AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

Our team isn't doing FIRST this year!!! We're doing VEX instead, which I'm not particularly fond of... I miss FIRST competitions already...

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

Awwww don't you go to VCU? That means Im not going to see your team agian! :( If you want I can swamp your mentors with emails of protest. :p Seriously if your not doing it this year then VCU will be deprived of your teams creativity and spirit. For that I am sorry. I hope you do well in VEX.

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

Actually, you still are doing FIRST, the FIRST Vex Challenge. Don't look at this as a bad thing, rather, as a new experience. Who knows, since it is the first Vex season, the competitons could be as enjoyable or even more so than the regular FRC ones.

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

404 Not Found :D

All kidding aside, is this a funding issue? becase you still have a while...

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

Though I'm sad to see any team leave the FRC, it is good to know you will still be involved in the FIRST Program. Hopefully the students on your team will still have a strong positive experience participating in the FVC. FVC still contains all the same values such as gracious professionalism and coopertition that FRC is known for.

Enjoy it! Maybe in the future your team will choose to (or regain the ability to) particpate in FRC. Good Luck.

John

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

My team isn't doing the FIRST regional either, and we don't even know if we can do VEX! However, we have a FLL team for our Middle School, and have recently begun a Robotics Club at our Junior School to motivate young children to take an interest in Robotics.
We are also keeping up to date with FIRST activities, and are looking to volunteer for FIRST at the regional(s).

Best of luck to you,

- Havergal Robotics ;)

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

If teams are super low on funding they should look at making a merger with another team in the area. I know an academy near us wants to make a team but don't have the money and I'm thinking about getting our team to offer to let them join in exchange for access to their shops!

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

FIRST is always in need of volunteers at events. You don't need to be on a team to be involved with FIRST.

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

I'd like to point out that this is actually a great way to stay involved. You may want to consider spreading VEX to other FIRST teams. I'm not saying convert them from FIRST, but I'm saying make it an opportunity for other schools.

Try to host an open house or an informational session about VEX in conjunction with an FRC team and a lego league team. That is an awesome way to get knowledge out and still work with teams you've been with for the past few years. Vex winners also go to Championships if I'm correct (though you may want to check on qualification criteria, I am not sure about that).

Good luck~!

- Genia

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

I will point out that people with FIRST experience are not eligible to participate in the VEX Pilot Program. From http://www.usfirst.org/Vex/VexQA.htm:

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

I hope you'll give FRV a chance.

Though the thrill is maybe not quite as adrenal as with the big bots, the gameplay, strategizing, and alliance/scouting factors are all intact, and teams I've coached/mentored have had a blast with it.

Compared to FRC, you might say that robot designs are more limited due to hardware restrictions. In reality, however, because designs and iterations can happen much more quickly and with much less risk, lots of different ideas can be tried for lower cost and in very little time.(In FRC, designs need to be frozen earlier in the build schedule). I guarantee we'll be seeing some amazing FRV robots as teams gain proficiency and begin to take advantage of all the VEX capabilities. The programmability is all there. It will be many years before anyone max'es out what can be done hardware/software wise with these little beauties.

And while I'll agree that the (typically) smaller team size will bring a different dynamic to the competitions, I think the key will be (just like in FRC), if the games are good, the fun and excitement will be there.

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

Quote:
Members of FVC teams registered for an FVC Pilot Program event are expected to be high-school-aged young people and adult mentors who are new to FIRST.

That doesn't say required anywheres, only expected. I'm sure FIRST would be glad for you to compete anyway you can.

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

I think that FIRST's intent is to use the FVC as a stepping stone to the FRC. Generally making the FVS an easier competition to win before you "play with the big boys" in FRC.

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

Easier competition to win? What? Why would FIRST want to do that?

I sincerely doubt it. More likely we will see the same kind of competitive play that is present in FRC.

Perhaps that statement is only a means of encouraging new participants to get involved. One of the goals of FIRST has always been growth, so it makes sense that they would want to see NEW participants involved.

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...84&postcount=9

That's the second time someone from your team has misinterpreted this rule... I'd suggest looking back through older VEX threads if anyone has any questions about the program. Many questions have been answered in those threads.

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

Having gained experience with the VEX robots from a recent team fundraiser, I would say that the "easier" part definitely applies to building the robots. Funding is definitely easier. Teams can concentrate more on playing the game, and won't need a 6-week build period.

Less work, less time, less technical know-how, less money needed--these add up to an entry-level competition in which ANY school should be able to participate.

While showing up for the VEX competition with a working robot should be much easier than in FRC, winning the competition may actually be trickier, especially with a "level playing field." Driver skill will become the deciding factor, I think.

VEX should also be easier for FIRST to support; they won't have to come up with a new KOP every year, for instance.

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

Karen,
I agree 100% with what you've said.
The word "accessibility" is a cornerstone of the FVC program.
Your words hit my thoughts about Vex, right on the head.

However, that isn't what I was talking about.
Easier to be a part of? Yes.
Easier to win? No.

Everything I know about Vex, all my experiences playing with it at work, all my previous FRC experience, all my experiences building robots, all my experiences mentoring students leads me to believe that the Vex program is going to be incredible. The payoff is there.

I'm extremely excited for all those participating in the pilot year tournaments, and envious that I didn't have this stuff when I was a FIRST particpant.

John

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

I have searched the threads, and I am still not quite sure what vex is. I heard some talk about radio shack, so do you buy the kit(s) there and build a small robot to compete? Also, do you use an autonomous mode or can you drive the robot? If someone could explain this, it would be much appreciated. :)

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

You may wish to see the Vex Challenge page on the FIRST website; the Vex Robotics website; and the Chief Delphi forum devoted to the FIRST Vex Challenge (At the top of the Chief Delphi website, click on Chief Delphi Forums then scroll down to Other then to FIRST Vex Challenge.)

Re: AHH! Not returning to FIRST!
 

Hey, thanks for the links. Now I get what VEX is. Thanks! :D