2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Hey Guys, who's going? This is our choice for our second regional. Well actually, it will come before GTR...

edited

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Registration closed on December 1.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I probably should have said this earlier when registration was still open. But I must convey my appreciation for the Waterloo Regional and the great experience I had last year. Out of all the competitions we went to last year (Waterloo, GTR, and the Championship), Waterloo was my favorite. There are several reasons for this, many because how it is a smaller regional (maybe too small this year...). The regional is held at the University of Waterloo and has a great venue with the pits right beside the field, and is a very open environment. Because it is a smaller regional you really get a chance to play with and get to know most of the teams. I know my team last year made great connections with many of the teams that went there, especially 188, 771, 1114, and 1503.

I have heard the argument that you get the same teams at GTR, which is 95% true, but the fact is that GTR is HUGE there are 65+ teams and you rarely will play the same team twice. I would say to all Canadian teams who are not coming to Waterloo that think of GTR as the Canadian Championship (very similar environment to a championship division), and that Waterloo is a competition where everyone can be competitive. We used it last year as our warm-up to GTR the next weekend, and we got far more out of it than we had imagined.

I would also say that I have met more friends at Waterloo than I have at any of the GTR competitions, because of the much closer environment. Currently there are 17 teams signed up (and a couple pending, 610 included), I hope we get a good turnout this year because it is a great event which deserves our support.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

There are currently 13 teams pending for Waterloo.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I want to support Jonathan's comments above. For me personally and for my team, Waterloo 2006 was a great experience. While we won't be back for 2007 (Boilermaker in Week 3 is so much closer, and will let us compete with some of the Midwestern teams that are coming to our home regional in Week 1) we will certainly have Waterloo on our short list of choices for a second regional in future years. They have a world-class organizing committee and volunteer staff, and the local teams are an inspiration to work with and to compete against. And then there's Karthik -- an all around great guy and for my money the most entertaining emcee in FIRST.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

How many teams are there right now entered into the Waterloo Regional?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Team 1592 from all the way down in Florida is coming up to Waterloo. Hope its not too cold because we aren't that used to weather below 30... lol

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Unless there is a bad cold snap, average march weather in waterloo is between -10C and 0C (ummm, like 15F to 32F I guess).

Here's the waterloo weather station report for last march: http://www.weather.uwaterloo.ca/down...06/2006-03.pdf

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

i think in april it shouldn't be too cold

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Hey, were going to the Waterloo Regional, the team went for the past two years also, but our team name and number was different.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

1565 will be here, This will be our second time.. Seeing as we didnt do first last year.. (teacher problems grrr :( ) but were back full swing.. and no worries about weather it has rarely dropped below minus 10 celcieus all winter. So apirl should be fine! That is when it is right?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

The Waterloo Regional is March 22nd to March 24th almost april!!! :)

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

This will be our first year doing 2 events, and our first year at Waterloo. Usually we were a GTR only team.....
Is it held right at the university?
Anyone know where on Campus its held?
I know the school fairly well have half adozen friends who now go there. Also any of the regulars know a good hotel near by?...

thanks
Josh

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Yes it is held right on the campus in the PAC (Physical Activities Complex). Look for "PAC" on this map (upper left corner of the main campus): http://www.uwaterloo.ca/map/map.php

The past couple years my team has stayed at the Holiday Inn Kitchener and it has worked out well!

Click for directions to the campus from that hotel.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Team 2200 will be there, the whole 13 of us.

Rookie Year, we will see how everything stacks up. I cant wait..... now, back to working on the robot. We are slowly falling behind.

- Bochek

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Thats more than we have - and we are in our fourth year! Keep up the good work! Its a challenge for everyone, don't worry if you are falling behind - just try to catch up!

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

well Waterloo regional is this weekend. 1281 won't be there, but i'll probably go up on Saturday and do some scouting, for GTR next weekend.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I'm so jazzed for this. Going to be doing concessions on thursday for the Waterloo swim team, then will probably hang out with the local team 1565. Since 1281 broke my heart and isn't coming, I'll just cheer for someone else.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I will be the game announcer. With Karthik as the MC and me as the announcer, I expect some crazy antics.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I am just glad we have the bandsaws and drill presses back in the pits to try to cover some of those "crazy antics" from the field.

We may be able to work out something where Karthik can ride out on the go-cart Truck bed to the field during opening ceremonies as Blair has in the past, but sorry Paul, you will have to ride on the trailer. :D

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

A Karthik and Paul singing duet :O

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I'm excited for Waterloo this weekend! I'm sure Karthik will have a field day with the color scheme on our robot...

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I'll be sure to bring my Scarlet and Gray spray paint. :P

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Don't worry, I still have extra blue and maize paint left in my car. :p

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

w0000 go us lol. anyone else who would like to cheer for us is very welcome.. we have a small group going lol and cheering takes more people than we can bring lol!

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I thought we weren't allowed drill presses and bandsaws as per the update that states that we can't have non-FIRST machine shops

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Update 16 (the update that banned tools in pits) got nearly fully rescinded in update 17.

http://www2.usfirst.org/2007comp/Upd...pdate%2017.pdf (page two)

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

sweet!!!!!! I skipped that update and read 18 lol:p but now I feel much better, I didn't want to have to buy a 5/8" bit that fit into a drill putting it on the drill press is much easier lol.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

how did the practice matches go and who looks good so far?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

2056!!! :ahh:

Definitely a rookie that is going to be a force to be worried about at this regional...

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Of course 1503 and 1114 look good.

610 looks very good.

There were some succesful rampings, but not too many. Most of the ramps here are 2ft wide and quite long, which has made for some precarious mountings. I saw several robots overshoot 1114's lift/ramp and fall over or almost fall over.

Excitement at the very end of practice: 781's robot nearly caught fire. The judges/safety folks had to go running for the fire extinguisher, but didn't have to use it. It was spewing the densest smoke I'd ever seen. Rumour has it their battery arced, so it may not even be permanent damage.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

how much is parking? i'm heading up tomorrow to watch. Last year I had a parking pass because our team was there. anyteams have any extra passes?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I saw their picture the other day, and they look very effective. I can't wait to see them for myself, on the field.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

wow, 286 points in match 12. Good job guys

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

which robots were in match 12?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

From what I can tell from the stats on the standings, 1114, 610, and 1901 were on the winning team in match 12.

Edit: The rankings appear to have live updates at the moment (no match results yet), here's the link for convenience:
http://www2.usfirst.org/2007comp/eve.../rankings.html

Edit #2: Wow, it looks like there was a second 286 point match? This time it appears to be teams 773, 1680, and one of 1114/1901/610.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

The webcast on the NASA site isn't working for me , i was wondering if this is a problem with just me or everyone.


I really want to see this regional, so if you could send a link that you know works for sure that would be amazing.

Thanks!

and good luck to these teams!

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

This link works for sure for me, just tested it. Clicking in FF opened WMP with the stream.

mms://sargasso-3.arc.nasa.gov/waterloo

Edit: The feed is now cutting in and out on me, but it may be connection issues on my end

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

The feed works fine for me in windows media player version 11. This seems to be one of the more exciting regionals to watch.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

yeah, it's really fun to watch this regional, good music, good MC's and good robots,

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Oh man, Karthik and Paul make such a great announcing tag team...:D
I don't know too many other pairs that will put one on the other's shoulders for intros.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

did u guys see that rack, man there were more ringers than there are for the awards ceremonies, i thought no one would get more than that

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Yea that was a great match! Wow I'm not getting any more work done today hahaha.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Yea, I have made no progress on my physics lab...

Most of these matches are very exciting. While I've been to two regionals and seen parts of others, this is by far the most exciting. Can't wait until the elimination matches!

1114 is simply amazing. Probably the best robot I've seen.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

What's going on.. why can't I get the feed here? I must be doing something wrong.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

how is 1901 doing?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

1901 is in 6th. They just played in the last match and won 8-4. They scored all three ringers and had a few others fall just off.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

The last match just finished and it appears the feed has stopped for the day. For tomorrow though, are you running WMP 11? I tried to send the link to someone else and it didn't work for him either. Other than that I am not sure what you have to do to get it working.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

The feed is no longer up. the matches for the day are over. i was hoping they would keep it up for the awards but i guess not.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

i'm still getting a feed, its just the sponsor ads
i sucks not to have any sound, but i'm heading to waterloo tomorrow to watch it live

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

The awards will be starting shortly. I took the feed down to change the files I am saving to.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Awards have now started :)

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

awards are starting...

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Friday Awards:

Maud Gorbet - Volunteer of the year
188 - Autodesk Visualization
68 - Imagery
854 - Rockwell Innovation in Control
830 - Xerox Creativity
610 - Delphi Driving Tomorrow's Technology
1846 - KPC&B Entrepreneurship
188 - Judge's Award - "International Coopetition"
1305 - Website
Derek Bessette (1114) - Woodie Flowers Award

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

CONGRATULATIONS DEREK!

Derek has been a role model for me since i started in 2005. i don't know how to thank him for everything hes done. when Paul was reading, i was thinking, that sounds just like Derek.

again congratulations to a great guy. well deserved. i just wish i could be there to congratulate you in person.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

did you mean cooperation?
Whatever it is, congrats to team 188 on that ;]

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

she probably meant coopertition, a catch phrase FIRST has used since at least 2000.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

mm I see. sorry about that, first time I've heard/seen that :D


Good luck to all the teams tomorrow!

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

There is no "r" in "coopetition" (Woodie periodically makes that very clear!) :) )



.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Congratulations Derek

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Congrats Derek.

What are the chances of posting that 90 - 78 match between 1114 and 1503?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I was watching the webcast this afternoon and I was impressed with how both the robots and competition are going.

Good Luck to all teams.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I've noticed that the flaws in the scheduling algorithm are really making themselves felt at such a small regional. Even though each team is playing 11 qualifying matches, all that means is that you play with/against the same team 4 or 5 times instead of 2 or 3, while still never seeing some other teams at all.

Other than that, the Waterloo Regional is a lot of fun so far.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I did mean "coopetition", as that is what Karthik said when he announced it (meaning it is what the Judges would have written). 188 won for cooperating with a team in LA (4? 22?) to go to the LA regional. I think this is their 3rd/4th year doing this... that is, either hosting the LA team or being hosted in LA.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

well, at least we got something else to look forward to, another 1114vs1503 showdown, man those are great

can't wait till championships, if it's going this way, why not put 25 and 1114 going at it for four or five matches

then watch them pick each other in the alliance parings and win it all.

now that would be something...

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I was just told the coopetition definition, but thank you for clarifying.
Team 188 did an exchange with both 22 and 4 for the past 4 years.
I've been lucky to say I've been a part of this exchange the past 3 years.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

This has been a very interesting regional so far, historically it has been more of a defensive brawl regional, but on Friday we saw the rack almost filled up a couple of times. With a third of the robots being strong scoring bots its been a very interesting day with some awesome matches. It will be very interesting to see how the eliminations play out today.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I found last year that the average quality of robots at Waterloo was quite a bit higher than at Toronto. I think it was because for many teams, Waterloo is their second regional, so you tend to get better-funded teams attending.

After all, if you're going to only go to a single canadian regional (lower-funded teams), you're probably going to want to go to the huge super-regional that's only an hour away rather than the teeny waterloo regional.

-----Other thought ------
As soon as you expose yourself as a scorer in this game, you're going to get creamed by defenders. Yesterday, 1565 had 3-4 relatively unmolested rounds where we steadily put up 2-4 ringers per match. By match #5, Karthik was introducing us as "don't be fooled by the looks, this is a fearsome scorer". After that, we were just overwhelmed with defense and drivetrain issues related to the defense. I was with 1281 last year as we played pure defense for 3 tournaments, and this gives me and idea how our opposition felt.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I see that the "random" match generation algorithm was selected, and that is much better (IMO) than the "perpetual opponent" option. Even so, I notice that 1114 has played (so far) four qualifying matches with 610 as an ally and one with 610 as an opponent. Good news for both teams, but maybe not as "random" as the draw might have been.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

man, even though people say that was a horrible played match (Q50). That was still exciting.

too bad 1114 couldn't get that ringer off their flag (i would think 1680 would help out with that.)

btw: anybod else noticing that a): the defense has picked up, and b) the match results for the QM's are coming in maybe 3 times as fast as other regionals???

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

So, who is looking like a #1 draft pick?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

In my opinion... 854, 2056, or 1503.. all are top notch! Of those three though, 854 has working ramps, so I'd lean towards them.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Any word on when alliance selections will take place?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

its easy to forget that 1114 has a GREAT RAMP, but don't be surprised if they leave the ramping to themselves after some GLR woes.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I have no idea who I'd pick..

854
1305
2056
1503
610

I think either 854, 2056, or 610 (who has definitely improved).

These finals are going to be something else!

I think the 4th seed might find their position beneficial, due to the fact that they'll have a good first round pick, and be in great position for the second round selection.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

If I were 1114, I'd probably pick 188. I only got to watch 1 match this morning, but unless they've plunged off the face of the earth today, they are probably the best option. Amazing scorer, functional ramps. They seem like not only a great ally, but the most dangerous possible opponent.
If not 188, then probably:
1503
1680
2056
1901
854

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

It was good to see a normal match (the last one that tied). Probably the only one through the day. All the other ones were the beat-each-other-up-and-go-for-ramp style matches. I am not surprised 1114 is in first haha, good work guys!

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

when is pairings!?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Thought I heard Karthik say 11:45 local (Eastern) time.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

haha, i was talking to Dan Hoizner and asked me why does Karthik always wear a baseball jersey, i replied to him no one ever knows what he does, he's just canadian.

sounds like they will be starting shortly.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

They are lining up right now. Very soon

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Here they go

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Alliances:

1: 1114, 2056, 771
2: 854, 1305, 1006
3: 1241, 610, 2076
4: 188, 1592, 1334
5: 1680, 1503, 2166
6: 830, 68, 758
7: 1901, 781, 773
8: 1846, 1246, 1815

edit: omg I'm heading to the PAC right now!!!

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

1 - 1114 2056 771
2 - 854 1305 1006
3 - 1241 610 2076
4 - 188 1592 1334
5 - 1680 1503 2166
6 - 830 68 758
7 - 1902 781 773
8 - 1846 1246 1815

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

way for #6 to Represent the US

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

my pics

1 vs 8
2 vs 7
3 vs 6
4 vs 5

1 vs 5
2 vs 6

2 vs 5

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

So when do eliminations start?

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

as i stated in the other thread, eliminations start at 1:00pm local time at all regionals and at championships

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Please do not be disturbed if the webcast drops just before the Elimination rounds. I need to reset just before so that I can archive. Down time about 30 seconds.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

:ahh: :ahh: sounds good, but if it's over 30 seconds im coming up to canada and finding you. :P


At home regional chat:

chat1174754445162

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Try and find me HA!!!! :eek:

The reset has been done, teams are now on the field, matches to start at 1

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

1 - 1114 2056 771 vs. 8 - 1846 1246 1815
2 - 854 1305 1006 vs. 7 - 1901 781 773
3 - 1241 610 2076 vs. 6 - 830 68 758
4 - 188 1592 1334 vs. 5 - 1680 1503 2166

1 - 1114 2056 771 vs. 4 - 188 1592 1334
3 - 1241 610 2076 vs. 2 - 854 1305 1006

1 - 1114 2056 771 vs. 2 - 854 1305 1006

Winner: 1 - 1114 2056 771

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

This will be a very interesting round. Many scorers and many defence. This is unlike Detroit that had more defence than offence

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

I sincerely hope that SOAP archives the judges' interpretive dance.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Oh boy-- first round, 1114 damages their gripper within seconds of the match getting underway, switches to defense letting 2056 have the rack to themselves. 2056 puts up 7. wow.

Also, 1114 and 2056 almost scored OPPOSITE one another in autonomous mode.

If 1114 stops breaking, this alliance could do some amazing things.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Just saw the first match, and I have to say, 2056 is incredible!! That's the first time I've seen an atonomous like that!

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Did 1592's ramps break, or are they just uneffective? I don't think I've ever seen someone be lifted by them, but it seems like they are so well built.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

they are just flaps, that are greater then 4" of the ground. so they just drop them and nothing else.

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

Looks like another team has done what waterloo is well known for, cutting off their arm and strapping on some weights. team 1006 has switched to pure defence

Re: 2007 Waterloo Regional
 

is that on ICQ IGN ???, i wanna join