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organization!
One of the things every team should have is a small, organized toolbox which can be carried onto the floor. If you get to the finals the rounds come quick and frantic so you have no time to go to the pits and find your tools.
We try to standardize as much of the hardware as possible. Parts which wear out easily are replicated and kept in the carry out box. Wire and zip ties too. Rember extra chain master links if you use chains. We use a tote tray with small drawers below- the tray holds 2 batteries as well and we have one person assigned to keep the tray handy and the batteries fresh.
We have also begun to add an extra spike relay and speed controller into our bank on the robot itself. If one blows at a critical time it is a simple thing to switch the leads and get back into play. One of the worst experiences we had in 2000 was blowing a spike relay in the finals at Epcot and frantically navigating the crowd to the pit for one. Delphi jumped in and gave us one and we are really thankful for that.
Also- mark your tools well because there tends to be a lot of loaning of stuff around the pits and some may never return. Not deliberate pilfering (I hope) but in the mess all tools look alike!
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