pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Congrats to simbotics for winning the Ontario FTC we had a great battle in the finals with you guys amazing scoring robot

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Wow, I didn't realize an embroidered sweatshirt qualified as a non-functional decoration! ;)

If for no other reason, I'll have to make it to DaVinci to see the Simbots in action. Again.

*I have no beef with them asking nicely to keep shots of their robot off the internet--and I applaud their ability to have succeeded at that for as long as they have.

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Congrats guys, missed this one but I heard it was a hard fought win. Ty I think there is a little too much of the robot showing there :p

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Congrats ... again :). Repeating like this certainly isn't easy at all, but your crew surely makes it look that way!

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Congratulations, this photo would be great in Inspirational Photos!
Awesome!

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Congrats again guys. It was definitely a hard fought match in the finals but you managed to pull ahead of us! I thought we had you for a minute in the last match - then we tipped over...It was an honour to play against you and good luck in Atlanta!

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Thanks to all for the kind words.

478 - You guys had a fabulous machine. It takes a lot for a vex robot to impress me, and you guys did. Well played.

189 - Great bunch of guys to work with, great machine. It was a pleasure to work with you.

225 - You Played Great D. Thanks for being there when we needed you.


Since becoming a Mentor for Team 2056, I am no longer coaching the 1114’s Vex team. Last year I tried to do both, and in Atlanta I felt like I was abandoning 2056. So, I decided to step down as coach for FTC1114. Long time 1114 member Jeff Becket has stepped up to the plate as the new Drive Team Coach for FTC1114 and did a fantastic job on the weekend. I couldn’t have done better myself. I must admit, watching matches is much more stressful than coaching matches.

Good luck to all, and we’ll see you in Atlanta!

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

I was told on another forum that simbotics did not want any photos of their robot on the internet. Is there any truth to this?

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

They never have. For some evidence, there was a picture of their alliance with the robot uncovered, though partially hidden behind a trophy. That picture has since been deleted. I have never seen a picture of one of their FVC/FTC robots before the championship (and few enough after...).

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

That picture was removed from ChiefDelphi as a request from team 189. Although the trophies covered 339's and 225's robot remarkably well, 189's robot was very exposed. They do not wish to lose their competitive advantage by revealing their robot design.

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Ah, I thought the Simbotics' robot was in there. The principle remains, though. (Several teams have this policy, FRC and FTC alike.)

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

It was. I looked at that picture a couple of times and all I was able to discern was that some of their outer shell/frame is sloped. Not very useful information, and I'm not really certain if it is correct as the trophy did cover their robot really well. It did look cool though.

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Yeah.... It didn't reveal their manipulator at all.

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Since there is really no build season in FTC there is an unfair advantage to those who compete later if photos of robots are posted. FRC on the other hand makes cloning or idea using much tougher as this can only be done at regional events.

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

congrats simbotics, remember me, team 168 who was pushing your robot at the start of one of the first matches, heheheheh, i enjoyed that it was hilarious watching me driving your robot with my tiny one, BTW did we get penalized for that?

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

No, we never actually needed to penalize anyone for rough play. A couple of warnings were given out (one to your team, IIRC) but nothing beyond that.

- Pat, the head referee

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Very well designed robot, and very nicely implemented. I also must agree with your first alliance pick, I thought it was very wise to choose a very consistant robot.

Good luck in Atlanta.

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Couldn't they just edit out 189's robot?

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

unless you told my brother, the taller one, i never remember getting a warning, i did not mean to harm simbotics robot BTW, merely just stop them from getting to the goals:D

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

BTW i was mainly defensize because i knew once someone got a hold of 6 rings and got a chance to dump them ona 24" the opposing alliance was done, i was about 2 seconds off from stopping them

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

If I had known that 189 didn't want the picture posted, I wouldn't have uploaded it in the first place. I agree with the reasoning of FTC teams who choose not to show their robots and respect their wishes; I'm actually sitting on a pile of close-ups of 1114's 'bot that I took at their practice facility.

I checked with 1114 after taking that particular photo and they were fine with it (I didn't count on the other teams having concerns); Matt (the driver) even claims that he put the trophy right in front of the manipulator on purpose. :)

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

I agree with people in FTC wanting to hide their robot...

But doesn't it violate the whole concept of gracious professionalism to do so. I think it also violates gracious professionalism to steal someones idea without their permission.

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

Very true. Although, we kind of touched on this when our team posted pictures of our robot (FTC 546) a few weeks back. We didn't fear that people would "steal" our idea, per se. Frankly, we really didn't mind other teams getting inspiration from our design: FIRST isn't all about keeping your robot a secret from the rest of the world (although it is perfectly understandable if that's how you would like to keep things), but it isn't about taking ideas from other robots, either.

We figured that, if there were teams out there who would sacrifice originality and the engineering process just for the sake of winning, those teams probably need to learn more about what FIRST is about. Teamwork, even between competitors on and off the field is what really counts. Just posting a picture can be a valuable source of inspiration for a struggling team, which is why we think it's important not to keep your whole robot "under wraps." However, for the sake of the competition, it would probably be best to just post "teasers" instead if you're looking to provide inspiration to other teams.

Re: pic: FTC 339's ("1114 Simbotics") Robot
 

There are few businesses in the world that don't have a few things they're working on in secrecy. Look at Apple or any auto maker, and you'll see them keeping everything about their upcoming products as secret as possible. The ramifications can be huge--imagine if the Zune folks knew what Apple is working on in their iPod division right now--meaning that until it's ready to ship in final form (read: at the Championship), secrecy is a valid approach.