2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

It looks like Toronto has got another Super Regional. With 2 fields there is non stop action. Are you planning on attending? If not why and if so the same question.

If you would like to come but believe that there might be obstacles, what are they? We may be able to help. We would love to see 75 teams and maybe more. What are your thoughts?

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

It happens to fall on the same weekend Philadelphia, which we are hoping to attend.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Its on our list, but is our third choice for a second regional currently...

We had a great time last year, but with having to cross the border and all the extra shipping expenses, unfortunately staying in the states saves us money and the hassle of birth certificates...

But, If we dont go to a regional that weekend, I do plan on volunteering!!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Teams 1114 & 1503 will most definitely be there! The two field super regional in 2004 was the best regional event I've ever attended. I'm looking forward to an even better show in 2006. I know that all the usual suspects will be in Toronto, hopefully some teams who've never made the trip before will take the Canadian plunge.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

team 1620 wants to go, but we arent sure wether we can go due to our 'lack of funds' :S if we do make it, we are definately goin to the GTA Regional :D

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Team 1006 will definitely be there! The '04 Super Regional was amazing-- having two fields means constant matches, and no field reset delay! I can't wait for the 2006 event.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Team 48 has decided that Week 5 Regionals are against our religious beliefs and will be taking up ballroom dancing to pass the time until Atlanta. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

--The Management

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

You know.. way back in 2002 648 was seriously considering attending the Canadian Regional... but the engineers and elders thought it would be too much of a hassle to cross the border. Thus, 648 will not attend a regional outside of the US. And we are venturing out of the norm (StL and Chi) to attend the Western Michigan Regional. But we are getting a bit closer to Canada... so maybe it will happen sometime. But not this year.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

would love to come but : No money and should really be busy at uni :(

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Hell yes, we are entering it :)

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

The TechnoKats (team 45) have just signed up for the Greater Toronto Regional and our status is "pending" until we pay our bill* with FIRST. Our entire team looks forward to making some Canadian friends.

Andy Baker

* - I believe this means our spot is reserved until the 2nd Regional payment deadline of Jan. 26th.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I wouldn't count on that deadline. Philly has 11 pending for 5 open slots. It may be first-paid, first-registered, but GTR isn't near full so that's not an issue yet.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Alright! We are in the same boat I guess - the pending status was unknown to me until after we registered for GTR today.

Although, if we didn't get in we could always take up those dance lessons that Travis is going to.... Sounds like a good way to improve our ballerina skills.... :)

Ken

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

That's "ballroom dancing" lessons, sir. We leave the ballet lessons for you! :)

By the way, we had a religious epiphany, so I'm guessing we'll be registering in Toronto as well when open season on regionals begins. I really coulda used some dance lessons, though....

I have no doubt that both 45 and 65 will get into Toronto, and that Team 48 will see you there!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I called FIRST this morning to find out exactly how that pending list works, and I was told that if you are on the pending list, you have a spot guaranteed until you pay or drop out of the event. I have no idea how this works with the events that have the number of registered + pending being greater than capacity...

Kevin

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Please ignore everything I had previously written for this post up until now.

From our team's New Jersey "Event Added" email:


*FIRST Disclaimer - Registration is not final until FIRST Finance receives payment in full for the above event. Once acceptable form of payment is received by FIRST Finance you will be removed from "hold - pending payment" status and registered for the above event. All FIRST Payment Terms and Refund Policies apply. Positions will be filled on a first serve basis as we receive payments.


************************************************** *****

I was a bit confused by what FIRST had told Kevin during his phone call, so I decided to call FIRST on my own for some clarification. What they told me matches up with the information we were given in our "Event Added" email. I explicitly asked them about the situation where the number of pending teams is greater than the number of open spots left.

The bottom line -

There is no "protection" for choosing early.

All pending teams for a particular event are treated the same regardless of when they actually signed up, whether it was before the registered + pending = total capacity threshold or not. The faster your team pays for a regional event, the sooner you will secure a spot at your next regional of choice.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I've just signed up for the GTR on behalf of 296 - just waiting for the cheque to come through. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I couldn't help but notice that 229 is now registered for Greater Toronto. That does not inhale audibly. :p

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Wow very quick and observant Travis. Yes 229 will be attending the Toronto regional, we figured we couldn't turn down an opportunity to show up and make fun of Karthik....and as if that wasn't enough we get to play with two of our other favorite teams Tkats, and Huskies should be a great weekend, we're already looking forward to it.


Chris Carnevale
Team 229

PS. Here's to hoping our favorite Canadian partners show up on this list real soon. 1114 still planning on going I hope?

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Don't worry. 1114 will sign up.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Chris,

Don't worry about it. 1114 would not miss the GTR for anything. We're looking forward to playing with our old friends from Clarkson.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

im definately going to the GTR regional. i CANT wait!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

You always end up graduating just when things are really starting to ramp up for your team it seems =P. But I'm quite sure every alumnus feels that way. I should be there in every capacity at GTR, hopefully refeering just as in Wonderland, but if not, look for 188 to be there along with one or two college bums =P.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

i would love to come visit and volunteer at this grand event, but alas i am a poor college student in Florida....especially since ive never been to Canada....hopefully this thing will be webcasted?? plus teams i work with prolly would be interested in goin that far north, but me that's another story :)

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Ajax Rams (1397) has registered and we will be paying in a few days.

GTR FIRST gets better every year!
See everyone there!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I would like to echo Chris' sentiments, I cannot wait to work with a few of our buddies down South in Toronto (sounds kinda funny doesn't it?) plus, who could miss a chance to work with Ken and Andy?!?!?! (The men, the myths, the legends.) And then there are the endless jokes that can be made about Karthik's kilt and Blue Jays jersey ;) , and Laura in general :p .

JT
229

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

If only we could make it. Its expensive enough for me and my Dad to get to Toronto to visit relatives over Christmas, but twenty people, tools, etc. AHHHHH!!!!! The only reasonable method for us would be to drive, but the first and last time we drove to Canada it was ~13 hrs to the border. Then we switched back to good old Canada Air. Plus, we don't even have the money for a second regional (we do VCU and nats). Thinking about this made me think of how hard it must be for Canadian teams to make Atlanta. But, I guess, it all pales in comparison to teams from other continents.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Huzzah! Our payment was confirmed by FIRST today, and fittingly, we were the 48th team to fully register for the GTR.

That list of pending teams is quite amazing by itself. 217 and our fellow Delphi teams 378 and 703 are among the most recent additions to the list. This is really going to be one of the best regionals of the year.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Andy, Ken, Paul... I want to see 45, 65, and 217 as the next three teams to move off the pending list and onto the registered list! I totally agree with Hoffman, this is shaping up to be one of the best regionals of the year...

JT
229

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Wow its going to be a great regional.. Now i kinda can't wait to go. Just thinking about the teams that are going to be there. And then add non-stop action to that, this is going to be great!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

It's too bad some teams feel that it's too much of a hassle to register for an event in Canada (e.g. confronting shipping or border issues). The Canadian teams confront the border issues to attend the U.S. events and it really isn't a big deal. Maybe some advertising around this needs to be done to help convince others (Waterloo could use some more teams!).

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I've never had crossing the border be a problem. It is really easy on the
Canada/US border, literally you just say how long you'll be there and if you have anything to declare. Sometimes they might ask about biological goods (don't bring castor beans :eek: ). The airport is even easier, just say how long, and you're done. I'd recommend the roads, though, they are much much better than the US's. The QEW puts any interstate to shame.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Because of ricin?That's funny, we're always complaining about the QEW (to Niagara, especially on a holiday, it can be terrible). In fact, there are plans to add a second four-to-six-lane highway or toll road to relieve congestion on the QEW, within the next decade.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I'm pumped...thats all I can say.:yikes:

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Thats true, i've been on many canadian and american highways, some worse than others. Yes the traffic is really bad on weekends, on friday and saturdays its going towards the falls and the boarder, on sindays its going the other way! Its never that bad though during that time of the year, unless the highway decidedsto rip up! :ahh:

I lived the 2004 Super Canadian Regional. had a blast and am really looking forward to this years!!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I was making tentative plans on attending GTR before finding out today that I will be in Chile during spring break for a class. It will be a shame to miss this great event for the first time since its inception. I hope my old team can raise the money to go - we went quite overboard last year. In any case, I'll try to volunteer at/attend the Boston regional the weekend before.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Team 178 will be going to the GTR this year for the first time rather than nationals.... I was wondering if anyone who went last year remembers what hotels were recommended by FIRST. It's not on the GTR website, and they haven't exactly been forthcoming with info yet (the response we've gotten so far is "we're working on it").

Thanks for any help! Go Enforcers!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I don't think that the regionals are allowed to give out that info, due to contracts with THS and FIRST.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I don't either...to me that is giving out free advertising. But, what you could do, is call/email the local travel bureau. They should have a list of hotels in the general area.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Thanks for the advice!

Michele

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Yeah - there's no rule against booking hotel rooms thru your own source (internet, calling, etc). You are not forced to use THS.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

So for those of us un-initiated to the great north, where is the GTR venue so we can check for hotels by proximity (I didn't readily find a venue/address listed on their website).

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/discover/hersheycentre

hope that helps

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Stu,

The address is:

5500 Rose Cherry Place
Mississauga, ON L4Z 4B6
Phone: 905-520-9100

When booking your hotel for the GTR, here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. When searching online, search for Mississauga, not Toronto. If you do a Toronto hotel search, the default return will be hotels in the downtown area, which is a 30 minute drive from the Hershey Center, not including dreadful Toronto traffic.
2. Make sure the postal code starts with an 'L'. This means the hotel is actually in Mississauga
3. Call the hotel and verify that you won't need to pop on the highway to get to the venue. Even if it's only for one exit, it's going to take too long. Toronto is notorious for it's horrible morning traffic, especially in part of the city that the Hershey Center is in.

The site that Vince linked has a very good list of hotels close to the venue. That list can be found here.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Thanks Vince and Karthik,

You guys have been a big help!

Hope to see you there in March (if not sooner - Manchester??).

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Team 610 wouldn't miss it for the world, gone every year since it first started. It is definitely the largest and most competitive regional that we have been to.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Right now we have 69 teams signed up and 5 pending. There are 12 US teams making their way north and 1 from Great Britain. Teams will also be coming from right across Canada. If there are other teams that would like to come, we would be glad to see you.

For those that can't make it to FIRST's only Super Regional, we hope to have all of the matches web cast. Will update once finalized (probably just before event).

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Oh man, I'm excited!!! Can't wait 'till the regional :D...Kick-Offs almost here!!! *head pops off* lol

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

971 would love to come if we could raise the money...we're still trying to pay back the forwarded check for registration...add that to shipping, and it's not very likely. I'll be watching the webcast tho. Maybe next year

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

its a shame, 1596 is not going to GTR this year, we chose Waterloo to have a little variety, but i will definately miss being there steve!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

WAHOO for a Canada Comp!!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Anybody have any info on how the regional will be set up between the two fields? Perhaps a mini Nationals with two 'divisions'? I am just wondering about how some of the bigger teams are going to switch between watching at two different fields. Any insight would be much appreciated.

JT
229

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

In 2004, the last time Toronto had a two field setup, there were no divisions. Teams played matches on both fields. Matches never ran concurrently, they announced the score of the Pontiac field, then played a match on the Chevrolet field, and so on. This is the current plan for this year.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

can't wait to see all the amazing robots coming this year. I wonder if i should get a hotel room, so i don't have to keep driving back and forth everyday

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

So where's everyone staying at while at the GTR?

Team 48 will be in the Delta Airport West.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

772 is at the Fairfield Inn... I believe the one by the airport?

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

is Karthik the MC this year?

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

On the same note, is he (or whoever is doing it) working both fields? That would be tiring!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Karthik is MCing one field with Amanda C (Team 1547 alumni) on the other.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Does anyone know if you can see both fields from one location? we are trying to figure out how we will do our scouting work. I hate the idea of using 2 scouting crews. I never know how well the information correlates that way.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Yes, you can see both fields from one location, although the you'll be getting a reduced field of view from the center point.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Well I'll be visiting GTR. Friday and Saturday.
Should be fun!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

2 Vancouverite teams, coming to vist you Torontonians. Hopefully, both our hockey teams will be in the playoff picture.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Looks like we'll be have nice weather all weekend. For once it won't be cold, raining or snowing

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Ya she's gonna be a beauty weekend, eh? I can't wait for this weekend! Good luck to everyone, the competition is going to be intense!!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

For those interested, I have just finished testing my link with NASA. The GTR will be web cast. We will attempt to archive the finals but no promises. It was all I could do to get this far.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Good Luck too all of the teams ,
1241 will definitely be there.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

To those, especially students, coming to watch, where will you be staying? I'm trying to make the drive up from Detroit for Friday/Saturday but as of now it's looking like I'd be sleeping in my car.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

sweet this time when karthik tells everyone florida says hello ill be able to see it :)

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I am at the airport in Detroit, waiting to make the 2nd leg of my venture across the border. Can't wait.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I will just be there for Saturday. I wish i could go earlier or if my team could join me, but we will try to be there next year.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Was looking through the team lists earlier and the location of one of the Rookies caught my eye; can I just wish good luck to our fellow Brits of Team 1963.

Many regards from Systemetric (759), hope the regional is as good as NYC was last weekend.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

dose Any one have the link for the webcast???

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

http://robotics.nasa.gov/events/webc...onals_2006.php

Go to the Greater Toronto Regional link

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

As the operator for team 65, I am very excited about this regional. I am currently in my hotel room in Mississauga,ON, and I am completely awake with excitement, and it's only practice day tomorrow!

Because there are so many powerful teams here, I am sure that this regional will be a challenge to us, and definitely fun!

I can't wait to see you all tomorrow!

Mary Soltis

:)

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I'm now sorry to report I won't be making it. I'll be watching the webcast though, good luck everyone, especially team 771!

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I shall see you all tommorow...with the refurbished frank the tank :D

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Should the webcast be active right now? I get an error when I try to view it.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

I had it active just before lunch, and then had to go to some meetings. Just got back, and I'm getting "server busy" message. Anyone have this working at 2:15 p.m. EST Thursday???

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Same problem here, I was looking forward to it to :( . Hopefully it will be up soon.

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Is the webcast working for anyone yet?

I really wanna check this one out

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Nope, the webcast was up earlier today but it appears to have been taken down for the remainder. Hopefully they'll have it up and running tomorrow????

GTR 2006
 

After the first day of the Greater Toronto Regional, I decided to break the ice. We've been watching the practice matches (those robots that went to theirs) and I have to say that there is gonna be some pretty fierce competition. :ahh:

I have to say that I'm liking the human loading mechanism of the ThunderChickens, the stretched cloth is simple, but works so well.

Re: GTR 2006
 

Today was a great start to what is shaping up to be an amazing regional. I really liked the two pools for practice rounds idea; always going to the same field made things less complicated, though I look forward to competing with and against everybody throughout tomorrow. There's some awesome looking machines out there! Good luck to all tomorrow.

Re: GTR 2006
 

i love 1006 hover cart..

didn't really get to see any practice matches, but just walking around the pit and seeing all the amazing robots, it looks its going to be competitve competition

Re: GTR 2006
 

Thanks. It's too bad the trip to the playing field is so uneven, or we could use it all the way out. Ah well, still works in the pits :) .

Speaking of neat-looking things, I'm really impressed with the effort put into pits at this regional. There's many teams with elaborate displays and fun features. Well done everyone.

Re: GTR 2006
 

So, what teams look good at GTR?

I heard 1114 was pretty decent. ;)

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Sorry about the web cast. I set it up and then had other duties to attend to. It seems that the computer program stopped because of errors and I didn't find out till I went to shut it down. I will have some one manning the computer all day tomorrow so if it goes down again there will be some one to bring it back on line. This is a first for me to do so I guess that I will learn from my mistakes.

Re: GTR 2006
 

From watching robots all day, here are the ones I can remember (not at all all of the greats, but a start)
Triplets (of course)
65 (except when they locked onto the outdoor light/exit sign!!)
229
45
217

Hmm, I know there were more, but I just cant think of them right now.

Re: GTR 2006
 

they forgot to ship our robot =/(team4)
so we built another one today but uh our robot comes tomorrow so look out for the robot with a huge tower of doom! =]
-guy

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

How did I guess that this was Steve's fault... ;)

Re: GTR 2006
 

I was actualy opposed to the idea of seperate pools for practice day for that exact reason that it was less confusing. I want you guys being confused today so that by tomorow you are no longer confused (or at least knowlegable enough to just listen to my quers.) But it was decided for speed so that we could get more practice matches if we did two pools. Just the perspective of the lead team queer.

Re: GTR 2006
 

will it be only one field for competitions? i hope it will....Also, good like to those with all the troubles today, like the flooded robot crate and the unshipped robot...

Re: 2006 GTR - Super Regional
 

Good Luck Steve with getting all the things running smoothly up there. a Few of us X-CATS will be driving up on Saturday but I unfortunately won't make it since I have to supervise a team activity in the morning but I'll be watching the webcast if it's up.

Thanks Steve for always helping us out down here in Rochester. I'll return the favor soon.

Ellery

Re: GTR 2006
 

It will be only one field at a time. The matches will alternate between the Chevrolet and Pontiac fields, with one field setting up as robots compete on the other.

Re: GTR 2006
 

I dunno, from the IFI perspective, I think teams had enough trouble figuring things out today as it was. At the end of the day, I was still having to remind teams to:
1. TURN ON YOUR ROBOTS
2. Plug in your battery!! (turning on your robot really doesnt do much if your battery cable is disconnected!!!
3. Plug in your robot radio! (Guess what, your controller cant talk to your robot without a radio *gasp*).

So I think today might have been enough of a shock for some teams, without alternating fields. But everything did run smoothly, and the teams that got out there seemed to do well. I have to admit, with the craziness of two fields, I think things are going (and will go) well.

Re: GTR 2006
 

Ouch that doesn't sound good...what exactly happened? Were the electronics ruined?

Re: GTR 2006
 

A few early teams that have stuck out to me

703 - auto ramp and then all 10. pretty sweet
1114 - auto is perfect. Drivers handle like they have drove that robot for years
1503 - auto is perfect. Drivers handle like they have drove that robot for years
296 - Pretty great robot. Its like the rest but on steriods.
217 - Turreting revolver. Once the balls start up it shoots pretty quick
45 - nice turreted wheel shooter they have now
48 - haven't see it work but I have seen it in the pits, and it looks pretty good.
63 - Elastic shooter, and they are pretty accurate.
65 - Haven't seen them run yet, they were changing a few things all day. So it will be interesting but they look pretty solid.

Re: GTR 2006
 

Opening ceremonies are about ready to start here, time for the real fun to begin.

Quick Facts:

124 Qual matches
10 matches per team
2 fields
Lots of craziness

Should be interesting.

Ricky Q.
Faithful IFI servant for the weekend.

Re: GTR 2006
 

I've been watching for about a half hour now. Looks like the bugs are still in the scoring system. :( Must have followed you from Wisconsin. ;) I hope you can work things out at GTR and before Atlanta.