[BB] Bag & Tag in brief and MAR demystified

[Frenchie461]

Let me get this straight, without an exception, everyone bag and tags?

[TD78]

Originally Posted by Frenchie461

Let me get this straight, without an exception, everyone bag and tags?

Yes!

[Phyrxes]

I would assume the exception still exists for teams that can't bag and tag to a regional, but that is more of a venue issue I would think.

[AdamHeard]

I hope this means all teams get unbagging windows like FiM.

[Bjenks548]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

I hope this means all teams get unbagging windows like FiM.

The reason FiM teams got the unbag time is because for out Districts(excuse me Regional Qualifiers) we have no Thursday practice day. Whether the unbag time compared to the practice day are equal I'm not sure, but it would be a disadvantage to FiM teams if teams out of FiM got the same amount of unbag time and a full practice day for all events. At least that's how I feel. I'm very interested to see how MAR compares to FiM with all their rules.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

I hope this means all teams get unbagging windows like FiM.

Doubt it.

Unbagging windows are supposed to allow you to get your robot ready for Inspection at a Two day event. (Replaces Thursday)

[ehochstein]

So does this mean that teams will be paying for shipping from regional to championships, or is this going to be donated? Also the question comes up when it has to be shipped by? I am assuming that the robot will have to be brought back to the team's home base to be shipped to the championship. I hope these questions will be answered in the 2012 FRC Administrative Manual!

[1986titans]

Originally Posted by Wiifi

So does this mean that teams will be paying for shipping from regional to championships, or is this going to be donated? Also the question comes up when it has to be shipped by? I am assuming that the robot will have to be brought back to the team's home base to be shipped to the championship. I hope these questions will be answered in the 2012 FRC Administrative Manual!

If it was donated before (I don't remember if it was or not), I'd assume it'd still be that way. We went to Denver last year, which was a Week 6 Bag & Tag event. I think we had to have the robot shipped out in a crate (while still bagged) by 5pm on the folllowing Tuesday. I imagine it would be something similar this year.

[waialua359]

I was told of a situation today that "could" happen.

Example:
Team 359 decides to sign up for Houston week 6-2012 season.
Team 359 applies for an exemption to have the robot shipped and drayage setup at regional.
Team 359 is the only team attending that needs an exemption.
FIRST denies your exemption and encourages you to attend another event that has more exempt teams pending.

Team 359 already booked airlines, hotels, etc. because its much cheaper to plan ahead.
Team 359's other regionals may be in jeopardy because of suggested change.

[AdamHeard]

Not ideal, but I guess you could just ship it privately?

Originally Posted by waialua359

I was told of a situation today that "could" happen.

Example:
Team 359 decides to sign up for Houston week 6-2012 season.
Team 359 applies for an exemption to have the robot shipped and drayage setup at regional.
Team 359 is the only team attending that needs an exemption.
FIRST denies your exemption and encourages you to attend another event that has more exempt teams pending.

Team 359 already booked airlines, hotels, etc. because its much cheaper to plan ahead.
Team 359's other regionals may be in jeopardy because of suggested change.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Not ideal, but I guess you could just ship it privately?

I think the question then becomes, "To where?"

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by EricH

I think the question then becomes, "To where?"

Uhhhh.... to a drayage facility? If you're paying to ship it privately, why not pay for a drayage facility?

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Uhhhh.... to a drayage facility? If you're paying to ship it privately, why not pay for a drayage facility?

Or even to a local team's facility? I'd imagine that someone would be nice enough to take in a robot for a few days.

[ehochstein]

Originally Posted by thefro526

Or even to a local team's facility? I'd imagine that someone would be nice enough to take in a robot for a few days.

Either that or a sponsor's local facility.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Uhhhh.... to a drayage facility? If you're paying to ship it privately, why not pay for a drayage facility?

Originally Posted by thefro526

Or even to a local team's facility? I'd imagine that someone would be nice enough to take in a robot for a few days.

Originally Posted by Wiifi

Either that or a sponsor's local facility.

That's exactly what I'm getting at. Any one of those needs to be arranged well in advance; and then what do you do with the crate while you're at the event? (I'm not exactly certain a drayage facility would allow a few people in to open a crate, remove stuff, close the crate, return a few days later, and reverse the process, either.)

What I would suggest is that one or two teams in the area of any given event make themselves available as "ship targets"; that is, places that teams needing to ship for whatever weird reason can send their crates to. Ideally, the teams receiving the crates would also have a transport vehicle for 2-3 robots (and if it's rented, then it's only fair that the teams who ship there at least help with fuel) and take all the robots to the venue. It's probably the "least pain" method, and it increases the work for multiple teams, but it ought to work fairly well.