Two Story Pit Area?

[sanddrag]

Suppose we designed a two story pit area with either a ladder or staircase to get people to the second floor and a small elevator to get supplies and robots to the second floor. Suppose it fit totally int he 10x10 footprint and broke down enough such that it would be not too difficult to bring into the arena. Suppose we did all the engineering analysis to show that it is completely safe and in no danger of collapsing. Do you think FIRST would allow it?

It would ust be so insanely awesome. Of course, with probably 50+ vertical feet to work with, why stop at just one story right?
First floor: lobby
second floor: public relations
3rd floor: repairs shop
4th floor: programming and testing
5th floor: strategy
and so on...

You've got to admit a multi story pit area would be about the coolest thing ever in FIRST.

[Adam Richards]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Suppose we designed a two story pit area with either a ladder or staircase to get people to the second floor and a small elevator to get supplies and robots to the second floor. Suppose it fit totally int he 10x10 footprint and broke down enough such that it would be not too difficult to bring into the arena. Suppose we did all the engineering analysis to show that it is completely safe and in no danger of collapsing. Do you think FIRST would allow it?

It would ust be so insanely awesome. Of course, with probably 50+ vertical feet to work with, why stop at just one story right?
First floor: lobby
second floor: public relations
3rd floor: repairs shop
4th floor: programming and testing
5th floor: strategy
and so on...

You've got to admit a multi story pit area would be about the coolest thing ever in FIRST.

No, since the pit area you are allowed this year is 10x10x10.

RTFM!

[Billfred]

Team 1320 out of South Carolina had a two-story pit last year at Palmetto. They couldn't do it this year, since FIRST banned multi-story pit areas, but it was fun to look at last year.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Team 1320 out of South Carolina had a two-story pit last year at Palmetto. They couldn't do it this year, since FIRST banned multi-story pit areas, but it was fun to look at last year.

Pictures please?

[Wolf103FM]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Team 1320 out of South Carolina had a two-story pit last year at Palmetto. They couldn't do it this year, since FIRST banned multi-story pit areas, but it was fun to look at last year.

I remember that, they were right next to us I beleive, and it was strange to come out of our tent and see 2 guys sitting up there with binoculars, I might even have a pic somewhere

[Cyberguy34000]

While FIRST will never allow it, it can be fun to dream...



This thing is called a Tower Blind and hunters use it to blend in with surroundings and get some nice pre-fab shelter from which to pick helpless animals off with. Tower Blinds are made to be quite portable and are usually pretty small, (I'd say roughly within that 10*10ish area) so that they are easily transported to hunting sites. I haven't done a whole lot of research but I think they run upwards of $800 to $4,000.

Practically this is about the easiest way to actually get your idea safely into a pit... Oh, and I think scouting should get dibs on that second floor...

[Mr. Freeman]

Originally Posted by Wolf103FM

I remember that, they were right next to us I believe, and it was strange to come out of our tent and see 2 guys sitting up there with binoculars, I might even have a pic somewhere

Does anyone have pictures of this? I'd be really interested to see something like this.

Also, do you think that anyone would have a problem with a camera on a 15 foot high pole? I don't know why, but it'd be pretty cool to have at your pit. You could see what's happening pretty much everywhere.
Hey... FIRST competition pit traffic reports.

And that hunting thing doesn't seem to be blending in very well. Then again, it's probably made to be placed in trees.

[Cyberguy34000]

The point with the hunting blind isn't the blending in, it's a preassembled, multi -level, easy to dissasemble, relatively within the the pit dimensions, pretty cheap, structure.

I didn't pick the best picture, but there are many different brands/varieties, but most fit the above criteria. If you seriously wanted to do something, this is one of the easier ways of going about it.

[Wolf103FM]

Originally Posted by Mr. Freeman

Does anyone have pictures of this? I'd be really interested to see something like this.

Also, do you think that anyone would have a problem with a camera on a 15 foot high pole? I don't know why, but it'd be pretty cool to have at your pit. You could see what's happening pretty much everywhere.
Hey... FIRST competition pit traffic reports.

And that hunting thing doesn't seem to be blending in very well. Then again, it's probably made to be placed in trees.

I found the pic I have, http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/24597
If you look close you can see someone up there

[anna~marie]

I think I would be super confused... you could loose people and scouting would be, well, odd

[Katie Reynolds]

While it would be cool ...

7.7.4 NEW: Team Stations
These designated spaces help organize team placement and help team members, judges, and visitors find teams easily. Please keep your numbers visible and aligned. They are set up to be as equal as possible. Each team's pit station will have a table and power outlet.
For safety and because of insurance regulations, teams cannot build any structure that supports people or items for storage above the work area in their pit space. No structures should be higher than 10 feet above the floor and must safely support any signs or displays mounted to the structure. FIRST will require the removal of any pit structure that is deemed unsafe by event management personnel and local committee members.

[sven]

The amount of freight elevators needed to keep that comp. running smoothly scares me

[MasonMM]

i think years ago we had some ideas drawn out for a 2 story pit. I belive the top was more of a lounge area and the bottom was reserved for robot maintance. It was never done for safety concerns i believe.

[Qbranch]

OSHA Say:

1910.23(e)(3)(iv)

The anchoring of posts and framing of members for railings of all types shall be of such construction that the completed structure shall be capable of withstanding a load of at least 200 pounds applied in any direction at any point on the top rail.

1910.28(a)(4)

Scaffolds and their components shall be capable of supporting without failure at least four times the maximum intended load.

1910.28(a)(20)

Tools, materials, and debris shall not be allowed to accumulate in quantities to cause a hazard.

1910.28(e)(5)

Where there is danger of material falling from the scaffold, a wire mesh or other enclosure shall be provided between the guardrail and the toeboard.

Anyhow, to make the extra story comply with OSHA, the thing's gonna be heavy.

Hey, on the note of OSHA:

While I was buying some parts for a robot I'm building for fun, I ran accross the electrical specs for that red main battery connector FIRST uses. Did you know its only rated for 50 amps?!

That means that there is a 120 amp breaker behind a 50 amp connector...

anyone else thinking this is stupid and is a safety/fire hazard?

sorry about being off topic, just wanted to tell someone that.

[SamC]

Why not just find a place at a regional where thier is a 2 story bulding? Then just have spots reserved for teams on both stories.... seems like that is a safe plan!