Re: Tank Track
 

Awesome, thanks Blake, we'll keep that in mind
Phr34kR is your team attending the unofficial in early March?

Re: Tank Track
 

The unofficial? We are competing in the three day championship at Massey if that is what you are talking about (would be a pity if we stopped now :P )

But TBH i don't really mind if we don't qualify to go to Dallas and compete in the regional because i am amazed how well our team has done. VEX has taught me a lot about the robots both at what does work and about what doesn't ....(that is why i have my hammer)

Also the teams that go to the US to compete seem to miss the first week of build for FRC and i cant wait for that i have so many ideas already and i really want to spend the entire six weeks on the robot especially as if we do make it to America i am guaranteed to be one of the 5 students going but seeing as i handle 90% of the build and designing i don't know what will happen in that first week also does anyone know if we can start gathering materials/ ordering in parts from America (as long as we don't start assembling them of course)

Re: Tank Track
 

No, there's an Unofficial VEX in early March, but apparently its only a couple of schools doing it and isn't going to be run in proper competition style.
(i think its a session to plot how to overthrow you guys from first place :p)

You guys have definitely done amazing, yes, i admit. we were happy to just make semis XD
hope we can play with or against you at the qualifying VEX :D i'll be on the lookout

do they really?? i didnt realise that. i suppose that's fair enough then. you could always say you don't want to go, and have the robot built before they leave?
I must say though, i would miss a week of build for it as it may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance. personal preference ;)

i'm not certain but you probably could, i suppose. although they might prefer you wait until the U.S. build season ends

Re: Tank Track
 

Ah yes i heard about that run by Rangitoto?
I am waiting for conformation of the date but we wont release our really good ideas until the official one, we have been holding back a little on the designs.

We may win but by no means do our robots work perfectly if i sent the robot away with them it would brake in ten minutes... especially if the programmer got his hands on it.... also i would love to go to the competition in the US im just saying if i didn't make it, it wouldn't be so bad.

Also if any teams in NZ want any advise or explanations on how to get something to work or an explanation of why we did certain things on our robot just come and talk to us. My name is Tim and is the name on my shirt (teacher wouldnt allow Phr34kr to be put on it :()

Re: Tank Track
 

Yes, I believe so
we were told March 9th i'm pretty certain but i can ask my head mentor if you want me to
Sounds about right =] we still have a few tricks up our sleeves, hopefully they'll be good enough that we'll catch up to you :p

Well, thats true. Murphy's Law seems to govern these competitions.
Yeah it would be a great opportunity, but as you said, it wouldn't be the end of the world not to.
I still have 3 more years of High School to get there anyway =]

Great, might take you up on that next competition. Aw how come? :p we don't have names on our shirts at all though.

Re: Tank Track
 

The 9th? Actually now i think i might prefer if we didn't compete, if we competed on the 9th that only leaves me 10 days to rebuild both robots which to me doesn't seem like much time especially for what i have to do to them. Well now I'm hoping for our teacher to let us skip that competition and just make sure we are 100% ready for the official one although i would probably still go to the one on the 9th to see what people are doing.

BTW for NZ teams that want robot batteries you might want to check out trade me. I think as long as they are 7.2V 2000mAh batteries you can use them for VEX (mkae sure oyu check the rules to know for sure though) http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics...-196884284.htm

Re: Tank Track
 

Current rules for the "official" vex Elevation competitions require Vex "brand" batteries (see rule R5), but buying a few of some other type can be a good idea for everyday use during construction and exhibitions.

Blake

Re: Tank Track
 

Okay i just got confused about section R5 C which states

"c. Any parts which are identical to legal VEX parts may be used."

This seems contradictory to the other rule which says you have to use 7.2V VEX batteries but im not sure if the intent of that is to dictate how many batteries you can use on your robot?

Re: Tank Track
 

fair enough about not wanting to do the 9th, i think we're using the same robots for both, just with alterations
:O you're going to spy on us?! :p so ungraciousprofessionalismistic of you (fully kidding)

at this stage i have no idea what to do about batteries as we have just found about NZ$710 worth of other parts we need to buy :yikes:

yes, the phrasing of the rule is kinda weird. maybe you should contact VEX directly? or go through the VEX forums where the officials look

Re: Tank Track
 

This "What does 'identical' mean and what parts does it apply to?" topic has been an area of perennial confusion - I recommend searching the official VRC Elevation Q&A, and if you don't see a good answer, then post the question.

Maybe I'll get a chance to influence how next year's R5c gets written.

Blake

Re: Tank Track
 

Here's what you need to do if you want to use other batteries than the ones VEX sells. Have your mentor email IFI, they should have an email address, and ask if it would be okay if they purchased a 7.2volt and/or 9.6volt battery from a local retailer. I expect they would say okay since they understand it is expensive to ship overseas.

Re: Tank Track
 

good idea :) i'll get onto that for my team

EDIT:
i believe <R5> c. refers more to Axles, Collars, Screws, things like that

Re: Tank Track
 

Heres a link to a newspaper article about the last New Zealand Vex training competion we had.

http://www.times.co.nz/cms/news/educ..._at_school.php

I tried Pm'ng this to one of the NZ team members but it dosen't appear to have got there so I thought I would post it here.:confused:

Re: Tank Track
 

I think Massey will be running a few pre-regional training competitions. I'll try and find out the dates.

On the battery situation be sure if you are hoping to use non Vex ones that where you buy them from can supply a receipt for documentation.

Skipping a competition may give you more time but personally going to Regionals without giving our final robot a work out would worry me.

Also if things go wrong you can practice fixing them without the possibilty of being penalised for missing a match due to repairs. You can also give other team members responsibilty for maintaining the robot. This will be important if your team wins the regional and you decide not to go to the States.

Yes it does give us other teams a chance to scout your robot though:]

Re: Tank Track
 

Me? :p i got it and replied but just found out my reply didn't go through. have just sent one, so hopefully you will either get it or both, haha

i agree about the whole trial-the-robot thing
after our experiences last time, with Philup's top motor popping out in the middle of three of the five qualifying rounds, we would like to assure that wont happen next time :p
fortunately he was fixed eventually by adding more cable ties :D but hopefully our current build project will go better