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Five weeks instead of six??
My coach said that build season next year will only be five weeks instead of six weeks. Do you think that will have an impact on the quality of the robots in next years game? Personally, I do not think that one less week will make that much of a problem as people think it will be (this is coming from reactions I have personally seen). What does everyone else think?
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Re: Five weeks instead of six??
"Word is" usually mean it's an unsubstantiated rumor.
I don't think teams will have time to perfect their bots with iterative designs, which may lead to more frustration in the veteran teams that are used to it. Once less week would, imo, also bring a huge time crunch on the logistics of acquiring parts, lead time for maching, welding, powder coating, etc. |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
they wont make it less than 6 weeks. if they do Ill eat a pig . . snout to hoof .
all off this speculation is comming from a posted day on the georga dome's website, and the location of the first saturday of 2010. some how people add up all the regional weeks and the spaces between championship and build season Some one then came up as 5 for the magic number of the build. . . FIRST will skim from the in between regional/championship weeks before they shorten a build season ( if im wrong see the previous pig statement) |
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Re: Five weeks instead of six??
I would ask your coach where he got this information. FIRST has not made any official announcements on the subject.
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GDC if for no other reason than this don't make the build season 5 weeks! Also, unsubstantiated rumor is unsubstantiated. :) Would it be cool to change things up? Sure, would it be practical? Not really, all it would mean would be I am getting sick in 5 weeks instead of 6, not MUCH of a difference. |
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With the withholding allowance this past year build season never ended for some anyway, so who knows if it would really even matter. Speculation is a funny thing and is rarely worth our time, but I must admit the snout to hoof challenge has me interested. OINK, OINK, BURP?
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Re: Five weeks instead of six??
One thing to think about when listening to and contributing to rumors, is to consider those who are impacted by them in really awful ways. Teams in Brazil and England, just to name a couple of areas where FRC teams are located, have a difficult enough time as it is without talk of shortening the 6 weeks build. Teams who have the luxury of attending kickoffs and picking up their KoPs at the site location to begin planning and building immediately, may just take that capability for granted. Teams in remote locations do not always have that opportunity and have to work within the constraints that are created by their shortened build time. I would wager that if the build time of 6 weeks were shortened any further, these teams would be further pressed for time in ways many teams have not experienced and don't even think about. Not fun.
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Re: Five weeks instead of six??
Form what I heard, from my coach and other, is that build season will be five weeks instead of six. I heard it was because of the positioning of Kick-off, that kickoff may have to be pushed back a week, shortening build season. I'm not saying that this rumor is true, i am just curious about what the results could be if this rumor is true.
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Second free advice is to wait until November to start the silly bets. I'd suggest the summer to hone your CAD skills, September for programming and then use October for working on welding and machining techniques. November for snouts. Oh yea, baked vs. fried if you have a choice. |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
omg...
I can't see any reason for this!!! I think that if the FIRST reduces the season time to five weeks, teams of other countries won't participate. Every year, we always work with just 4 weeks, because in the first week we don't have de KoP and the last week is reserved for export of the robot to USA. So I really can't imagine how build a robot in just three weeks. Whatever... |
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The effects of less than 6 weeks may not be cool for foreign teams. But if it was just a fun way of limiting our time even more, I'd say bring it.:) (Only for the US though maybe? I'd like to see it happen). By the way...I love the punny mentors on CD. |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
Personally, IF (and I emphasize if) the build time is reduced to 5 weeks I would like to know with enough lead time to decide weather or not I would pay the entry fee or have an option to opt out if it is later.
The six week build time puts a large strain on my students to build the robot and keep up grades (no pass - no play). I fear that a shorter build time might encourage them to put their attention on activities that would seriously jeopardize their studies. At this point though, it is all conjecture and we will need to wait for official word if and when there will be a change. |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
Not happening. I wouldn't even entertain the thought of it.
It's been 6 weeks forever. Not gonna change now. |
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Just because kick-off is being moved back a week doesn't mean we're losing a week. The whole season is being shift back. Kick-off is a week later, ship day is a week later. There is nothing to worry about.
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The best/worst part is, you could potentially get all of February break for robot building/testing and ship the following Tuesday! Of course, your technical mentors will be working for the most part (unless they get federal holidays off), but teachers/self employed mentors might be willing to lend a hand. The bad part is, you may find yourself locked out of your workshop for a week (if your school shuts down for the week), which would be a very bad thing indeed. |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
Wait until the regional dates come out. That will be a good thing to judge if there will be a change to the build season length. I would not foresee any change to the build length.
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If we only get 5/6 the time, do we only get 5/6 the bill? I'm just thinking if I get one less week of fun, I want a discount.
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I predict these are the most accurate posts here. And I'll add, that if anything were to shift, I predict the break between the end of build & start of regional events would be shortened to fit the "ideal" situation you speak of with the start of build being "pushed back" in 2010. |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
Somehow, I don't think that we're only going to have a five week build season next year. Like Elgin said, the timing for the rest of the season will most likely be adapted to fit with the slightly later Kickoff. And if it is shorter for some reason... that's just one more challenge everyone will adapt to!
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Also, removing the Time Constraint makes it less challenging. you don't learn the time planning skills you do with our limited time. |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
I would be fine with 5 weeks, Bring it on! I look at it as more of a challenge and it would it makes people push themselves even more.
I suspect that the change would not be as drastic as people think. It would just be a call to work more efficiently. Seriously folks I would bet that most teams have at least 3-4 "wasted" meetings where nothing gets done. Give us 5 weeks and we don't have that luxury. I fully support the change, bring it on! The 40lb allowance makes this even easier as you can keep working on 1/3 of your robot until the event. |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
I think a 5 week period would be a challenge for sure and I would think it would be a fun challenge given the game we have to build for is easy and simple enough to counteract the one less week.
But the game is never easy, never simple...and I'm quite sure in retrospect it wouldn't be fun. What would be fun is giving us an extra week and ask to build two robots. |
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I recall previous years where we've missed at least a week or more of meetings around the middle of build without access to the shop (really busy would-be productive times). I can't imagine having that happen & be cut from 6 weeks (current time) to 5 in past years because of that, and now to 4 if that were to happen during a 5-week schedule. :ahh: |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
I'll admit that I heard this rumor as well. The source explained it was due to kickoff being delayed AND some week regionals having dates already contracted. Since then I've heard from the same source that the shorter schedule is no longer going to happen.
I agree with those here that have already stated, wait for the official calendar. No use worrying about it until then. |
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I've determined that the only thing rumors are good for is putting your knickers in a twist.
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We only have about elevendy-billion weeks before kick off...:) |
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What ever happened the pushing the limits folks? If it is a true rumor, I'd love for it to be true. Bring it. |
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(not being sarcastic) |
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And in my defense Jane, I do NOT turn into an Eeyore! I am naturally that way. (Im assuming you meant that one way, if I am WAY off target here disregard the above comment) |
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I would hate if the build season became any shorter. My team is unorganized as it is, we have not finished a robot before ship since at least 2005, maybe earlier. Any shorter of a build period would pretty much destroy our chances.
I know of course the easy solution is to organize my team more, but that's a far more difficult task than one would think and I have yet to do. |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
Of course, if we tell the manufacturing group that it's only five weeks, the programmers get a whole week to work on the robot! :)
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Re: Five weeks instead of six??
I would have to purchase a new domain. :ahh:
I already have http://thesixweeks.com/ |
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2) Show up Thursday Morning 3) Look at how many teams are still working on their bot to make it functional/add functionality 4) multiply that by 10 and you'll have the effects of a 5 week build season. |
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My point was, that if you are consistently not meeting deadlines you need to change something. |
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It's simply not going to happen, can't we panic over something more reasonable, like swine-flu?
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Swine flu!
Oh no! Everywhere we go! Contagious! Outrageous! Oinkoinkoinkoinkoinkoinkoinkoink... (There are now cases a block away from me...scary) In all seriousness, I can't see them cutting Build season short, it's not something they'd do. I hope. |
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And no, we didn't time travel. |
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How many adjustments have to be made on a typical top-notch robot? 4? 5? Lost count? I'd argue that if you aren't making small tweaks, even in programming, you a) missed one or b) you don't know how to improve your robot. Also, note when metal was cut. Week 5, right at the start. Also note the end results of that particular robot. And one adjustment was a simple replacement; the panel took a hard hit from a team that made it their business to try to stop us (emphasis on try). Not bad for a 2-week robot... |
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I believe that the confusion here is a result of a change in the regional weekends. From what I have gleaned from CD... there will only be 5 regional weekends in the coming season NOT 6 as we have had for a few years.
This is where the 5 weeks thing is generated I believe. Mark McCleod from team 358 stated: "I heard through official channels that kickoff is January 9, and the first week regionals are planned for March 4-6. SBPLI will be a 4th week Regional in 2010. 6 weeks of build would probably put ship date at February 23 if FIRST decides to follow the normal pattern. Seems like it'll be a typical season." and in another McLeod post: "I've heard officially that there will be 5 weeks of regionals/districts/other events in 2010, so with the first week March 4-6, the last week will be the weekend of April 3. So Minnesota will probably tie everything up. Of course until venue contracts are all signed FIRST cannot make Regional date announcements, and reserve to themselves the right to make necessary adjustments.... This, along with a quick check of the GWCC bookings showing:: 04/14/10 - 04/17/10 FIRST (the Championships) would indicate that the competition season will be 5 weeks, Kickoff on January 9th... Robot Ship...February 23rd. How the regionals will shake out is anyone's guess. so 6 week build.... 5 week competitive season... |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
I know this is rumor that turns out to be unfounded but the more I read about all of the teams worrying the more I wanna say bring it on. We could all use a new kind of challenge. It can be done, and with even more pressure it would be even more intense and exciting.
Besides, for most teams (not us, we don't really have a very modular design ever) build season doesn't really end. You get to keep working on your robot as long as it's under 40 pounds and you can attach it in a day. |
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Maybe 2011 will be better;) |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
. . . good.
although I must admit I was starting to look forward to the pig thing. hickory smoked for no less than 3 days, with a nice vinegar BBQ sauce . . . . |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
I dont think that this is true, but i think one week will make a HUGE difference, It may not stop people from making complicated robots but there will be alot more robots crated or bagged unfinished.
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Re: Five weeks instead of six??
According to the 2010 Calendar of Important Deadlines, the deadline for Chairman's and WFA submissions (plus website) is Feb 18, five days before the robot shipping deadline.
We don't usually put the "skins" on our robot until just before shipment to protect the vinyl labels, etc. So, 2010 is effectively a five-week build season. Of course, the software team and drivers always want it that way anyway! |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
How about starting build season the day after Labor Day in September? How would that change the process? What different kinds of lessons could students learn from a five month build season?
(Let's simplify things: I already know that this is not "the way things have always been done." :) ) |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
I don't think so... if this could happen it will be a giant impact on brazillian teams...
Sloteera said, we have just 4 weeks to work on robot, omg, in 3 weeks made this robot?!?!?!?!? if this is true, maybe, we won't sleep during the season hahahahahha.... |
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I know what I'm talking about here, because I'm in a college design competition. Sometime in late August/early September (usually), the rules are released. Now, the general idea stays the same, but the way to get there changes, something on the order of "thou shalt use a lift" or "thou shalt use a 6WD drop-center drive". Competitions are in early March or April. Guess when my team finishes their planes, even with all that time? I believe this is due to one of the rules of thumb, "Work expands to fill the time allotted." |
Re: Five weeks instead of six??
There are other robotics competition schedules to consider. LASA Robotics competes in BEST during the fall and the competition demands the team's full attention and commitment.
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Re: Five weeks instead of six??
Originally, the build was scheduled for 5 weeks - that was at the end of this seasons build (I'm on the NJ planning commitee and was told this). However, it has been changed back to 6 weeks.
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