Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Indeed. It was interesting and all for a bit, but the horn got annoying. Also, It ran into me when i was walking to the field once. It didn't really hurt or anything, but it was annoying.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Of course it's a real robot, but it wasn't a competition robot. If it had been broken by the wrapping, nothing would have come of it except taking it back to the shop on Monday and fixing it. If messing with a competition robot breaks it, it could put the team out of the game.

I was on the field so I didn't get the full effect of the roving barrel. I do remember thinking once or twice, "There's that horn again, it's kinda annoying." If it had been going off a lot in the pit area and commons, "kinda" would have escalated to "extremely".

It's a cute idea that has its uses. Sounds like some people thought it was taken too far.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Poor Albert seems to be getting bashed as well as saran wrapped.

I'd hate to see such a fun idea go down the tubes.

Could 2 Alberts be sectioned off in an area of unused hallway (or outside) and have races as a fundraiser? People who want to race pay a small fee to do so? Monies go to charity? Children of all ages have a blast?

Just a thought.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Out of curiosity, did anyone once ever ask the people driving it if they could avoid an area, or if it was really becoming as much of a problem as what you say (I'll take your word for it), did you ever consider to ask them to turn it off for a while?

It's one thing to completely bash it after the fact, but if it was becoming such a problem in all of your eye's, then why did no one do anything about it? You can't expect a situation to get better if you don't make an attempt to confront it.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

That instantly reminds me of the commercial on TV where 4 girls are standing in a ladies room complaining about how so much water is being wasted from the faucet running, & they all are talking & agreeing that someone should do something about it, but none of them do until a 5th woman finally comes over who heard them talking, & shuts it off.

And then the orginal 4 all walk away (sheepishly) because someone finally "stepped up" & took care of the problem, while the girl who shut it off just smiles.

Then there is some kind of tag line about taking action to solve a problem, & not just talking about it or something.

I know that's a little off tangent, but when I read your reply, I thought of that & thought it was relative.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Maybe FIRST should include a road barrel in the 2009 kit of parts, and require teams to use it as their robot's outer shell? That could be an interesting alternative to the standard bumpers we have been required to use recently. :]

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Living in Texas as I do, with rodeos around in the springtime, barrel racing takes on an exciting and adrenaline-pumped meaning. However, traffic barrel driving/racing/competing in FIRST reminds me of one of the clown acts in a circus when I think about it. Especially with the horns. That would be a great act for sure. A mime clown with an Albert the Road Barrel or 2 would be hysterical.

Richard, I know you are making a tongue-in-cheek remark, btw.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Living in Michigan I get my fill of traffic barrels every summer. I believe someone nominated them as the state tree. Winter seems to be the only time that the barrels actually come down. If FIRST turned into a traffic jam of Orange barrels I would probably go nuts.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

What do you think those horses would do if one of the barrels suddenly started moving and honked? :eek:

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

I showed the pic of Albert to some folks I know in the business... they loved it.
How long would it take to have 450 units ready to ship and how much per unit?

Albert could be the next best thing to work zone safety since the arrow board.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Are you kidding me. i mean 450 this isnt a buisness that im running i just built a little well, a big toy. I had actually never thought about making them but they would be kinda cool. i would have to change the design a little to make it cheaper. and id have to price it all out and check it out. they wouldnt be to cheap though. id look into it if there is actually intrest though

Ben

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Yet, there always do seem to be one or two floating around, even in sub-zero temperatures and several inches of snow. Seeing hundreds of orange barrels in the WINTER would be enough to drive me straight into an asylum :ahh:

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

DQ for the guilty barrel. :)
--
In bullriding, the rodeo clowns use barrels (not cones/traffic barrels) for protection and distraction. I've seen some amazing work and have a very high regard/respect for those clowns. They know what they are doing.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Spook. If that scares humans, then a horse will REALLY be scared. And if anyone's on that horse, they're coming off, most likely, when the horse spooks.[/offtopic]

On topic (somewhat): I'm inclined to agree with the definition of prank earlier in the thread. I was pranked today at work (it's a fun-loving place) by one of the other workers.

Re: pic: IRI Prank #1
 

Oh this poor traffic barrel...

It was a really clever idea to have something like this driving around. We had the idea of making a grill drive around for our town's 4th of July parade., but... it just never happened.

However, I think it hung around in the most congested spot in the entire building: the pit entrance, a bit too much. I saw it run into many people and the honking... oh the honking...

It was the perfect robot to pick up and run away with. It wasn't a competition robot, it was sturdy, members of 1024 were good sports about it, and everyone else who saw the poor robot wrapped to the bench highly approved.

However, in hindsight, it probably wasn't a good idea to carry the bench to 1024's pit as that was near a high traffic area, as well...