Manual
 

I am guessing they were still debating if they should put it up or not because of what happen last year. It was not only ChiefDelphi, it was everywhere. I hope nobody plans to do or talk about such things.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

I guess I was right! ;)

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Hmm, so RadioShack is sponsoring the Controls award, and there are new Regional Safety and Championship Rookie Inspiration awards. Also, it looks like teams can resubmit 2004 Regional Woodie Flowers award winners for consideration for the national award in addition to their 2005 entries.

Finally, the Chairman's award is now being submitted online, is limited to 10000 characters (instead of four pages), can only include 4 photographs, and must be under 1MB in size. Instead of being freeform, it looks like it will just be a web form. I guess FIRST is trying to eliminate the graphic design and layout aspect, and wants to just focus on writing ability.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Looks like we know what some of the KOP contains (from the "At The Events" document, talking about replacement parts available at competition):

Battery Quick Disconnects
Mabuchi Motors
Muffin Fans – Large and Small
Nippon Denso Window Motors and Couplers
120 Amp Main Breakers
Jideco Window Motors
Flexible shafts and couplers
Tiagene Power Sliding Door Motor
Wheel Hub Adapters
Fisher-Price Motor/Gearbox
Globe Motors
CIM Motors and Mounting Brackets
Various Pneumatic Fittings – no cylinders, tanks, compressors or valves

Re: 2005 Manual
 

The robot can't be too radically different in dimensions this year, as the crate dimensions are the same as last year's. Not that that means much.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Take a look at Section 7.16 -- Team Accessories Checklist. Most of the items are pretty standard, but one jumps out at me, especially considering the early BOM released yesterday.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

i found something interesting...

Look at section 9.8
sections 9.8.1 to 9.8.4

****

9.8.1 Champion

This award celebrates the team or alliance that wins the Championship.

*****

team OR alliance???

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Isn't that just one of those things to pick up screws you drop?

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Anyone know what the Mabuchi Motors are?

Magnet on a stick sounds pretty innocuous and standard. I think I even recall seeing it last year. They really are great when you drop a screw somewhere inaccesible.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

This is the same way that FIRST worded this award description last year.

http://www.team229.org/fm/8.1.3.14
http://www.team229.org/fm/8.9.1

Yup. My bad on that one. It was in last year's manual. I'm clearly too excited right now. :o

http://www.team229.org/fm/10.8

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Maybe it's a spear to throw at robots. :D

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Yeah, it was in last year's manual.

For reference, here are the corresponding sections of last year's manual:

Communication
Team Organization
Robot Transportation
At the Events
The Awards

Re: 2005 Manual
 

on the team accessory checklist... paintbrush?
paintbrush+yellow paint= ?

Re: 2005 Manual
 

`Twas also in last year's manual....don't ask me why. :confused:

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Aren't they essentially the Fischer Price motors? Or maybe I could be wrong. *shrugs*

Re: 2005 Manual
 

"At the events" 7.6.1 "indicate on WHICH field you will practice"

7.6.1.2 courtesy "there will be a specified number of teams on A field during"

HEHE 2 fields.. or maybe 3!

What if theres a triangle, circle and a square field!

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Hmm, no drills at all and two kinds of Window motors.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

wasn't there talk of being no drill motors this year anyway?

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Don't get all excited just yet. A soft bristled paintbrush is excellent for dusting off electrical components. They don't want folks using canned air, because that just makes a mess when dust and assorted crud starts flying everywhere!

Re: 2005 Manual
 

A quick Google search found the Mabuchi Motors website.

Further investigation shows that they appear to make motors that can be used in cordless drills. I found two 12V motors, but how they compare to the old drill motors I have no idea since I was not involved with the drivetrain.

http://www.mabuchi-motor.co.jp/cgi-b...D=rs_540rhshsf
http://www.mabuchi-motor.co.jp/cgi-b..._ID=rs_550pcvc

They also make other motors, which you can look at by browsing around their website.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

FIRST has supplied us with them before:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=15967

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Was it described last year as "The Arena"?

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Ok, thank you. I was unaware of this as this took place before I became involved with FIRST.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Robot Transportation Rule 6.2

Quote:

1. You

Quote:

MUST ship batteries inside the original packaging

Quote:

2. You MUST use the original Styrofoam protective cover with the plastic caps covering the battery terminals. 3. Secure the boxed batteries inside the robot crate in an upright position within DESIGNATED battery box slot. Refer to the sample shown below:

Only NEW batteries this year??? and only 2 batteries

Re: 2005 Manual
 

I believe that Mabuchi will be supplying an alternative to the Bosch Drill motors. The people I talked with when I bought some of the old Bosch drill motors told me FIRST was having a third party company make them a replacement for the Bosch drill motor. I suspect that these Mabuchi motors are what he was talking about.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

does anyone have pictures of the old mabuchi motors, or can someone describe their size and such.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Id like to commend FIRST for including the option for regional woodie flowers award winners last year to be considered for finalists again this year at the national championships. It is also very considerate to allow teams to also nominate a new mentor!

Re: 2005 Manual
 

If anyone looked at the 2005 Advance Material List, it asks for 1 Shallow Pot Magnet. Hmmm interesting.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

I thought the old Mabuchi motors were the old FP motors. FP is on the new list alongside this new Mabuchi motor.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

There was an additional Mabuchi given to us in 2002. "Mabuchi" is just the brand, we'll have to wait for someone like Paul Copioli to get us the specs since, historically, FIRST has been slow with that.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

IIRC, the Mabuchi motor is 2002 was a tiny servo-sized motor.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

I REALLY HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE MORE THEN 2 BATTERIES IF NOT TEAMS THAT DO NOT HAVE TO PLAY IN THE LAST ROUNDS WILL HAVE A HUGE ADVANTAGE

Re: 2005 Manual
 

haha. we did that last year, our rookie year, cuz we only had 2 batteries...
and we got up to the semifinals. :rolleyes:
and it was annoying, we were looking forward to getting 2 more batteries this year... ;)
~Stephanie

Re: 2005 Manual
 

No need to shout! I'm sure there'll be at least one team at your competition who will lend you a battery or two for the finals.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

i was looking around on the mabuchi motor web site and i found on http://www.mabuchi-motor.co.jp/engli...uct/index.html page all the way at the bottom under "other" that they also make automobile window motors

Re: 2005 Manual
 

But check out section 7.6.3 Competition Matches:
This list includes both Friday and Saturday matches and provides information as to when teams will participate, with whom, and against whom.

It looks like we definitely still have some form of alliance!! no 1v1v1!! It seems like they were trying to keep the possibility in section 9, but missed it in section 7 :rolleyes:

If you read on it says:
Scouting: Teams often use the list for scouting other teams and their strategies. This is especially helpful when choosing alliances for the final rounds

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Unless the team you're participating with is no-one. ;)

I say the possibility is still open for 1v1v1. We'll know for sure, soon!

Re: 2005 Manual
 

I see that in section 7.16 (TEAM ACCESSORIES CHECKLIST) in the manual, that a Clock is an additional item for in the pit area.

Well, let me offer my services for that duty, as long as it is not at the Rochester, or NJ regional, or The Championship Event. I am bound to Team 237 for those events.

But, if you want me to be your team Clock in the pit, then I will be glad to be an honorary team member at any other regional.

For details, PM me.

Thanks! :)





*Note: All airfare, hotel fees, and other fess must be paid for by said honorary team acting as the adopter. :p

Re: 2005 Manual
 

They are the motors that go with the fischer price motors (check spelling). The motors themselves with a good machined gearbox could make an *okay* cheap drive train.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

yellow field

Interesting
 

Wednesday night to open the crate? I hope they figure thiss out soon. I know some teams are already buying hotel rooms and plane/bus tickets

Dave, you list has the ONLY spare parts that will be available at events. I'm glad to see that the globe motor is back.

Glad to see FedEx is donating shipping again.

Another change to the Chairman's Award format. I guess we shall see how this pans out. 1.0Mb is not alot to include 4 photographs in.


Most of this has been tweased out already, but I think it is most of the interesting things. :)

Wetzel

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Has FIRST indicated what kind of forum they will use for team updates this year? I'm not talking about the formal updates once or twice a week; I mean where you actually post questions and answers? I assume it will be similar to last year's?

Re: 2005 Manual
 

O
M
G...

READ THE MANUAL!!!!
1.4 GETTING ANWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

First will utilize an on-line Competition Manual that includes a web-based question and answer system. To submit a question to FIRST, you will have to log in with a password. Each team can obtain its password within its team record in the Team Information Management System (TIMS).

To ask a question, you will have to specify the section of the Manual for which you need clarification. Teams will be able to view questions and answers sorted by date or Manual section. (The Game, The Robot, etc.)

Access the question and answer system at

http//www.usfirst.org/robotics/2005/qa.htm

1. Please ask one question at a time.

2. Questions are limited to 240 characters.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Let me set some things straight with regards to the Mabuchi motor. The Fisher-Price gear box uses either Mabuchi or Johnson Electric, depending on which gear box F.P. donates. FIRST contacted me last Fall to get my contact information for both companies. I have been using the same two individuals since 2001, one from Mabuchi and one from Johnson Electric to get the F.P. specs. I gave FIRST the information and called my contacts giving them a heads up. I am 95% confident FIRST will have the correct motor performance curves, because I assume they will call my contacts.

I guarantee that if FIRST calls my contacts, then they will get the same information that I normally get. Judging from the manual, it looks like it will be Mabuchi this year.

-Paul

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Or maybe they just want to focus on content as opposed to looks ...

Re: 2005 Manual
 

We had the same rule last year!

Re: 2005 Manual
 

That's not a lot of info to judge on...

600 characters=This is a test. (with one space after), 37.5 times
The Awards, page 5 (no headers or footers) = 2924 characters

Also, how do you get pictures of the person without telling them??? :confused:

Re: 2005 Manual
 

It says words, not characters...

Re: 2005 Manual
 

Every year our team gets pictures of every member of the team and all mentors, either while they are working or more commonly just a "mug shot". We post these on our website along with short description about the person.

You could easily do something like this to get a picture of your mentor. If your team dosen't do something like this for your website you could just tell him you need it for such a purpose, but don't mention the woodie flowers award. Also there's just simply cutting him out of a team picture in photoshop or get a picture when he's presenting or explaining something.

Its not all that hard to get a picture of someone without them knowing you need it for something like the woodie flowers award.

Re: 2005 Manual
 

so gmail accounts are in demand eh? i've got 70-something free invites, but most of them are my dad's (ah, they joys of having a father who works for google) i myself have 6 or so, so if anyone wants them, pm me