Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

Off the top of my head,

Chairman's Award - 1014
Engineering Inspiration - 63
GM Industrial Design - 1249
Delphi Driving Tomorrow's Technology - 357
Radioshack Innovation in Control - 1006
Entrepreneurship - 365
Sportsmanship - 365
Rookie All-Star - 1708

The story of 1708 is one of the best I've ever seen. This team only got their crate during week 4. In two weeks, they built an extremely simple, yet reliable robot. They couldn't cap goals, all they would do was load from the HP, and toss tetras into the goals. Despite the "ghetto" look to their robot, they somehow always seemed to create a row! Unfortunately, they were overlooked during the alliance selection, and moved to the backup pool.

During the finals, Team 395 was experiencing problems, and were pulled from the alliance. Team 1708 was called in, and helped the alliance come from behind and win 2 straight matches to become regional champions! The celebration scene was amazing. I've never seen kids that excited. To go from thinking that your season was over, to being a regional champion in 20 minutes, it was fantastic.

Realizing their limited resources, and making the smart decision to go with a simple design was amazing choice. Knowing your limits and working within them is huge part of smart engineering.

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

So 1708 was part of the 1st place alliance? That makes me so happy to hear. Me and one of our team's advisors talked to them a few min and they had a real great story! I hope the get to GA! Hopefully we will see you there! Im sure we can expect some good things out of you next year

365 - you guys had a great design, and had our other team advisor keep asking "Why the heck doesn’t someone play defense against them!?"

Team Lancelot - I liked the costumes, the shakers got a bit annoying ;) You had a great control box though!

To all the teams that let random guy with the actual FILM Camera take pictures of your robot - Thanks!

If team 1278 gets setup right, chances are we will do this regional next year! hope to see you all then!

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

The Pittsburgh Regional was an incredible FIRST experience. On behalf of MOE 365, we would like to thank the organizers and all the volunteers for a terrific time. Special thanks go to our alliance partners 869 and 808 (Alliance 1). We made one heck of an alliance. We were so close to the big one. I congratulate the Regional winners - 128, 395, 1249, and 1708 (Alliance 2). You guys came from behind to take it.

Here are the details:

Finals Match 1 - Alliance 1 wins match

Finals Match 2 - Team 395 is having robot problems and calls in the stand by team at the top of the list, rookie team 1708. Alliance 1 apparently wins the match (and starts celebrating), but the refs huddle and call a DQ on an Alliance 1 robot for intentional tipping (I believe this is correct). This DQ gives the match to Alliance 2.

Finals Match 3 - Very hard fought match. Deciding factor was an opponent cap of Alliance 1's home row. Alliance 2 wins the match, and the Regional.

==============

I spoke with Team 395 after the event. They knew they couldn't run and Alliance 2 went with the standby team. Apparently, Team 1708 was having drive problems and there was frantic activity before matches 2 and 3 to get them mobile. Obviously, it worked.

While a huge disappointment to Alliance 1, it was a great story for Alliance 2. This is just another example of how you never know how a FIRST competition will turn out.

==============

Other comments:

* congratulations to all award winners, especially 1014 (Chairmans) and 63 (Engineering Inspiration)
* the venue (The Petersen Center) was terrific.
* it would have been nice to have more non-FIRST locals there. On Saturday, it appeared that only team members and their families were present.
* good dancing and spirit by many teams, most notably 47,287, 869, 379 (I'm sure I missed someone)
* there was much sharing in the pit area. At times it appeared as if there was just one big toolbox everyone used.
* food court had good selection and prices were reasonable, but lines were long and service was slow. Sub (hoagie) line was especially slow.
* field was experiencing more problems than I would have expected.

***NOTE***
MOE had an experience regarding the human player pads and our autonomous mode operation. While I cannot confirm it, we had a situation where our auto was stopping and or restarting a few times. One possible expanation that we came up with is that Agam, our human player, may have been shifting his weight on the mat, which caused our power to briefly go out and restart. I'm not sure if this happened at any other regionals, but if it does, look into this potential cause.

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

Congrats and Thoughts on this regional -
1) Congrats to the winners and runners up teams - great job by all
2) I felt sorry for the hardworking techies who tried to keep things in order, too many restarts and replaying of matches, bad mistake on the alliance selection process, which was eventually worked out after re-selecting alliances 10 minutes into strategizing with the original alliance teams (1st time I have ever seen this mistake)
3) Good venue, good access to the essentials, (food, refreshments, restrooms) Good sight lines, good sound and lighting. Should consider flipping the pits and playing field sides around so the pits are next to the loading dock.
4) Warning touchy subject - Penalty calling was inconsistant from match to match, I know these folks are volunteers and all, but some didn't appear to have a understanding of the rules (reasonable to expect with non-FIRST fanatics) Numerous loading zone violations not called, hitting high on robot extenders while attempting to cap not called, "high speed" ramming not consistantly called.
5) Plywood covering floor was one trip hazard after another - warped plywood edges are dangerous
6) Thanks to the wonderfully honest people that turned in the lost cash that one of our students accidently dropped - whomever you are we are greatful.

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

Pitt WFA winner??

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

Congrats to #357 Royal Assault for Autodesk Visualization Award,



But, does anyone know how we (team #117) lost?!:ahh::confused:
http://www.steeldragonrobots.com/animation.html

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

Mike
It is my understanding that we can push on an opponent robot's extenders if the intent is to block a scoring. This is the way the refs were calling it at GRL.

Matt B.

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

I understood the rule to be, hitting low is okay, hitting high is not okay.
That is what the announcer said at the Pitt regional
I would say that blocking is okay, when blocking doesn't include driving the chassis such that it tips the other robot. Placing your arm in a position to not allow the opponent to stack is okay, moving it around in order to hit and knock a team over shouldn't be allowed. It gets fuzzy when the rule states that interacting with the tetra being held by one is team okay, as though the tetra isn't really an extension of the arm holding it. Looks like each regional will call it whatever way they interpret the rule - be sure to ask for clarification at the drivers meetings.

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

I think Mike pretty much nailed it right on the head. When considering penalties for "high" contact on a robot, I think we should interpret this rule much like the charging/blocking fouls are called in basketball. If your defensive robot gets in between the goal and the offensive capper, raises its arm, and establishes a high blocking position before contact with the capper's arm is made, AND you hold your ground and don't use your arms to smack the capper's arm on the way in, then you are in a legal defensive position - if the offensive bot, in his haste to cap the goal, runs into your arm and starts to tip you, then the CAPPER should be guilty of "charging" and should be DQ'd immediately.













Thanks to Canadian teams 188 and 1006 for coming down and competing in the States. 48's looking forward to returning the favor in Mississauga.

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

Bingo matt see u in indiana ure not geting woried are u how is b.v doing?

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

After watching Week II Regionals, you will find a change in calls, the way things are "seen", and how penalties are placed, etc. Week I - Week II was a big change. Much more robot contact, pushing, and aggressiveness took place in Pittsburgh during Week II than in Rochester during Week I. Teams strategies were filled with the goal to return home (and sometimes with extra time left in the match) to receive those match points, opposed to Week I where teams were stacking all goals 5/6+ high with tetras to the very last second, and were not concentrating on returning home. I can't wait to see Week III and Week IV when teams start to come across each other and "mix" strategies, its going to be one interesting sight.

As a whole, penalties were lower Week II. Human players had a much easier time, and were not getting multiple loading area penalties on themselves when loading for not being "in their loading zone", or having both feet touching. The larger square works much nicer, FIRST made an excellent call with the change.

The venue, is a whole different story in itself. I was VERY displeased with the Petersen Event Center Parking. I fully understand it is in the city, but many other large venues, have planned out parking situations for events. Pitt is used to much larger events than FIRST. Even though the Event Center shares the same Block as one of the Nations greatest hospitals (UPMC). There were only 4 handicapped parking spots available.

Where one of you had stated earlier, that you had wished more individuals would have been able to see the competition (non-FIRST members). Paying $18 a day to park in a parking garage will not appease anyone. Even on-street parking cost me close to $10 per day for the time I spent at competition. I really hope that for the participants of the event, the organizers can find a way to provide better access to visitors and participants of the Pittsburgh Regional in the future.

Truly amazing story to the rookie Champions! I wish you the best of luck in the future. Congratulations to the Finalists and the Champions, for an excellent display of Gracious Professionalism!

Hi, Steve!
How are You?
Sorry, Greg made me do it. :yikes:

[edit] Instead of posting again, I'll just add on. I was hoping to see more auton modes developed by Week II. Week I started out slow, however the majority of teams had a movement, or a motion that they completed although it did not complete a task. By the time Saturday morning Week I came around, I would say 80% of the teams had some form of an auton if not just 'dehanging' the tetra. MOE, excellent auton, Friday early on I was shocked I had to check the clock to make sure it was still in auton time. By the end of Saturday though, there were very few teams Week II in Pitts that had movement in auton. Several, finally had movement, and a program in place. Hopefully in their next competitions they will "tweak out their bugs". [/edit]

[edit2] Hehe, I must thank the sound/music coordinators!! The music hit close to home while on the campus of Pitt, when the Penn State fight song was played three times alone on Saturday. I sang along proudly with a smile, Thanks! :p [/edit2]

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

How was the autonomous strategy at the regional?






Congratulations to MOE and all of the other teams at Pitt! It sounds like it was a great competition. I wish I could have gone, but I'll see you all at Philly and Atlanta ! ! !!! !!!! !!.

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

Pittsburgh was an awesome regional, despite the technical problems. Thnaks Steve and Blair for doing an awesome job! You guys are awesome! The venue was small and "cozy" compared to other regionals. Did anyone else have to deal with the EXTREMELY rude older gentlemen working at the sub place? They were awful; swearing when people ordered wrong or asked for the wrong type of cheese.
A few things that stand out:

MOE: You guys are AWESOME, good robot and spirit
ROBOCATS: Great spirit, thank you for choosing us as your alliance partners.
ROYAL ASSAULT: Loved the wheels!

The finals were awesome and I think everyone agrees when I say it was an upset. I thought MOE (365), 808 and 869 would take it, and it just proves how penalties are so key this year.

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

The Pittsburgh Regional was awesome. Most of the time, sports teams get all the last minute excitement with the shot at the buzzer or the quick field goal. At the Pitt regional everyone thought it was over until we dropped the last tetra on the other alliance's goal to break up the triple play and win. It was amazing. There were many good robots at Pittsburgh. As for autonomous, most just knocked down the hanging tetra or started with the tetra and capped on the home row. Not many teams used the camera.

Moe-you guys are awesome, clearly one of the best teams around.
128-thanks for picking us.
395-we couldn't have been there without you.
1708-thanks for saving us in the last match.

We look forward to seeing everyone at The Buckeye Regional and Atlanta.

Tjude

Re: PITTSBURGH REGIONAL
 

Wow I'm quite amazed I only read 2 posts about our wheels! but whatever it'll catch on soon! anyway I wanna say congrats to all the teams, by what I've read and heard from my team members who went(they had to call me whenever they could to tell me everything) and from reading everything everyone said about the competition i heard it was awesome! so great job, i can't wait to see you guys at Philly's! Don't be shy and come and say hi to us! oh and you gotta dance! i know MOE will be there dancing as well! :D :p