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Another idea looking for comments

Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 3/10/99 7:34 PM MST



I have been kicking around an idea for a couple of years now that I think would improve everyone's robots and specifically give rookies a jump-start.

The management of the proposal has always been one major drawback, but with the capabilities of our new website, I think that we are in a position to deal with it.

So, here is the idea, please offer opinions and suggestions.

I propose that teams identify features of their machine that are extraordinary in some way. Teams would then take digital photos (with reasonable format limits: say, less than 10 photos, each in JPEG format under 100Kbytes in size). Each digital photo would have a text file associated with it that explains the feature and your team's thinking on why it is worthy of recognition (again reasonable formats & limitations could be determined). Each idea submitted would be given a thumbnail page with links to the photos and text (our automatic processes makes this a snap for us to handle administratively). We could also add another forum similar to the three we have now to discuss the ideas submitted. (I can see that this is going to require some coding by our CGI guy, but I think we can convince him to go along with it).

Finally, I think that we could pull together a team of about 20 or so "gray beards" of FIRST to judge the ideas and to give out a suitable number of awards and honorable mentions. (We may even get FIRST to sanction the whole thing -- giving more gravity to the awards once earned).

There are many benefits to such a proposal. Below are 4 benefits I think are worth listing:

1) It would provide teams with an incentive to share their ideas with the rest of the FIRST community.

2) It would allow teams with clever ideas in areas that are not obvious to the naked eye a chance for some kudos for their worthy accomplishments.

3) It would allow teams to learn from each other. Rookie teams and veteran teams alike could all learn the tricks of the trade from each other. Face it, with 6 weeks to get these beasts in the box, we could all use some proven solutions to the hundreds of problems we all face in common.

4) It would continue to build the FIRST community. This would help to bring about the kind of FIRST community that I think FIRST wants to develop. One where we all win by helping each other, where excellence is encouraged, recognized and celebrated! Beyond this, the sharing and especially the public comments will continue to build on the strong online community that FIRST is developing.

I believe that all these things together would help to make better FIRST robots and better FIRST teams.

So...

That's it. Any comments?

If there is enough interest, I am sure that we can make it happen. But, this is another case where we all have to pull together. This won't work if only Chief Delphi and a hand full of other teams are bold enough to share some of their best ideas. We need commitments from more than 30 teams before we would go to the trouble to make it happen.

So... Can we count you in? Talk it over with your teammates and e-mail me with your name and team number if we can count on you.

Joe J

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Publish the Good and the Bad

Posted by Dan, Student on team #10, BSM, from Benilde-St. Margaret's and Banner Engineering.

Posted on 3/10/99 8:10 PM MST


In Reply to: Another idea looking for comments posted by Joe Johnson on 3/10/99 7:34 PM MST:



I'm up for it. But, here is what I had in mind.

Regardless of whether Joe's idea comes through or not, I plan on publishing a design review of Big Jimmy.
When I say design review I mean I will go through every part of the machine and; explain it, explain the reasoning behind it, and explain the other possibilities.
This sort of review - whether its decisions were sound or not - should be a good aid to any team. I, of course, wish other teams to do the same.
I can think of a number of times when I thought "why the heck did they do that . ." I'm interested in hearing why.
Not because people should defend their ideas, but because it's good for all of us to review just what we were doing and why.
In the end, my idea isn't too far off from Joe's, I guess I'm more in favor of a total review - whether it has something clever to contribute or not. Because ultimately we learn more from our mistakes. :-Dan



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Turn the tables

Posted by Tom Wible, Coach on team #131, chaos, from central high school manchester and osram-sylvania.

Posted on 3/10/99 8:52 PM MST


In Reply to: Publish the Good and the Bad posted by Dan on 3/10/99 8:10 PM MST:



Is it me or am I sensing a turning of the tables here. How can teams compete against each other, in a win/lose format, when everyone is sharing their secrets with each other. Don't get me wrong, we all should share knowledge and learn from each other. But isn't this a contest with teams pitted against each other? I realize that we all aspire to a higher standard of gracious professionnalism, but we are still trying to beat each other, basically. Maybe we should just loan our robots to each other in case one should be a little better built than another, or if this is not really about winning, but learning, then not be so concerned with kickin design features which tend to beat other teams. A light bulb just went on in my head! This contest lets you choose your own balance between being out for blood to win, or lets you be cool with just being there and enjoying the commeraderie of FIRST and learning about math and science, or somewhere in between. Do I have it or am I lost?

Tom Wible
(enlightened or clueless)


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Re: Turn the tables

Posted by Sean Perkins, Student on team #131, CHAOS- Central High and Osram Sylvania, from Manchester High School Central and Osram Sylvaina and Fleet Bank.

Posted on 3/10/99 8:59 PM MST


In Reply to: Turn the tables posted by Tom Wible on 3/10/99 8:52 PM MST:



I totally agree, let teams do their own scouting. Its one of the many
aspects you learn in FIRST; how to overcome objectives without having
prior knowledge. Once again, just an opinion


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Important post in reference to the last two

Posted by Keith of team #131, CHAOS, from Central High School sponsored by Osram Sylvania.

Posted on 3/10/99 9:13 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Turn the tables posted by Sean Perkins on 3/10/99 8:59 PM MST:



DIDDO



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Important post in reference to the last two

Posted by Keith of team #131, CHAOS, from Central High School sponsored by Osram Sylvania.

Posted on 3/10/99 9:17 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Turn the tables posted by Sean Perkins on 3/10/99 8:59 PM MST:



DITTO



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Why not?

Posted by Dan, Student on team #10, BSM, from Benilde-St. Margaret's and Banner Engineering.

Posted on 3/10/99 9:51 PM MST


In Reply to: Turn the tables posted by Tom Wible on 3/10/99 8:52 PM MST:



Good point. But, why can't I expose the reasoning behind our robot? Does it hurt anyone besides us? Does it even "hurt" us at all?
I'm fine if some other teams don't want to do it. It just feels like the right thing to do.
Whenever I do ANYTHING for our webpage, I keep in mind my feelings as a rookie. I searched every page inside and out for every last bit of information. I would have died for a thorough design review like the one I have in mind. And if the review finds its way to one thankful kid, I will seriously be very happy.
All corniness aside, that's how I feel. :-Dan


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Pep Talk :-)

Posted by Justin, Student on team #131 from Manchester High School Central.

Posted on 3/10/99 9:52 PM MST


In Reply to: Turn the tables posted by Tom Wible on 3/10/99 8:52 PM MST:



"Thouigh the enemy may be stronger in numbers, we may prevenmt him from fighting. Scheme so as to discover his plans and the likelihood of their success. Rouse him, and learn the principle of his activity or inactivity. Force him to reveal himself, so as to find out his vulnerable spots. Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient."- Sun-Tzu, The Art of War


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trading secrets in exchange for a little fame...

Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 3/11/99 4:44 AM MST


In Reply to: Turn the tables posted by Tom Wible on 3/10/99 8:52 PM MST:



Believe me I want to win every FIRST competition our team enters. Long time readers of this forum will know that I was not a particular fan of this whole Alliance Thing (I know how great my team is, but you slugs our there? What do you know? ;-)

As you know, I have also tentatively giving the thumbs up to the new alliance format, but that has NOT changed my single mindedness in trying to get the entire Chief Delphi team to get behind the idea that WE TRY TO WIN.

Now, we also try to keep in mind larger goals. There are many ways of winning even if the FIRST website does not have your name high on the list of tournament results.

But, my point in proposing this "sharing" thing is that there are a lot of cool robots out there with very cool features and solution. I do not have the time to go around to 200 robots at the Nationals and take a magnifying glass to each, looking for engineering excellence. Further, even if I did, I would miss probably 50% or more because the innovation is not viewable from any angle.

SO... I propose that teams trade a little of "I've got mine" for some "Wow, that was really cool."

I am not talking about sharing the strategy teams used to design there robot or the really really important competitive edges teams feel they might have.

Let me give a few examples off the top of my head:

1) The Beatty/Hammond snap & lock arm from Torroid Terror

2) Chief Delphi's use of the seat motors as inputs to the drill transmissions in Ladder Logic

3) Lockheed Sander's telescoping PVC tube screw lift (it seems like they use it somehow every year

4) The turnable drive that Raytheon E-Systems-Greenville used in Torroid Terror

5) The Holonomic Wheels (look it up!) that GM-Milford Proving Ground/Huron Valley used in Ladder Logic

6) The Conveyor/Ball Remover the Lebanon used in Ladder Logic

7) The arm that GM-Powertrain/Pontiac Northern used in Torroid Terror

8) The goal topper lock mechanism that Beatty/Hammond used in Torroid Terror

9) The never ending nested lift that WildStang has used for 3 years now.

10) The use of one way roller clutches to do more than one function with one motor on the Chief Delphi machine used in Hexagon Havoc (Back then we only had 2 drill motors and 4 seat motors

The list goes on.

The point is that there is a lot of engineering excellence going on out there that is not getting any notice whatever.

I guess the feeling on our team is that we would exchange some of our trade secrets for some pats on the back.

Perhaps others would too. Or... Perhaps not.

Joe J.



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The real secrets

Posted by Tom Wible, Coach on team #131, chaos, from central high school manchester and osram-sylvania.

Posted on 3/11/99 8:41 AM MST


In Reply to: trading secrets in exchange for a little fame... posted by Joe Johnson on 3/11/99 4:44 AM MST:



I was wondering if anyone out there had the secret to inspiring youth about the wonders of science and technology. It seems there is plenty of science and tech out there, but is the key just to put some of it on a robot, show it to the students, and then drive it around? My guess is there is more to it. Any ideas out there?

Tom Wible


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Is the secret to the NBA, MJ holding summer camps?

Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 3/11/99 12:43 PM MST


In Reply to: The real secrets posted by Tom Wible on 3/11/99 8:41 AM MST:



In my opinion, the secret to why FIRST works is that it creates the environment where engineers and scientists are in the spotlight.

FIRST helps students to see the WOW of engineering. Once they see the WOW, the rest is, not easy, but attainable.

I often use the example of Michael Jordan and the NBA. Again, we don't tell kids that they ought to go around endlessly bouncing a ball occassionally tossing it in the direction of a metal hoop with a some string dangling from it. NO! We show them MJ on a flying down the court on a fast break with Scottie and Rodman filling the lanes waiting for a no-look pass! WOW!

After they see the WOW of the NBA, kids can't wait to get out there and endlessly bounce that ball and toss it toward that hoop with the net! And while they are doing it they think, "I'm going to be the next MJ"

WELL... I am here to tell them that THEY ARE NEVER GOING TO BE THE NEXT MJ! But, if they work at it, they can have a very well paid and exciting career in science and technology AND... it is a lot of fun going into work every day.

I really get wound up about this subject.

I really think that FIRST can do and is doing what they claim to do, INSPIRE.

And on another subject, I am dieing to know what is going on in Philly. Any news...

Joe J.


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Nah....! ready why:

Posted by David, Student on team #269, BruQuest, from Oconomowoc High School and Quest .

Posted on 3/10/99 11:14 PM MST


In Reply to: Another idea looking for comments posted by Joe Johnson on 3/10/99 7:34 PM MST:



Hi all
Well, Joe you offer an interesting idea. BUT I think it's not a good idea.
Well, maybe it is good, but from what I think FIRST is, it would take away
some of the BIG excitement the competition has right now.

OK, here are my reasons
1. It is a competition. If all the teams publish their good ideas, there
will basically be 30 (or whatever) teams with all the good features and ideas
from the webpage, which results in basically 30 equal robots. Then it's no more
the skills of engineering that make the most part of who wins and who loses, but
just the skills of driving or maybe even luck.

I tell you. We as a rookie team had NO IDEA what the competition would be like.
We had NO IDEA what the other robots looked like and I tell you, I WAS SO SO SO
EXCITED when I walked through the pits and looked at the other robots and when I
talked to the other people about their experiences and when I saw the other robots
in the practise rounds and how they managed the problem.

Your idea would basically take a great part of that away.

The other thing is, that probably especially rookie teams would just look at the
webpage and copy the designs of the veterans. Where's the fun? Where's the creative
thinking? And I tell you something else: As much as I wanted to know what the other
robots would be like, I think knowing that before we built and designed our robot would
kind of take away our motivation to design our OWN robot.

It's like that: You are there for the first time, still pretty unsure about everything and
then you read about the VETERAN'S ideas. And you think, well they must be right.. or even
if you don't think so you see what they designed and it totally influences your design even
if you don't copy... it influences you.

I think as it is right now, it's just fine. Rookie teams are "just" rookie teams. Nobody
expects them to WIN the competition. If they do, it's SUPER great, if they don't, it's GREAT
too. Rookies don't have to win. They have to experience and learn, not to copy ;-)


The other thing is: What if some teams decides not to publish their ideas. And they happen to
have really good ones. And then you go to the competition see their robot which totally kicks
$@#$@#$@# and think: Wow we didn't think about that.... and since we thought the designs on the
internet are already good we didn't even think about designing something else, something new,
something unique, something on your own...

Or do you want to require all teams to publish their thoughts? Apparently you can't.

Another thought: Let's say you have THE IDEA. The ultimative feature for your robot. And then
you just want to give it away? Wouldn't you be proud if only your robot had that feature which
would allow you to win the competition or at least be really competitive?

Your idea would be just great if they gave us the problem and required us to solve it "on the
paper" (or the internet ;-) But since there is still the competition which decides about win or loss
I think it would just not work.

Well, these are my thoughts... comments??


CYA
David (Germanboy from rookie team 269 BruQuest ;-)





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Re: Nah....! ready why:

Posted by Chris, Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.

Posted on 3/11/99 7:42 AM MST


In Reply to: Nah....! ready why: posted by David on 3/10/99 11:14 PM MST:



I completely agree with David that one of the most exciting parts of FIRST is
seeing all of the other robots for the first time at the regionals. I also
agree that if everything is posted, all of the robots will be virtually the
same. One of the things I always tell people when I describe FIRST to them
is that it is amazing how so many teams come up with so many different designs
for the same task. I always found that that is a large part of what makes
FIRST competitions so interesting to watch.

Another point I agree with is that it would take away a lot of the incentive
for being creative. Sure, some teams would be more creative to try and win one
of the awards, but some teams would wait to see what the others are doing and
then incorporate the best features from all of the postings.

This is what I would propose: Do Joe's idea, but wait until AFTER the national
competition. That way we would still need to be creative to win, we would still
feel the excitement when we saw all of the different designs at the regionals,
and there would still be a great variety of robots in the competition. The awards
would just come a little later, but that might be good. It will help spread the
FIRST cheer to more parts of the calender year instead of just the first few months.

How would this help the rookie teams? Leave the pictures posted until the
end of next year's competition. The game will change, but teams always end
up needing a drive system, maybe and elevator mechanism, an arm, or what not.
They could use ideas from past robots for how to implement the mechanisms, but
still need to be creative with how to tackle the new task.

: Hi all
: Well, Joe you offer an interesting idea. BUT I think it's not a good idea.
: Well, maybe it is good, but from what I think FIRST is, it would take away
: some of the BIG excitement the competition has right now.

: OK, here are my reasons
: 1. It is a competition. If all the teams publish their good ideas, there
: will basically be 30 (or whatever) teams with all the good features and ideas
: from the webpage, which results in basically 30 equal robots. Then it's no more
: the skills of engineering that make the most part of who wins and who loses, but
: just the skills of driving or maybe even luck.

: I tell you. We as a rookie team had NO IDEA what the competition would be like.
: We had NO IDEA what the other robots looked like and I tell you, I WAS SO SO SO
: EXCITED when I walked through the pits and looked at the other robots and when I
: talked to the other people about their experiences and when I saw the other robots
: in the practise rounds and how they managed the problem.

: Your idea would basically take a great part of that away.

: The other thing is, that probably especially rookie teams would just look at the
: webpage and copy the designs of the veterans. Where's the fun? Where's the creative
: thinking? And I tell you something else: As much as I wanted to know what the other
: robots would be like, I think knowing that before we built and designed our robot would
: kind of take away our motivation to design our OWN robot.

: It's like that: You are there for the first time, still pretty unsure about everything and
: then you read about the VETERAN'S ideas. And you think, well they must be right.. or even
: if you don't think so you see what they designed and it totally influences your design even
: if you don't copy... it influences you.

: I think as it is right now, it's just fine. Rookie teams are "just" rookie teams. Nobody
: expects them to WIN the competition. If they do, it's SUPER great, if they don't, it's GREAT
: too. Rookies don't have to win. They have to experience and learn, not to copy ;-)

:
: The other thing is: What if some teams decides not to publish their ideas. And they happen to
: have really good ones. And then you go to the competition see their robot which totally kicks
: $@#$@#$@# and think: Wow we didn't think about that.... and since we thought the designs on the
: internet are already good we didn't even think about designing something else, something new,
: something unique, something on your own...

: Or do you want to require all teams to publish their thoughts? Apparently you can't.

: Another thought: Let's say you have THE IDEA. The ultimative feature for your robot. And then
: you just want to give it away? Wouldn't you be proud if only your robot had that feature which
: would allow you to win the competition or at least be really competitive?

: Your idea would be just great if they gave us the problem and required us to solve it "on the
: paper" (or the internet ;-) But since there is still the competition which decides about win or loss
: I think it would just not work.

: Well, these are my thoughts... comments??

:
: CYA
: David (Germanboy from rookie team 269 BruQuest ;-)


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After Nationals - The Noble Prize-like Awards of FIRST

Posted by Raul, Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.

Posted on 3/11/99 10:01 AM MST


In Reply to: Re: Nah....! ready why: posted by Chris on 3/11/99 7:42 AM MST:



I agree with Chris and David.
Let's just do it after the Nationals. This way the rookie teams can look at this next year and incorporate some of what we learned.

I have a different reason for feeling this way. I just don't have enough time do it during the heat of the design, build and test phases (and apparently neither did Delphi this year - right JJ?) - the Chairman's Award is enough of a challenge already . Besides, even if we found enough time during the hectic 6-week time period to document our designs properly, it would probably be too late for anyone to incorporate it into their designs that year.

Raul


: I completely agree with David that one of the most exciting parts of FIRST is
: seeing all of the other robots for the first time at the regionals. I also
: agree that if everything is posted, all of the robots will be virtually the
: same. One of the things I always tell people when I describe FIRST to them
: is that it is amazing how so many teams come up with so many different designs
: for the same task. I always found that that is a large part of what makes
: FIRST competitions so interesting to watch.

: Another point I agree with is that it would take away a lot of the incentive
: for being creative. Sure, some teams would be more creative to try and win one
: of the awards, but some teams would wait to see what the others are doing and
: then incorporate the best features from all of the postings.

: This is what I would propose: Do Joe's idea, but wait until AFTER the national
: competition. That way we would still need to be creative to win, we would still
: feel the excitement when we saw all of the different designs at the regionals,
: and there would still be a great variety of robots in the competition. The awards
: would just come a little later, but that might be good. It will help spread the
: FIRST cheer to more parts of the calender year instead of just the first few months.

: How would this help the rookie teams? Leave the pictures posted until the
: end of next year's competition. The game will change, but teams always end
: up needing a drive system, maybe and elevator mechanism, an arm, or what not.
: They could use ideas from past robots for how to implement the mechanisms, but
: still need to be creative with how to tackle the new task.

: : Hi all
: : Well, Joe you offer an interesting idea. BUT I think it's not a good idea.
: : Well, maybe it is good, but from what I think FIRST is, it would take away
: : some of the BIG excitement the competition has right now.

: : OK, here are my reasons
: : 1. It is a competition. If all the teams publish their good ideas, there
: : will basically be 30 (or whatever) teams with all the good features and ideas
: : from the webpage, which results in basically 30 equal robots. Then it's no more
: : the skills of engineering that make the most part of who wins and who loses, but
: : just the skills of driving or maybe even luck.

: : I tell you. We as a rookie team had NO IDEA what the competition would be like.
: : We had NO IDEA what the other robots looked like and I tell you, I WAS SO SO SO
: : EXCITED when I walked through the pits and looked at the other robots and when I
: : talked to the other people about their experiences and when I saw the other robots
: : in the practise rounds and how they managed the problem.

: : Your idea would basically take a great part of that away.

: : The other thing is, that probably especially rookie teams would just look at the
: : webpage and copy the designs of the veterans. Where's the fun? Where's the creative
: : thinking? And I tell you something else: As much as I wanted to know what the other
: : robots would be like, I think knowing that before we built and designed our robot would
: : kind of take away our motivation to design our OWN robot.

: : It's like that: You are there for the first time, still pretty unsure about everything and
: : then you read about the VETERAN'S ideas. And you think, well they must be right.. or even
: : if you don't think so you see what they designed and it totally influences your design even
: : if you don't copy... it influences you.

: : I think as it is right now, it's just fine. Rookie teams are "just" rookie teams. Nobody
: : expects them to WIN the competition. If they do, it's SUPER great, if they don't, it's GREAT
: : too. Rookies don't have to win. They have to experience and learn, not to copy ;-)

: :
: : The other thing is: What if some teams decides not to publish their ideas. And they happen to
: : have really good ones. And then you go to the competition see their robot which totally kicks
: : $@#$@#$@# and think: Wow we didn't think about that.... and since we thought the designs on the
: : internet are already good we didn't even think about designing something else, something new,
: : something unique, something on your own...

: : Or do you want to require all teams to publish their thoughts? Apparently you can't.

: : Another thought: Let's say you have THE IDEA. The ultimative feature for your robot. And then
: : you just want to give it away? Wouldn't you be proud if only your robot had that feature which
: : would allow you to win the competition or at least be really competitive?

: : Your idea would be just great if they gave us the problem and required us to solve it "on the
: : paper" (or the internet ;-) But since there is still the competition which decides about win or loss
: : I think it would just not work.

: : Well, these are my thoughts... comments??

: :
: : CYA
: : David (Germanboy from rookie team 269 BruQuest ;-)


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#0047 (ChiefDelphi)
 
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This is an after the fact thing, no during build

Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 3/11/99 12:25 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Nah....! ready why: posted by Chris on 3/11/99 7:42 AM MST:



I am definitely NOT proposing that teams post their best solutions during the build cycle.

The way I envisioned it, it would be an after the fact sort of thing. By the time it gets to the general FIRST public, it would be too late (for that year that is).

Of course, we would keep up the site and make it available to all teams in the run up to next year's competition. There may even be a "Hall of Fame" type thing were certain best practices get to be so common that nearly every team uses them.

As to all robots looking alike, I don't think that the kind of things teams will submit will make for cookie cutter robots. Just because something is clever and worthy of some recognition does not mean that all teams will adopt those exact solutions. And, even if they did, that does not mean that the variety of robot designs will lesson.

For example, nearly every auto has an internal combusion engine, but that does not mean that every vehicle looks the same. Even within engines, there is still a lot of variation depending on the type of car that the designers are trying to build.

I think that we are a LONG way from worrying about this problem.

Joe J.

P.S. Here is another example of the kind of thing that a team may submit as an innovation worthy of note.

In past years, our robots had fasteners that just happened to either come to mind as we were drawing up our designs, or were handy during the build process. This has often caused us problems because we didn't have the right tools to tighten or remove a particular bolt or we didn't have a replacement fastener when the one we had in our hands dropped to the ground in the pits and rolled off into Never-Never Land.

So... This year we have an official thread and an official screw and an official washer for Chief Delphi 4. Unless there is a good reason, every thread in #10-24. We use a socket head screw if we can, then a button head screw if we can't, then a flat head screw if even a botton head won't work. As to the nuts, a nut with an integral nylon locking feature is numero uno, followed by a standard nut if that won't work. Alternatively, we drill and tap the part itself.

The point is that we have DRAMATICALLY reduced the number of tools we need have on hand to work on our robot. Also, we bought some Rubbermaid containers with a bunch of small cubbies for use as a fastener crib. If we drop a screw, we get another from the crib. It has been a wonderful improvement over previous years.

I think that it is an innovation that is not obvious to the casual observer. It may even be worthy of an award ;-)

My point in putting this example out there is for people to understand that it doesn't always have to be rocket science type stuff that teams submit for recognition. In fact, I don't know if other teams already do what I have proposed. If they do, nobody told me about it.

AND... THAT IS EXACTLY MY POINT.

By having some sort recognition mechanism tied to sharing good ideas and innovative engineering, teams may decide to put some of these best practices down in writing. In this way, all robots have the potential to improve.

End of sermon.



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