[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Phil Paspalas

WARNING: This is a head coach venting!

It's Sunday at the beginning of week 6, 11am. 14" of the white stuff is on the ground and still falling! 2nd year in FIRST and the robot still isn't finshed. Chassis, done! Electrical panels mocked up but not fabricated in polycarbonate yet. Shooter, done. Tilt and swivel assembly for shooter about 65% done. Ball collector/conveyor, about 50%. Ball hopper, less than that. Crate, not built yet! Like last year, we have a great design, but because we try to stick with the philosophy "student designed, student built", things just take a long time. Programming, 85% done. We are submitting an Inventor design for the 1st time along with a 3ds Max animation. Animation, done; Inventor submission, not yet. Website, done and being updated daily! Chaimans award submission, in progress; Woodie Flowers Award, the same. We are doing outreach to a team in a local urban area. 2 of 3 engineer/mentors are currently out of the country. 2 of our teacher/advisors are inactive because of work/family obligations. I guess we bit off more than we could chew, again! We'll get it all done, but...I just wish we could figure this out.

Phil Paspalas
Head Coach - Team 1676
The Pascack Pioneers
2005 NJ Rookie All-Stars
Runner-up: Montclair Mayhem
Champions: Ramp Riot (Thanks 25!)

FIRST is an eternal learning process. No one ever "get's it right" because the challanges change every year. Just be ready to roll with the punches and deal with what comes your way.
From the sound of things you guys will be fine. So relax.