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Unread 06-12-2010, 17:40
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Murphy was an Optimist!
AKA: Mannie Lowe
no team (They're all my teams)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Oxford, MS
Posts: 178
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Re: [FTC]: Samantha? Like it or hate it?

I just want to make some suggestions about the previous post:

Quote:
Originally Posted by JesseK View Post
1.) The FTC organizers need to send out something official to all of the teams in TIMS about best practices in mounting the modules. Go to an FTC event and ask around about ChiefDelphi ... very few (rarely ever a first-year team) have heard of the website.
I beg to differ. FTC has sent out something official. Read all of the Team Email blasts that have been sent. The blast on 11/18 had a link for a white paper with a diagram of how best to mount the Samantha module. You can find the email blasts here: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr....aspx?id=18132
Quote:
Originally Posted by JesseK View Post
2.) Telling students their battery voltage dipped during the match (which is why the module dropped out), yet not allowing the students to see how bad the drop was (length of time, amount) in order to determine whether or not to return a brand new 13.7V battery back to the mfr. is not the way an FTA MVP should treat people he wants to sustain within his program long term
3.) If we're expected to have proper battery voltage meters, SEND IT OUT IN AN OFFICIAL UPDATE. As 'smart' as the mentors are, we are incredibly dumb about the many things we can't even fathom postulating, let alone knowing we need the something. (The flip side it true as well)
I won't comment on what the FTA told you at your event, however you don't need a voltage meter at a competition. Your NXT will tell you what your battery levels are and so will the FCS if you are running it with the FTC_PIT configuration. If your NXT is >7.5 volts, then you're good. Anything less than 7.0 volts will probably not work well. For your TETRIX battery, anything greater than 11.0 volts is good and < 9.0 volts will not run. The FCS will light with Red, Yellow, and Green in the team box for these conditions. This is documented in the FCS manual.

I won't comment on the 4th item. Just pointing out the facts. The key for all the mentors and teams out there - READ EVERYTHING THAT YOU GET. It's important information and will help you be better prepared for your next event.

Good luck teams!
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Mannie Lowe
FIRST Program Manager - Center for Mathematics and Science Education - University of Mississippi
Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Affiliate Partner


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