The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

How does a team regisiter?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

You can register your team by sending an email to beantownblitz@gmail.com

From there we will communicate with you further

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Hey Everyone,
While it may be a ways off, we are in full planning mode for the beantown blitz. If your team wants to come out and play on May 31st, please send an email to beantownblitz@gmail.com.

So far these teams have signed up:
228
1027
1519
1916
40
839
121
1685
69
1307
172
125
176
88

We are probably going to cap this event at somewhere between 36 and 40 teams so if you want to guarantee a spot sign up now!!

Good luck to everyone competing in regionals and the championship!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

This is going to be fun :D

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Hmmmm I don't know if my team is going to sign up or not. But I might drive on over or up whichever way it is. To see whats going on. And if I can get a way there and you need any help let me know.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Volunteers are always welcome, we will be having a signup for volunteers as we get a little bit closer to event time, so keep checking in every once and a while.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Alright well I am on here all the time so im sure I will see.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Here is an updated list of teams coming out (We are up to 21 teams so far):
40
69
88
121
125
172
176
228
839
1027
1307
1685
1916
1519A
1519B
195
2079
2170
175
1058
663


Hurry and get your team signed up while supplies last!!
beantownblitz@gmail.com


-Brando

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Ladies and Gentleman, we are up to 27 teams !! We strongly suggest throwing your hat into the ring now to ensure a spot at the 2008 Beantown Blitz!

Current teams coming to party in beantown:
40
69
88
121
125
172
176
228
839
1027
1307
1685
1916
1519A
1519B
195
2079
2170
175
1058
663
181
1100
238
467
348
190
2423

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Thanks for the updated post of teams attending. Almost contacted our team leader to get us in, as it fills up fast. Great event, as competitive as any Regional, anywhere. :)

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Folks, folks, folks.....we are nearing that magical time where we have to start putting teams onto a waiting list for the beantown blitz...however there are a few spots still available, so act fast!! (36 teams currently coming to the blitzz)

Current teams coming to party:
40
69
88
121
125
172
176
228
839
1027
1307
1685
1916
1519A
1519B
195
2079
2170
175
1058
663
181
1100
238
467
348
190
1916
2423
61
1995
2593
1965
2126
1099
Newton Pre Rookie (Using 125's 2007 'bot with special mod)

Ladies and gents, the 2008 Beantown Blitz....do not miss it!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

We are looking for volunteers for the 2008 Beantown Blitz! If you are interested in helping us out on May 31st, please send an email to:

BeantownBlitz@gmail.com and write in the subject "Volunteer". Please state your name and what you would prefer to do, and we will do our best to get you in!

In particular we are looking for:

A field reset crew
Volunteer registration
Pit administration
Set up/Clean up
Queueing
and other miscellaneous tasks!

Also, volunteers receive free volunteer shirts and free food!
Thanks everyone, we are doing our best to make this a FANTASTIC EVENT! :-D

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I'll see if I can round up a couple mort kids to volunteer. it'd be fun.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I know you guys are probably going to monty so make sure you aren't committed there first.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Hey Brandon,

I sent an email to register, and got confirmed, but don't see my team on the list. Any thoughts?


Jacob

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I love beantown... been every year since 04 and ill be making a return again volunteering... definatley one of the great annual New England offseasons and its looking to be killer espically after the year NE has been having... some amazing robots will be there and there is tons of great fun to have!!!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Ladies and Gents we have 38 teams registered for the blitz, which puts us at capacity....we will be making a waiting list so if you want to be one of the first teams on the waiting list send an email over to beantownblitz@gmail.com.

Good news...the "official 2008 beantown blitz" website has finally been switched to live...you can find all your beantown blitz info at http://www.nutrons.neu.edu/btb/

Team lists, event information, contact info...all that can can be found there.


Also volunteer registration has been opened up, so if you would like to volunteer shoot an email over to beantownblitz@gmail.com and put the word "volunteer" in the subject. If you have a specific request please specify and we will do our best.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Jacob I will check this out.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Folks, please for the time being ignore the team list on the beantown blitz website, it is from the 2007 Blitz...here is the "OFFICIAL" list to date:

40
69
88
121
125
172
176
228
839
1027
1307
1685
1916
1519A
195
2079
2170
175
1058
663
181
1100
1991 - there you are jacob
467
348
190
1153
61
1995
2593
1965
2126
1099
178
2009
2423
Newton Pre Rookie
571

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Make sure there is a mentors match, and make it count toward the standings, unlike last year. It truly is one of my favorite parts of BTB. Also, something else to consider, Human Overdrive:D

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Mentor matches will still be there, however I think we are going to stick with keeping them separate and awarding the teams that win them separately.



The 2008 Beantown Blitz is FULL...all 38 slots have been filled and we have started a waiting list...

Teams coming to the bean:
40
69
88
121
125
172
176
228
839
1027
1307
1685
1916
1519A
195
2079
2170
175
1058
663
181
1100
1991
467
348
190
1153
61
1995
2593
999
2126
1099
178
2009
2423
Newton Pre Rookie
571

Teams on the waiting list:
1373
1973
1350



The wait list is pretty short still so there may be a shot your team is able to get in, we encourage you to send us an email at beantownblitz@gmail.com if you want to sign up.

The blitz is only 38 days away!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Ladies and gentleman...The beantown blitz's capacity is 38....due to cancellations we have 37 teams registered...leaving no waiting list and 1 spot to be filled....get in while you still can!


40
69
88
121
125
172
176
228
839
1027
1307
1685
1916
1519A
1973
2079
2170
175
1058
663
181
1100
1991
467
348
190
61
1373
2593
999
2126
1099
1350
2009
2423
Newton Pre Rookie
571


See everyone at the blitz this year where there are sure to be plenty of surprises!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Can't wait :)

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Stay tuned for the 2008 Beantown Blitz's Rule Changes...coming soon

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Any specific volunteer positions still open?
I'm still trying to decide between BTB & Monty this year. :eek:

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Will 1519's 2nd Config fill the open spot if it is still open?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Elgin, I'm sure we can put you somewhere if you want to make the trip (and cmon man, represent the new england)

1519s 2nd bot may fill the open slot, however we would prefer to give it to another team if they are willing to come. Stay tuned for what happens. We have had 8 teams cancel on us so we are trying to fill in as many different teams as we can.`

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Ladies and Gentlemen we are only 16 days away from the 2008 Beantown Blitz, we currently have 37 teams coming, which leaves 1 spot open if a team wants to step up and come, we highly suggest you do, it is a great time.

40
69
88
121
125
172
176
228
839
1027
1307
1685
1916
1519A
1973
2079
2170
175
1058
663
181
1991
467
348
190
1740
61
1373
2593
999
2126
1099
1350
2009
2423
3125 (aka Newton Pre Rookie)
571

The 2008 Beantown Blitz rule changes will be posted later today... "Beware of Golden Trackballs"

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

hey brandon... you lied to us... you said "today" yesterday... we want to know now!!! =P

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I know i know...they WILL be posted today for sure, as soon as I get home from work.... just beware of golden trackballs ;)

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

When will the rules be posted?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Some questions:
Where is there to park on the Northeasten campus?
Is there a parking fee?
What train lines run nearby?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I believe there is a parking lot right nearby Mathew's Arena and yes there is a parking fee. I don't remember what it is unfortunatly. Orange line and Green E line are the two main train lines. Ruggles and Northeastern University are the two main stops. Ruggles is the Orange line stop and Northeastern University is the Green E line stop. Massachusetts Avenue might also be close to Mathew's arena which is on the orange line.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Use the trip planner at

http://www.mbta.com/

that should help alot

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

There is very limited free parking if you can find a spot on the street. There are meter spots, 15 min is $0.25 or you can park at renessaince garage on campus. It is $6 for the day on the weekends at Renessaince. Renessaince Garage is probably the best option if you are going to drive in. There is also a garage right by the arena, Gaisnborough garage, but that will cost about $20 or more for the day because they usually charge a flat event parking fee! Yay Boston Parking!

Directions and a campus map can be found here: http://www.neu.edu/campusmap/

By T:
In order to get to Mathews arena you can take the orange line to Mass ave or the Green line E train to Symphony. Mathews arena is located on the corner of Mass Ave and St. Boltoph St. Parking at T-stations is about $3 usually but you'd have to check with the one you want to park at. Riverside T stop is right off of 90 but its a long T ride in to get to NU because you have to transfer lines.

If you have any more questions about parking feel free to get in contact with me via email or PM.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

someone want to get a hold of brandon and you know give him some incentive "wink wink hint hint" to getting to post this perferably this week =P

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

DOH! :confused:

Ok folks I know i've said it before, but the rules will be posted by 5 pm today. 5 pm, beware of golden trackballs.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Despite my hardest attempts to be as lazy as possible with this, the golden trackball details have arrived....below is the list of rule changes for the 2008 Beantown Blitz. Comments are of course always welcome, and I'd be glad to answer any questions.


General Rules:

1. The “freeze frame” method of scoring is gone at the beantown blitz. The robots and balls will be scored when they come to REST, not when the buzzer sounds. Yes this applies for hybrid mode too.
2. A <G22> modification will be made for the lane dividers only (not the start/finish lines). A robot must completely cross back over a lane divider to be penalized, as opposed to the current rule of any part crossing back over to be penalized.

Golden Ball Rules:

3. Two Golden Balls will be perched above each alliance station (1 over red, 1 over blue). They will be on a ramp and locked in such a way that only 1 can be released in any given match (which one that is released is dependent upon hybrid mode, see below). The golden ball is the same size and weight as the regular trackballs, but just gold in color.
a. The golden ball will be awarded to the team that scores the most in Hybrid mode.
b. That hybrid winning alliance will have the ability to release the ball into the field of play at their discretion.
c. The Golden ball can be possessed by any team (and scored by any team for that matter)
d. It can be scored like any other trackball, with a few exceptions. There are 2 additional points awarded when scoring the Golden ball.
i. 4 points for a herd
ii. 10 points for a hurdle
iii. NO POINTS for capping the golden ball at the end of regulation!!***


See everyone at the blitz, where there are even more surprises in store!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

FIRST rules state that points go to the alliance with the same color as the trackball. As you state the rules, wouldn't the trackball score 4 points for each alliance as it passed around the track, i.e. redabot scores 10 points for a hurdle while giving up 4 points to the blue alliance as the ball is taken over the blue finish line?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

For a ball to be herded (not hurdled) and count for 4 points, it must not be in contact with a robot (as the rules are currently). The same thing is true for the golden ball (if a robot is escorting a ball across a finish line, the ball will not score for either alliance). I hope this is clear.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

That's what I was wondering. The official rules state that if an opposing robot is in contact with a robot, the points count. As you have clarified, any robot touching the golden ball as it crosses the line underneath the overpass, no points are scored.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I'm a bit confused. Are the points awarded to the alliance that performed the scoring action (herding, hurdling), or are the points awarded always to the alliance that won the trackball in hybrid (i.e. either alliance could herd/hurdle the ball, but only RED alliance gets the points for it.)

-Jacob

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

If the golden ball goes over the red overpass its 10 points for red, if it goes over the blue, its 10 points for blue...across the red finish line (on its own power) 4 points for red, across the blue finish line (on its own power) 4 points for blue.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

That's going to be crazy weird to officiate

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

So, for red to score twice, it must also score for blue, at least once?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

not necissarily, if red hurdles, gains possession before passing blue's finish line, does a lap, and hurldles again, red will gain 20 points from the hurdles, and nullify the 4 blue would have gotten by being in possession of the ball during a herd.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

You are partially right. After the ball is hurdled by red, the ball will have to cross the blue finish line before it can score for red. However, if the red robot is in contact with the ball as it crosses the blue finish line, it will not count for blue points. If the ball crosses the blue line under it's own momentum, it will score for blue.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

i.e. if, say, red scores and takes possession of the ball while they go over blue's finish line, blue doesnt get anything.

same thing really as what the person above said about contact while crossing opponent's line

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Love the golden trackball addition to the game. It will bring so much more strategy into the mix. Can't wait to see it in action.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

We already have a system in place, and it is not going to be as bad as you think it is going to be.

As other people have clarified...yes the ball must go around the track potentially scoring for blue, however if you acquire the ball before it gets to the blue finish line no points for blue. I hope its clear for everyone.

We were trying to accomplish something here by saying that a lot of the time (not all, but a decent amount), there were 3 capable scoring robots on an alliance...Now we get to see what happens if 3 capable scoring robots can control 3 balls and score all 3 balls. I'm excited to see it pan out.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Is anyone going to be getting the video for TBA?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I'm surprised. I agree with all of the new rules in place (especially since now you have to back the whole robot over the line to get penalized). This is a new beginning!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

At WPI BattleCry that was an edition to the rule as well and it caused for far fewer penalties. That seems to be a common modification in postseason events.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

offically 4 days now...

My prediction...

2 decent hurdlers + rage will win this event...

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Is there an Updated Team List? The last list did not have Rage on it.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

UPDATED team list:
40
61
69
88
121
125
172
175
176
181
190
228
348
467
571
663
839
999
1027
1058
1099
1307
1350
1373
1685
1740
1916
1973
1991
2009
2079
2126
2170
2423
2593
1519A
Newton
1519B

As of right now we don't have RAGE registered for the blitz.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I guess that breaks that prediction :p

I predict - 2 decent hurdlers + 190 for defense :D

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I predict... that's right you can't predict a robotics competition.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Is the standard alliance selection procedure used. I can't remember from last year. If so, the golden trackball will certainly effect selection strategy.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Directly from the Queen of NEMO...

Hello team leaders!

NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) provides support to mentors from FIRST programs in the non-technical areas such as mentor recruitment, sponsors, fundraising, travel planning, team organization and team building. I will be facilitating a NEMO meeting at Northeastern University in conjunction with Beantown Blitz on Saturday, May 31. The session will be held in the VIP lounge at Matthews Arena from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Mentors are free to come and go as their responsibilities to their teams dictate.

Please share this information with the mentors on your team. I am sure that a lively discussion will be held. I hope to see a representative from each team at our meeting!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

okay... -rage... +any team who can consistantley control the golden track ball + do laps to accumulate 6pts per lap apposed to 2...

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Last year there was standard alliance selection, so there most likely will be again.

Alliance selection will be key, a three hurdler alliance, that has one team that can easily control the golden ball, will dominate. Even if a team doesn't win in hybrid they can still get the golden trackball fairly quickly. I feel like these additions to the rules make lap bots obselete.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

hmmmm...
It's interesting that both Heretic121(of team 121) and Kingofl337(of team 40) refer to "2 decent hurdlers"?

Another BAE or Battlecry winning alliance...

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Or will we see 1519A + 1519B + XXXX ;)

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Well, we did pick our 2nd bot at Mayhem in Merrimack in '06...

Who knows. :)

Looking forward to the Blitz, guys!!!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Yes, I remember that :)

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

To bad 58 is not attending... That would have been perfect for that strategy.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Is BTB being webcast? :D

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I don't think so. However, we'll be sure to put some video up on our website, and I would guess that some other teams might too.

Elimination alliances:
1) 181 - 9151 (1519's speed racer) - 2593
2) 348 - 121 - 69
3) 40 - 175 - 839
4) 88 - 176 - 1991
5) 1058 - 228 - 2170
6) 999 - 172 - 61
7) 1350 - 1519 - 1027
8) 663 - 1099 - 1685

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I must say that the 1519 racer bot was the best robot I saw at doing laps. One match I believe they did 8 lines in automode and 13 lines in driver mode for a total of 58 point contribution to their alliance. That wasn't with a bunch of robots dead on the field either; it was through heavy robot play. I never thought I would see a racer score this many points. I wished they had played with the racer this season because it would have been extremely effective (Not that their other bot wasn't, it just wasn't as unique). Props to 1519 for building such an awesome racer bot!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Team 348 would like to thank Team 121 The Rhode Warriors and Team 69 Hyper Robotics for being on our winning alliance.

We would like to congratulate Team 88 TJ^2, Team 176 Aces High, & Team 1991 The Dragons

We would like to thank Koko Ed for the flags.

We would like to thank our mentors Herm, Kwol, Mr. Nestor & Nobles.

We would like the MC for knowing the Shaniqua Shuffle and introducing our alliance as "The Blue Alliance"

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I'd like to congratulate teams 348, 121, and 69. And thanks for the time out.

I'd like to thank our alliance partners 88 and 1991.

Who ever said this wasn't a defensive game should have seen this event.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Yeah. We got a verbal warning for overaggressive driving and a 10 point plenty for high speed ramming.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

All I can say is that I enjoyed myself and the competition went pretty smoothly. It was nice to see that all though winning this didn't qualify you for anything in particular the competition was competitive just as it was in the Boston Regional and in Atlanta. I have to admit though I would have enjoyed competing in the elimination rounds partially because our team didn't make it past the qualifying matches in the two other events we went to.

Something I'd like to ask you other teams that went. Between the time when your robot was shipped home from the last official competition you went to and the Beantown Blitz, what kind of changes had you made to your robot? One thing we changed was our poker. Originally we had to stop under the rack and position ourselves. We then launched the poker which was simply a metal bar with a head attached to it which launched the ball up and off. After the Boston Regional we went to Atlanta with the nutrons and with their help we changed the poker around a bit and it became a slapper. This was similar to the slapper from the nutron's own bot.

Also, after Atlanta we tried to change the hybrid mode around a bit so that it didn't need us to continuously press the button to keep on going. We always lost a signal beyond the first line so we just made it automatically go to the end and then curve to the left for two lines.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Zip Ties Galore :)

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Can someone explain what the rules for the Gold balls were at Beantown Blitz? One of my team members had an idea just like this and I wanted to know if it worked out well.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Which ever alliance won hybrid mode was given control of the Goldenball during tele-op. It was sitting on top of a wooden frame above the right-side robocoach fence at each end. Using a pole, the robocoach of the respective alliance was allowed to hit the ball into the match at any point they wished during the 2 minute period. In the result of a tie, control went to the Blue Alliance for even numbered rounds and the Red Alliance for the odd numbered rounds. During eliminations, a coin was flipped to make it more random.

While in play, a Goldenball scored 4 points for the alliance in control of it for rolling across the finish line and 10 points for being hurdled. A Goldenball scored no bonus points for sitting on top of the overpass at the end of the match.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Could either alliance control it? Or only the one that won hybrid?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

It could be controlled by either alliance once it was entered onto the field of play by the alliance that won the hybrid mode or the tie-breaker.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

I'd like to say a big THANKS to all those that worked at the 2008 Beantown Blitz! The organizers did a great job with the pre-event preparations; the "drive-in/drive-out" pit unloading/loading was awesome; the drink and pizza lunch in the pit areas was convenient and not horribly overpriced; the field reset crews, announcers, and scorers all did their jobs quickly and effectively, being a help to teams, rather than an impediment; the judges were very encouraging to all the teams they interviewed, taking a genuine interest in the designs of the teams, and the referees did a great job of not only making the right calls, but also explaining their reasons and rationale to teams that were penalized. In all, I thought that everyone I encountered who was involved with running the tournament sought to make the event an enjoyable one for the participants.

We were very thankful for the opportunity to run both of our robot configurations as two separate teams and were honored to receive a robot design award for each of the two robots.

We'd also like to thank our alliance partners: #1-seeded Team 181 for choosing Speed Racer as the first pick and Team 2593 for giving us a well-rounded alliance -- we enjoyed the run to the semifinals and are sorry that we had to e-stop Speed Racer just over half-way through the deciding match. We're also grateful to Team 1350 for choosing our "big bot" as their first choice and 1027 for their contribution, too. Having our #7 seeded alliance go out in the quarterfinals to the BTB Champion Alliance of 348, 121, 69 was a very respectable showing!

I'd also like to thank some of our opposition: Team 88 for their gracious professionalism in calling their timeout on Speed Racer's behalf in the semifinals; Teams 121, 177, 195, and 2079 for their gracious words regarding our robots, and Team 663 for politely shedding Speed Racer from their robot after we spent what seemed like half of one match (including completion of a half-lap of the field) while being "high-sided" sideways on the un-bumpered side of their robot. There are probably many other teams that deserve our thanks that I didn't witness personally.

We're looking forward to Beantown Blitz again in 2009!

PS: Video of Speed Racer's round with 7-lines in autonomous and 13-lap teleop is now on our team web pages at http://www.mechanicalmayhem.org/teamvideos.asp

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

What did the teams think of the Bonus ball? Again just curious if it was well received or not.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Missed one little part Tim. In the event of a tie after the alliance was selected to receive the golden trackball it was entered onto the field at one minute remaining in the match by one of the referees.

MikeM.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

The Bonus ball was used on and off, at least it seemed to me. I know that when we had the option, my team chose to not put it into play. Four balls on the field was enough to make a mess and since it could be used by the other alliance, letting it on the field could backfire. One strategy I did see was towards the end of the match: with 5 or so seconds left, the controlling alliance would knock the ball off the pedestal and have it roll across the finish line for an extra 4 points. In another variation, in the Finals, my team attempted to hurdle the Bonus ball with time expiring: it was given a good poke, took once bounce halfway down the home stretch and JUST hit the front of the Overpass. Would've been pretty cool if it went for a hurdle. Overall though, it was an interesting game addition. Kudos to the BTB committee for adding it in!

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

Is anyone going to put scores and video on TBA?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

i am not sure what people that attened have, but we are working go getting the tapes from the company that did the video, and have to convert them to a digital format. Possibly into a DVD of the event. Would there be interest in a DVD of the event? We do not have the capability to convert the tapes our self, so we would need to pay for it to be done, if there is interest we will consider doing it.

so anyone?

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

If you can get digital copies I'd be more than happy to put them on the TBA servers.

Re: The 2008 Beantown Blitz (Hosted by team #125)
 

We are working on it tombot