Behind the Design 2009
 

Just got my copy of BTD: Rack n Roll set next to Aim High. Is there any word yet on if there will be a third book released next year as well? If so, how does the submission process work?

If you haven't received your copy of the book, I got mine through Amazon. It definitely tops last years as far as graphics go. I love it!

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

While I heard conflicting reports, the best one I heard is that the publisher canceled it due to lack of profits. Which is a shame because it really got teams to strive for those design awards.

Hopefully it will return in 2009, even if it is only in an e-book or some other digital format.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Can somebody who has the book post a list of the teams who got in?

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Teams 118, 173, 375, 1086, 1985, 1987, 25, 75, 111, 148, 330, 1126, 100, 190, 234, 384, 1114, 1714, 33, 40, 386, 418, 1629, 1731, 79, 357, 1100, 1319, 1448, and 1612.

More discussion: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=64886

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

the book is definitely of better quality than last year.
I got two books via Joe Ross' suggestion and got mines last week.

There is a magnetic strip on the end which allows the book to close like tabs on the end.

I will bring a copy to CMP if anyone wants to check it out!
It will be in the pits.
Two noteable repeats: 1114 and 25.
I love that 25 robot!

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Well, I for one am a little disappointed by the editing. There are some serious factual and logical errors in the book.

It says, for instance, in our article that we chose to make our claw out of fiberglass to, "provide flexibility but avoid flexing" (p. 124). I mean seriously...

But all in all it is pretty well written, and it does a good job of explaining things to the general public. You have to be a real robotics nut to catch the little things. :)

I really liked the articles on 33, 1987, 357, 1100, and 386. That 386 robot is pretty clever.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Second time for 33 also. Haven't seen it yet, but I will be getting a copy.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

For teams that won a design award last year, did the publishers or FIRST contact you guys for a submission to the book or what?

Thanks

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Aksim, it was in the 2007 rule Book, after the awards descriptions I think. It pointed out that you had a certain amount of time to get information to them for consideration.
We started on ours at 4:00 AM the day after we were qualified for the award and it was ready to go in a couple of weeks. It took a lot of time and a lot of photos and writing but the results of the work paid off. What a great honor to be a part of such a nice publication.
Tom
Team 1987

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

I already own the 2006 copy, and I just ordered the 2007 copy today.

I think it can really help introduce new students into the concept of designing a robot.

I hope they do a 2008 one!

-Leav

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Leav,
I agree with you 100% as these are filled with a tremendous amount of technology. If the teams could read and absorb even a part of it throughout the year, it would be of great benefit when the next years' challenge rolls around.

I asked about having them included in the kit of parts but there are three issues with this.

1) Who will pay for them?

2) Who will cover the extra cost to ship them in the kit?

3) By the time you open the kit, most will not have time to use the great information contained with in them.

Let's think of a good way to get them to all teams. I'd hate for others to lose the great advantages provided by these books. I'd like teams to understand they can save enormous amount of time and effort by investing only about $26 or so in both of these. Truly, they are a wonderful publication that should be in our libraries along with our McMaster Carr and Grainger catalogs.

Tom

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

That is a very good Idea.
after the madness that is the championship I'll try to get a concentrated book order from all the Israeli teams.

Hopefully we will be able to purchase the 2008 book as well!

-Leav

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Just to add another repeat is 1629 boo ya lol :yikes:

congrats to all teams who got in! :D

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Just ordered mine today... got both the Aim High and Rack'n'Roll. Something to read on the plane to Atlanta. Maybe if we order enough they'll print some up for Overdrive.

Just our luck to win Creativity in '05 and Industrial Design in '08 and not have a chance to try and get in to one of these books! Sigh.

Oh, by the way... Canadian teams might want to know that both books are available through Chapters.ca and Amazon.ca... but Chapters claims to have them in stock for immediate delivery, and also has some in the "rare and used" category for as little as $20. Finally we can order something FIRST related without paying brokerage fees!

Jason

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

IF you are going to Atlanta, they usually sell the book in the FIRST store adjacent to the pits.... and last year we got the authors [who were wandering around the pits] to autograph our team's pages in the book.....

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

As a contributing-team mentor, I recently placed a bulk book order for our team members, and other outreach activities (eg: donating books to local libraries).

I was told by the publishers that the book is currently "out of stock", with no immediate indication on when/whether more will be made available.

Huh???

Hopefully this just means that they have fully committed the first print run to Amazone or someone..., or have them all allocated for Nationals.

It would be awsome if demand is already high enough to warrent an immediate reprint.

Hopefully this no NOT an example of skimping because demand was anticipated to be low...... This is a MUST HAVE for any rookie team to see what krazy ideas are out there each year.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Having worked with Rockport Publishing over the last two years on the project with Stephanie, I would like to share my understanding of the current edition of the book.

I'm really proud of both books, and especially so with the last one where Rockport produced a high quality publication. Stephanie and I greatly appreciated receiving the material from the teams that made these books possible. It was always hard to "not select" each team that submitted the information knowing how hard they worked to assemble the documentation.

As for the status of the project, sales of the first book were not strong, but Rockport went forward with the second book since they said they would. So the bottom line is that there will not be a third book.

Given the strong sales of the second book (as noted by the publisher's "sold out" messages to teams that placed bulk orders and the fluctuating amazon rating) the decision to stop at two books is very unfortunate.

With regards to the "sold out" messages, Rockport is looking at the situation and seeing what can be done. I am optimistic that they will find a way to take care of the teams that contributed to make the book possible. I suspect some developments on the situation will take place early next week & I will share them on this post as soon as I find out.

Thanks to all for your support and help with this project - Vince

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

OK, Nationals are over and the FIRST store is closed....

Do we know the status of existing contributor book orders?

Phil.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Try your local bookstore. I know Borders carries the book of course with all technical items it's hit or miss. I did find it in the COOP at Harvard.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Since our team was a contributor to the book, we have placed an order for 20copies with the publisher. At the time it wasn't clear whther these orders would be filled.

So the sooner I know if order will not be filled, the sooner I can start collecting the books in dribs and drabs at bookstores etc.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

The publisher did indicate that the needed books for the teams would be located and sent. I am trying to schedule a call with them to relay additional details and will make a post when those come in. It was great to see so many folks at the Championship that helped with this project.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

does anyone know if there will be a 2008 book? I would love to try and get our drive train in there!!

I wish I had a copy of the other years, but it sounds like an awesome book

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

If there was going to be a 2008 book, they'd have put that in the manual. It seems there won't be.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

that sucks... oh well NEXT YEAR!!!

cause our drive system rocks, and I want it to be popular!! :D:D:D

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Write a whitepaper (with lots of pictures please). It's effectively the same thing, but without the factual errors introduced by third-party writers (I'm not complaining about the quality of the writing in the books, there are just a few errors that a team probably would pick up on).

In fact, if everyone did that, we could have an online version of that book created directly by the FIRST community. Given a nearly unlimited medium (no printing to worry about) there could be write-ups on many more robots including the ones that performed not-so-well and the lessons learned from those problems (which I imagine would be just as valuable to new teams as reading about amazingly functional machines). A web-based medium also gives additional options not available in print such as Flickr-style notes on parts of images, and animations.

If people are willing to write up entries on their robots for an online Behind the Design "book", I would be willing to create the website for it (after AP exams though). I imagine it would need some kind of editorial process, but it should be pretty easy to set up such a website, there just need to be enough entries to make it useful.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

What could also be interesting is if we as a community take it into a self publishing realm to document each year. One interesting concept that a book did to choose the chapters is to put 10 or so chapters up for vote at a time, with the highest vote getters being published. This of course, is probably far too much work, but it is a fun idea.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Any update on this question?

I need to know if I need to give money back to those who ordered as part of the bulk deal.

Amazon has them in stock today .....

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

The publisher told us today that they would be able to fill all backorders starting May 19.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

Buy it now...

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/...+desi gn%2527

Jason

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...ST&x=8 8&y=24

I've used ABE over the years for hard to get books.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

We just received our entire order that we made through the publisher's deal. Hopefully everyone else was able to get theirs.

Re: Behind the Design 2009
 

I should be getting my copy of both books tomorrow, got them both for $44.77 including taxes from amazon.ca. It would be a good book for which ever team i'm helping out next year.