BattleCry@WPI 9
 

It's coming...and VERY soon! BattleCry@WPI will be held early this year only (will likely return to mid-Jun next year). Here's the details:

When:
1730-2100 9 May, Qualifiers
2100-2300 9 May, PARTY!
0700-1730 10 May, Qualifiers/Eliminations

Where:
Harrington Auditorium, WPI
Worcester MA

How much:
$350 (includes traditional BC amenities--BBQ, Party, lunches, T-shirts, etc)

Why:
Rated the top East Coast off-season tournament. Available campus dorms for overnight. Awesome lighting and sound systems. All teams get to the eliminations. A great time! Check out last year.

Registration:
Limited to 48 teams. Opens on website at 0800 EDT 31 Mar.

Further Info:
Contact staff.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Can we expect another surprise marriage proposal at this year's Battlecry?? :D

I think that totally made it worth going last year.
You never know what you will see at Battlecry! ;)


I'm def. Looking Forward to attending again this year!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

We do aim to please! Anybody out there feel particularly romantic???

Ken

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I'm sure people feel romantic but first the person they feel romantic with would have to be there. O and I might show up just for the fun of it.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Wow! Only three weeks after the World Championship!

This means that I will get to go to Battlecry before leaving the East Coast for the summer. I approve! :)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Isn't the wedding supposed to take place at BC from last years proposal?

(I'm going to get in trouble for this)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

So let me guess there will be a robotic cake that rolls out to the field and out pops rock'em sock'em robots. Played to the tune of the Grady bunch theme song (sorry jess couldn't help myself).

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

1519 is very much looking forward to BattleCry this year. We'll definitely be there, although we haven't yet figured out what to do with our former dual-configuration robot.

Any thoughts yet on the planned BattleCry 9 Rule Changes for this year?

Or, for that matter, any other fun events planned? How about the most autonomous laps on an empty field in 60 seconds? ;)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I think Battlecry should make a special exception for 1519 and allow them to use their robot(s) as originally intended.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I hope to be there.... if not with 1923, then by myself.

:)

Elgin..... ;) Will you marry me?
KIDDING!!!!!!!
That's yucky, everyone knows boys have cooties.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I can't speak for the BattleCry staff or what decisions they'll make, but in the past robot inspection at off-season events has been much more relaxed than at official competitions.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

The surprise this year was that it's going to be in May instead of June.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Remember, registration gets you all these goodies:

• Friday night team social (free bowling, vex, CRUD, DDR, comedy, etc)
• 10 free BC commerative color t-shirts
• 10 free Fri barbecue meals
• 10 free Fri evening ice cream social tickets
• 10 free Sat lunches
• Commerative, custom participation medal
• and, more confetti than you can shake a stick at!

This should be another great year, looking forward to seeing everyone there!!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I hearby challenge Andy Grady and a partner of his choice to a 2 on 2 bowling match. Dolan and myself are ready.

My weapon of choice:
The Smokin' Inferno

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

And everyone knows Girls Love Robots (& not boys). :p

And.. No. I'll have to pass.
I've done a lot of things because of FIRST, but a marriage in the immediate future isn't one of them... yet anyway. :cool:
But I will take a 1923 shirt to trade for a 237 one.
That's just as good as a yes right? lol

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

BTW, we have not settled on any tweaks to the Overdrive game, however, we currently intend to run it by the official rules/updates as published PRIOR :rolleyes: to the first regionals--so ANY team that can demonstrate compliance with the rules is welcome to compete with their device(s) (;): 1519 and 190).

If any teams would like to see a minor (NOT design-busting) tweak to the game please let us know at battlecry@wpi.edu

Ken (wearing the BC9 hat)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Run the finals going the opposite way on the track... ;)
I'd like to see that done at least once this year at an event.*

<runs for cover>









*Maybe Friday's matches would be a better time?

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Actually, I think we shout switch direction of travel every match.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Ouch! That would be interesting, but might be a "design-buster" for robots that have weight distribution optimized for left-hand turns!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Switch direction of travel at 60 seconds left in the match

:D

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

3 trackballs per alliance.

Or

Hybrid winner gets another trackball.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

4 Overpasses!!!

The regular 2 on each side of the wall, & 2 more at the ends of the field right in line with the Lane Divider & perpendicular to the Players Station wall.

It would add to the scores (maybe), and make an additional obstacle as far as time to retract your arms to go under them.

I know... I'm evil. :D lol

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

A golden trackball introduced to the winner of hybrid following hybrid that can be scored by either alliance, and is worth 2x a normal hurdle.

Or the team that has it on their overpass at the end of the game gets a bigger bonus or multiplier.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

The problem then becomes determining how the winner is introduced to the golden ball. And since either alliance can place their balls at the end of the match on either overpass, it doesn't quite translate.

However, I dig the idea of a third normal trackball for the winner of hybrid (with neither alliance getting one in a tie).

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

The rather than just another trackball that's worth more points, make it a larger ball, say 60" or 80".

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Hmm, a third trackball would be a big edge towards trackball-handlers, rather than lap-runners.

Maybe instead, bringing back the 2006 10-point bonus to the alliance that wins hybrid (autonomous) mode to be an additional motivator for teams to work on their hybrid capabilities?

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

You like that golden game piece dont you ;)

**in reference to the 2007 Beantown Blitz's Golden Tube

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

All that does is change the end score. Usually WPI adds a new aspect to the game that changes it from a spectator's point of view, like the hanging goal in 2006. That gave an advantage to 'shooters', but it was still really cool.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

All,

Remember that registration for BattleCry 9 opens up tomorrow morning at 0800 EDT!! www.wpi.edu/+battlecry

Also, I noticed that the link to contact the staff in Ken's first posting doesn't work. The email address to write to if you have any specific questions or would like to volunteer for the event is battlecry@wpi.edu. We can certainly use all the help we can get!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

:ahh: A quick reminder to all interested teams--by the time this gets posted BC9 will probably be very close to our 48 team capacity--DO NOT STOP REGISTERING! Traditionally we have a half dozen or so teams withdraw and we end up pulling in the reserve teams. We call the reserves up in the order in which they registered--if you are among the first 6 the odds are VERY good that you will be called.

The BattleCry Staff

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Oh man! This is right in the heart of AP tests... I hope I can go again.

If not with Team 1676, it can be another whirlwind FIRST road trip!

~ Zara ~

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

if we have enough interest, there will be a NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) meeting on Saturday morning. Open to all mentors from all four FIRST programs (JFLL, FLL, FTC and FRC). We can have a round-robin discussion, or workshop on a particular NEM topic (mentor recruitment and retention, fundraising, travel planning tips, teambuilding, etc.).

Please share with ALL of the mentors on your teams (even if you are not competing at BattleCry) and other program mentors you may know.

RSVP with your topic of interest to kathiek_at_firstnemo_dot_org

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

/cries.

No can do. Exam week. :(

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Shall we assume that BattleCry might have a demo/display of the new FRC Control System? (Only because FIRST seems to point all their webpages to WPI for the info ;) )

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) will host a meeting of adult mentors from all FIRST programs (FRC, FTC, FLL and JFLL) on Saturday, May 10, in the Campus Center. NEMO is a virtual organization which provides support to mentors in the non-technical areas such as mentor recruitment, fundraising, travel planning, team organization and teambuilding. www.firstnemo.org

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - General discussion of non-technical topics of concern to you and your team.

11:00 - 12:00 noon - NEMO is compiling a Kit of Parts for teams and wants your input - what should it include? What would have been helpful to your team this year? What should we include for pre-rookie and rookie teams?

Please feel free to come and go as your schedule dictates. Spread the word to other mentors!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

A very interesting question.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

(Maybe we'll sneak into the robot shop and take a look around. Shhh!) :)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

And a very good question at that.

We are planning on showing the demo robot that was at the Championship using the new control system and will try to answer any questions that team members have.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

eww i didnt think of that. i guess i'll be studying in my free time there...

i will be there tho with 195:D

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

BattleCry SITREP 2, dtg 29May08/2200Z, "Deals, Meals, Games, etc." has just been posted to the BattleCry website! Although it doesn't specifically mention it, you will certainly want to make sure you have your cameras ready for the RoboCoach Contest!

Also, note that SITREP 1 references changes to the game - a modified Rule G22 and an additional opportunity to score in the endgame!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I know it's a little late, but is there any official place to sign up to volunteer?

I'm going to be in the Worcester area pretty much all day after 12 noon on Friday & all day Saturday.

PM me if you need any help with set-up on Friday, or during the competition Friday or Saturday!
Thanks.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I am SO EXCITED FOR BATTLECRY.

Just thought I would say that. I leave this afternoon and I am absolutely bouncing off the walls! :)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Just "happen" to be in the area, eh, EC? :)
(Does one happen to be in Worcester??)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Webcast will be back up by 8am Saturday, check out the rankings and match results at www.wpi.edu/+battlecry. Event is going very well so far!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

How did a score of 77 get scored in match 51? I was reading the revised rules, but don't see anything that could give you an odd score.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Alliance Selections

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

great job everyone, i had a great time, the matchs where all well played and as always the battlecry crew did a great job. i loved the new RC now i cant wait for next year.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

What were the results?
Is the listing above the alliance ranking or the final standings?

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

The results can be seen on the website here.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

That's the alliance pairing.
121, 40, and 1474 defeated 126, 1519, 1027 in the finals. It went to three matches because the second match was a tie 98-98.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

that tie was amazing

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Battle Cry 9 was excellent, as always Team 190 put on a top notch event! The reffing was outstanding and the revised version of G22 made the game what it should have been, with very few matches decided by penalties compared to on-season. It was cool having Woody stop in and ask for ideas for the 09 game.

Team 40 would like to thank 121 and 1474 for being excellent partners.

We would also like to thank 126, 1519, and 1027 for putting up an excellent fight. 126 upgraded the intake system on their claw and it made huge difference. We look forward to seeing everyone a Beantown Blitz!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

That was one of the craziest matches that I've ever taken part in...

But there aren't any teams that I'd rather lose to. You guys totally deserved it. Congrats!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

What happened with 121's Victor?

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Its a shame we couldn't be there (stupid AP exams)... sounds like you guys had a blast.

Congrats to 121, 40, and 1474!!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

It got set in 'break' mode. ;)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Wire came out of the Anderson Block...a quick fix. Though the response to us needing a Victor was awesome. Even though Team 40 had already gotten us a new one, 3 other teams came up nearly immediately after the announcement with some as well!

I also want to thank 40 and 1474 for an awesome alliance and to 126, 1519, and 1027 for making the finals some of the most exciting I had seen this year!! :) See you all soon at Beantown!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

BattleCry was amazing. Great competition, great people- all around fantastic.

Many thanks to all the crazy New England FIRSTers that made me feel quite at home. (Except when you all screamed "SHUN THE NON-NEW ENGLANDER! during the gameshow. Thanks a lot! :P)

I was working queueing, so I'd like to thank all the teams for being ON TIME and helping the event run smoothly. I was supposed to be on crutches for a knee injury, but decided against using them at the event, so thanks for not making me run after you to bring you up. :) (Team 40- I'll work on the queueing voice, okay?)

WPI hosts a great event every year.
Thanks, y'all, for showing this "regionally confused" girl an awesome time.
I already can't wait for BC10!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Well, that was my plan till I hit a boulder on the road the week before, & had to send my car in the shop Thursday night & I had to come up Friday afternoon with a friend instead. :ahh:

Just one of the many things that made BC a crazy event yet again for me.
(But overall a great event competition wise!) :)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Thanks to Nick Galotti, The Blue Alliance now has scores from Battlecry from 2004 onwards! Some of the Elimination sets are missing, but you can check out your team's history from all the way back before 3v3 games!

BC@WPI 5 - 2004
BC@WPI 6 - 2005
BC@WPI 7 - 2006
BC@WPI 8 - 2007
BC@WPI 9 - 2008

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Thank you to Ken and Brad and all the Battle Cry support staff that put on a great event. This is my favorite robot event to judge because everyone looks so happy - all the time. My husband and I got to talk to so many teams and really had a great date at Battle Cry.

For those who studied for the AP exams - you made the right, tough, decision. If you missed Battle cry - just wait for college. There are so many robot and car competitions - your participation is just begining.

Marie

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

126 & company had me worried after that tie. We were broken, and that alliance was playing awesome. Little nervous going into that 3rd match. Loved playing with and against you this weekend 126. 121 and 126 have the friendliest rivalry in FIRST. Its amazing.

Thanks to our great partners 40 and 1474. With an average match score of 117 (and a scare of having to drive with only 3 motors), there was never a dull moment on our alliance.

40 is a great team to ally with. They are very competitive and always there to help. It's easy working with a team that has the same "mindset" as your team. We are happy to work with 40 to win our second Battlecry allied with them, and our fourth overall.

Congratulations to all the teams that made Battlecry a great two day event. We will see most of you at Beantown Blitz in a few weeks.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

After dealing with a season of FIRST, Battlecry reminds me why I stick around. Thanks, WPI.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I want to thank all the coaches that I annoyed at WPI with my iPod and headset mic. (Tim from 126 , Dan from 40 , Brandon from 125, Matt from 176 , Chris and Eric from 195)
Unfortunately, I only got 5 clean recordings (2 of myself, 2 of Tim and Matt) from everything I recorded. The headset mic stopped working and I had about a gigabyte of silence.
I'm waiting on the video from Battlecry and approval of said coaches to put out some more 'inside the driver's station' videos.
Thanks again guys.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Are there any videos yet? I had a blast @ battlecry. I gained some valuable experience driving(Thanks Tim!) in our qualifying matches(#18, 26, 34) and I would just like to see how I did I know with the alliances we were with i went 2-1 with them. Any info of where they are or when then are up would be great.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

While everyone is waiting on video, here are a few to hold you over.
I secured my digital camera to the robot and took some robo-cam videos. There are two from the eighth finals and one from the quarters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A71KAt3pPKY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRr5905tYB0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoDesDJ29fw

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Thanks, Jeff, that gives a very different perspective to the game for us spectators!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Thanks all for a great time and great competition. I would especially like to thank 126 and 1519 for a being such great partners. Hope to see everyone again next year.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Heres some picture I took. Enjoy.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Not trying to be mean, but 190 was pretty terrible. Way too overcomplicated. To go from world champs to bad, gotta be a downer.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I thought it was an innovative solution to the game problem. It may or may not have been effective, but it showed some creativity. It caught my attention anyway.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

It may not have worked well, but that is not the point. Whenever my team goes to a competition, I gauge our success based almost solely on how many "oh wows" we get. I'm sure this generated many. It's quite fun being different mostly for the sake of being different.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Most teams aim to win and be competitive. Team 190 puts innovation and inspiration as our highest goal - above being competitive.

As such, this past season has been anything but a "downer". ;)

If you ever get a chance, check out 190's 2008 robot up close. Look at the infinite-turn, custom-designed slip ring, for powering three motors on the elevator. (As far as we have been able to research, there has never been an infinite-turn turret in FIRST with powered motors and sensors on the turret). Look at the minimalist sucker for picking up the trackball. Look at the "rPOD", a secondary drivetrain which allowed the robot to drive sideways.

Talk to the students on the team; they can happily explain to you everything about their robot.

Then go back and study more of Team 190's robots from season's past, and the awards we've won. Our record perfectly reflects back on our main goals; our technical and inspiration awards far outnumber our robot performance awards. ;)

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

The one thing with the design process is everybody goes into the season blind with no real idea how the game is played out outside of a cutesy animation and a stern set of rules.
We always find out is the game is often played differently from what is shown on the game animation as teams figure out strategies and "nooks and crannies" in the rules that they can exploit.
I think 190 tried to see if they could try this strategy and it just didn't work out for them. It happens to everyone.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

As a former member of 190, I can attest to this. While winning may be fun, when you're an engineer and you study it in every class and are just itching to get some real world experience with it, why not go nuts on a robot?

While I may be a huge fan of simplicity, especially in FIRST as I like keeping pit stops as short as possible, over-designing does have its merits. You learn a lot through the process, it's a good chance that everyone on the team will be exposed to atleast something new, and you'll get a lot of exposure. Team 190, year in and year out, consistently designs and implements some of the best and most innovative design concepts in this program. Between the slip ring this year, CVT's in 2002, the wonder wheels in 2001, you can't argue it.

Plus, by going in such a drastic direction as they did this year, they were playing a game. If the ruling of the GDC went one way, they could have had the greatest design and won every match. However, it went the other way and they had a robot that loved penalties as much as my car loves premium gas. It's a gamble to play that aggressively, and they know that. However, they probably had more fun in 6 weeks than most of us did.

And I'm not a betting man, but I'm pretty sure that they'll do something just as ridiculous next year...

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I pissed off enough people to get this to the top of the recent activity list!!!!

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

I think we need to remember, that at 190's first two events (BAE and SVR) their strategy was deemed legal, and they had a chance to execute it. While still being a unique way of playing the game, it was far from the greatest design ever, and definitely did not win every match.

Kudos to 190 for having the courage to go down the road less travelled. Every team has its own goals, and 190 fulfilled theirs with their 2008 robot.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

The 190 robot was one of the most talked about/discussed robots of the 2008 season. It made people think. I'm sorry I haven't gotten to see it and ask questions and learn about it.

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

Sooooo... anyone posting videos on TBA?

Re: BattleCry@WPI 9
 

There was no public feed at Battlecry 9, so this means that the video staff is the only one with a copy of the event. In the past they have posted videos, but not every year.