Re: Advice from a grumpy old man :)
 

At least they seem to be helpful grumpy old men. ;)

A lot of the things we've been listing here are the little things that can really make life miserable or good, depending on if you follow them. I've been going to events since 1999 (this year will be the first since then that I don't make a single event), competed 2003-2008, and inspected 2009-2010 (and volunteered a time or two while competing). That's a lot of time that you can notice things that can help/hurt you, and make the events run better.

A few more:

Saving seats. This is the #1 most overlooked rule in the book. If it's #2, then banners in the competition area is #1. The rulebook says, don't do it. Common practice is to sort of block out a set of seats for a team. As a general thing, blocking out a set of seats won't be criticized too much, if it's reasonable. 3 people holding 3-4 rows doesn't fall into the "reasonable" category, BTW. 3 people holding one row, probably OK. Oh, and placards on the seats? Also not a good idea.

If you are saving a large block with a few people, don't chase out random other people who want to sit there when the main body isn't there. Who knows, it might be your next sponsor or student or FLL/FTC/VRC team founder. Just let them know that there will be a lot of people around them for short periods and invite them to be part of your team while they're at the event. "Adopt" them, if you will.

Pit Size: Minimum 8' by 8'. Typical 10' by 10'. I've seen them as large as 10' by 15'. 10' ceiling any way you look at it, though. Please do not expand. Your pit neighbors will thank you. OTOH, if somebody needs help, feel free to move large amounts of items from your pit to theirs to help them (just stay inside their pit area) and move them back when you're done.

Oh, and while I'm on the topic of the pits: When you are done for the day, stow everything and leave. The volunteers want to do the same. They aren't chasing you out because you're staying too long, they're chasing you out because they want to get home!

Spare Parts: There is a Spare Parts area. However, it most likely does not have your 1/4-50 screw and matching nut. Same for your raw polycarb, your IFI wheel, and/or that extra-long piece of allthread that is your main minibot structure. It will have KOP parts, and KOP parts only. It won't have all of them. Bring your own KOP and any spares for your robot.

I don't know if they still do this, but back when I competed, if you needed a loaner control system item part, you needed an adult with a credit card and tech support clearance. No charge if you returned it... but billed for the cost if you didn't (not to mention the aggravation from the later events because the early events forgot to return everything).

Laptops/electronics/stuff you don't want to lose: Keep it with you, or with the team, in a designated area. Under the pit table is often a decent repository, or on/under your chair in the stands. Not everyone is going to be honest; that's reality.

Venue personnel: Be gracious to them. Even saying hello may be more than they hear from other events' attendees. Explaining the game to them so they can understand what's going on when they get a glimpse of it, even more so.

Saturday and Eliminations, Backstage: If you're a top 10 team in ranking around midmorning Saturday, take your robot over to the inspectors for an eliminations inspection. It can't hurt you to get reinspected; go right after one of your matches if you can. There won't be a line. By noon, the inspectors will have about 28 teams they need to inspect. That's 24 eliminations teams, and 1-8 backups (most events will grab about 2-4). I was on a crew last year that was told not to worry about finals inspections due to the small size of the crew--we followed this pattern, and were already done when that message came through.

Speaking of backup teams, don't pack up until you're cleared to, if you're a backup (and you'll know if you are a backup--an inspector will pay you a visit to get you over to size/weight). You never know when an alliance needs a third functioning robot in 30 seconds, and if you're at the top of the list, you need to be going quickly. A team packed up in Arizona last year. They were #1 on the backup list... and we couldn't find them. The #2 got their spot, and a silver medal. And sometimes, multiple backups are needed.

But once you're cleared to pack up or if you're not a backup, don't dilly-dally too much. Send a small crew to pack up during eliminations, and finish the job with a larger one before or after. Then after the event is over, see if the FTA needs help packing, if you're done with your pit and have time to stick around for an hour or so. It's kind of fun to put the field away ready for the trip to the next regional. It also makes their job easier if there are more hands rolling carpet for some local team's practice facility (that's where the event carpet should end up, not the dumpster) or loading carts full of scoring grids or dropping the alliance stations.

Re: Advice from a grumpy old man :)
 

And just to add to this, no flashing cone lights at the front corners of your pit. Yes, we know it's your pit, and yes, we know to be safe. But when the programmer across the aisle is fixing code and your flashy lights are right above above the laptop screen... it is a bit unsafe.

Re: Advice from a grumpy old man :)
 

Let me put my $.02 in. All the previous suggestions are a must read by ALL teams.
I have a few more.

1) On your robot, make sure the wire sizes are correct and you are using the proper breaker for that wire size.

2) Make sure you have the correct COLOR wires. At Championship last year a team had used all red wire for their wiring.

3) When placing your robot on the field, wait until the previous game robots are OFF the field.

4) The manual says 3/4" plywood for the bumpers. This means use 3/4" plywood. At Championship a team had to rebuild their bumpers because they used 1/2" plywood.

Re: Advice from a grumpy old man :)
 

I'm a grumpy old man also so I guess I can post to this thread. Every team should take time to say thank you to :
Field Supervisor, Field Technical Advisor (FTA), Field Technical Advisor Assistant (FTAA), , Game Announcer ,Head Referee, Judge Advisor, Lead Robot Inspector, Lead Safety Advisor, Lead , Safety Glass Advisor, Lead Team Queuer, Master of Ceremonies, Pit Administration Supervisor, Registration System Supervisor’ Scorekeeper, Volunteer Coordinator, Regional Planning Committee members and anybody else that I have not mentioned.
Without these people you would not have the FIRST experience. They spend countless hours planning and organizing your event and sometimes a thank you is all they need.

Re: Advice from a grumpy old man :)
 

I'm not quite sure if I can add anything to this thread because it contains so much great advice.

I guess the only thing I can suggest is to make sure your entire team knows where the cleaner bathrooms and good water fountains are. As a student this is the first thing I would want to know when spending ~12 hours somewhere.

Re: Advice from a grumpy old man :)
 

Speaking of bathrooms... they are not a place to hang out or to be ugly in. Over the years, on regional level and Championship level, I have witnessed some terrible behaviors from students and from adults. Anger, frustration, and tiredness can make bathrooms a place for venting and worse. Be careful with that.

Be careful with your conduct in the hotels and restaurants, too. They have the right to kick your team out and they do. They also have the right to let you know that your return will not be welcome and they have no problem letting you know that.

At the same time, it is very possible that you will receive compliments from the hotel management, the restaurant servers and/or manager, your bus drivers, and event staff and teams in the venue where you are competing - by how you conduct yourself as an individual and as a team.

I have been awed by the compliments that we've received in our travels; sometimes, they come from out of the blue, or so it seems. I have also be awed and impressed by the compliments and praise that teams I am visiting with, receive. 1902 is a real trip on many levels. They have restaurants, hotels, and venues inviting them back, and looking forward to their return, year after year, because of how fun they are and how respectful they are. It's no small thing.

Jane

Re: Advice from a grumpy old man :)
 

We got a nice letter from the hotel we stayed at in Atlanta one year.

Another helpful hint:

5) Crio's, Speed Controls, Spike Relays, well heck, any electronic device does NOT like the taste of metal shavings and they will let you know this when they let the magic smoke out. 99.99% of the time you can't put the smoke back. Be very careful when drilling or cutting on you robot.