Re: How does Nationals work?
 

One other thing that is different is that the awards are interspersed with the "final four" matches. For example, they will play a single match then give away two awards.

Also, for most awards, you have two team representatives that sit close and accept the awards. It would take to long for entire teams to travel throughout the whole stadium to get to the floor if they did it like at regionals. For the chairmans award, and maybe a few others, the entire team does go down.

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

One thing with nationals,

because of having 24 robots running simultaneously, and 4 copies of the IFI scanner, IFI is worried about interferance from second and third order resonences creating control dificulties.

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

Are you sure about that? I don't know too much about RF, but I'd think that the 40 channels, all in the 900MHz range would be plenty and sufficient for, well, up to 40 teams playing simultaneously.

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

Also, note that the agenda has been released and it will give you information about when FRC, FLL and VEX events are to occur. All three components of FIRST will be competing in Atlanta at the same time; in addition, the 2005 FIRST Robotics Conference sessions will begin Thursday at 11:00 a.m. and run through Saturday morning.

Also note that the Solar Trend 2005 conference will be held in the adjacent World Congress Center as part of Georgia's Earth Day activities. "Solar Trend 2005 is an international conference and expo designed to showcase the latest advances on solar technologies, other renewable energy and energy efficient, projects, products and services from around the world and to expand the use of solar energy as well as allure energy conservation awareness." [This is NOT a part of the FIRST program and a separate admission fee will be charged to enter this conference/exposition.]

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

well itss been a few years since ive been, but ill take a stab. it used to be dangerous in the pits on thursday morning having all those teams uncrating at the same time. so similar to regionals i assume, a few from each team will be allowed in wed. night to uncrate. and i figure FIRST has thought about late showing teams, so there should be no problem still uncrating thursday morning

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

this will be my first Championship, and it looks like its just going to be crazy. My guess is to figure out how crazy it is multiply the chaos of the regionals by 6 or 7 and thats how big it is. I got a few questions though

How long is the wait in the morning to get into the Stadium with 300+ teams, i'd assume they'd open multiple entrences, but still at least 6000 crazed students all trying to get in at once.?

What time do most teams leave their hotels in the morning to go to competition?

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

The Championship Event isn't really crazy, it's just a much bigger party than the Regionals are. The Georgia Dome is designed to handle much larger crowds than we will have. Last year they didn't even use the upper deck for seating (though some wily students managed to get up there to hang banners and mark seats with their team numbers). Food lines will be backed up at lunch breaks, but at other times will move fairly quickly.

How early you leave your hotel is up to you. How long do you want to stand waiting for the doors to open? You won't mind the wait, cause you'll be talking with people from dozens of other teams who are also anxious to get the party started. Waiting is actually a great community building event itself. You'll make friends while waiting that you will keep in contact with long after the Championship is over.

Be sure to check out all the FIRST areas as well, not just the Dome. Go to the pit area and wander through looking at other teams and how they operate. Collect their buttons and/or giveaways. Find out where the CD webhug will be held and meet the folks who post here. Sponsors (especially auto companies) will have their hospitality tents to go through for information. Get your team picture in front of their sporty/Nascar cars. FIRST usually has a souvenir area (mainly t-shirts or other apparel). All these activities/attractions add something different to the party. Enjoy them, because above all, this event is supposed to be FUN!

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

I believe that there are 5 fields this year, not including Einstein. I don't know what the 5th field's name is though...

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

Id like to know where you heard that. Was it an official source of just someone on CD? A 5th division would be cool, but it would make the "final 4" scenario into a final 5, which would make a normal tourney all but impossible.

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

there are 6 total fields

4 divisions

1 championship

1 FIRST VEX Challenge (if i'm not mistaken...and i very well could be)

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

I know last year there were the five fields (Archimedes, Curie, Einstein, Galileo, Newton) with the FLL pits where a sixth field would be (between Newton and Archimedes).

Will the Vex challenge be in the Dome, or in the now-expanded pit area? Having all of this additional space might answer a question or five.

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

I think Dave addressed this in a rumor post and said "With a one-on-one-on-one-on-one-on-one match it would be really easy." I think since that there hasn't been much talk about it, that it is just a rumor and nothing more.

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

Has FIRST realeased information about where the Hall of Fame will be this year?

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

I heard this officially from one of my CD coaches, Mr. Martus. :yikes:

Re: How does Nationals work?
 

The public agenda was changed last night but it only reflects 4 divisions for "playoffs" and Einstein. They added a team agenda this afternoon.

Public agenda
Team agenda