Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud

[Meredith Novak]

May I add another?

Yelling "ROBOT!" does not make it okay to run over someone escorting a group of VIPs who may not know to leap out of your way instantly. (And exactly why should they?)

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by Meredith Novak

May I add another?

Yelling "ROBOT!" does not make it okay to run over someone escorting a group of VIPs who may not know to leap out of your way instantly. (And exactly why should they?)

Quoted for truth. You're announcing your presence for other people's safety, not as a demand that people make a path.

On the other hand, teams quite often cause problems by standing outside their pits in the aisle talking, strategizing, or working on their robots. Especially working on robots. Pit space is limited, yes, but aisle space is even more limited and a lot more people are using it.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

On the other hand, teams quite often cause problems by standing outside their pits in the aisle talking, strategizing, or working on their robots. Especially working on robots. Pit space is limited, yes, but aisle space is even more limited and a lot more people are using it.

This one annoys me to no end. Why do teams feel they have to bring EVERY STUDENT down into the pits? If you're not working why are you there? Is it part of your strategy to block other teams from getting to and from the field? Because that's what you're doing. Send them up into the stands to watch matches and scout and strategist and whatever and leave the pits to those who have to do work on the robot.

[reymac]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

This one annoys me to no end. Why do teams feel they have to bring EVERY STUDENT down into the pits? If you're not working why are you there? Is it part of your strategy to block other teams from getting to and from the field? Because that's what you're doing. Send them up into the stands to watch matches and scout and strategist and whatever and leave the pits to those who have to do work on the robot.

What is a good number of students to bring into the pits? We are wanting to cap it to 13.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by reymac

What is a good number of students to bring into the pits? We are wanting to cap it to 13.

I work the field not the pits so I'm no expert on the subject by no means but I do know having whole teams down in the pits is unnecessary. Talk to Jeff Huspen about what a good number is. He's been at this since 1993. Everyone should seek his advice on such matters.

[gyroscopeRaptor]

Last year we had no cart but we did have a solution: four U bolts attached to the corners of the robot. We had four strong people carry the robot this way. It helped that our robot only weighed in the 90s before battery+bumpers.

We are making a cart for our 120-lb robot but keeping the U-bolts to get it on and off the field.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by reymac

What is a good number of students to bring into the pits? We are wanting to cap it to 13.

Our drive team is normally able to fix most of the problems on the robot, so I only keep 2-3 other students around to be in charge of organizing the pit, charging batteries, fixing things, and talking to the judges. Others are allowed to stop by but they shouldn't stay for very long; they have other jobs already that are best handled out of the pits like scouting, spirit and helping other teams. We bring enough stuff that having 13 people and the robot in the pit would be close to impossible with out pushing out into the aisle.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by reymac

What is a good number of students to bring into the pits? We are wanting to cap it to 13.

13 people in the pits is too many. We Use 2 mechanical, 1 electrical and 1 programming in the pit crew. We will also allow 1 or 2 students to temporarily work in the pits to spread pout the experience. Add 2 mentors and the pit still gets too crowded.

Our drive team is not part of the pit crew and do not work on the robot. The scout team will spend time in the pits but not hanging around our pit.

We will also have other students from our team helping other teams in the pits

[Siri]

Originally Posted by reymac

What is a good number of students to bring into the pits? We are wanting to cap it to 13.

13 is way too many. Sometimes we'll have 8, and that's a lot. Usually it's it's maybe 4 students and 1-3 mentors working at a time. Programmers and Drive Team stay close (in districts, really close because there's no time to go anywhere) and work on the bot directly when they need to or code/strategize when they can. Mentors and scouts come down for consults and practice field time as well as when we go to the field (to ensure there are people there to talk to judges and other teams).

Remember pits are at best 10x10' with a 30x40" robot in the middle and usually a 2.5'? table at the back, plus whatever else you bring. With our shelf and rolling toolbox, 13 people wouldn't have room to move. We get there occasionally, but clearing the pit is a delicate art.

[Brandon Holley]

In my now 9 years of being on a drive team and moving robots to the field, the most effective way to clear a path is the following:

Send one drive team member ahead of the robot, not pulling it, an independent person. This person walks ahead of the robot, and politely asks anyone who may be in the way to please move out of the way momentarily for the robot to pass by. If they are facing away from the robot, a gentle tap on the shoulder followed by the same explanation does wonders.

Our team hasn't yelled robot in the 7 years I have been on it, and we don't need to. We move through the pits just fine without creating extra noise pollution. Teams should try it, you will be surprised how much easier it is to move to and from your pit.

-Brando

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

In my now 9 years of being on a drive team and moving robots to the field, the most effective way to clear a path is the following:

Send one drive team member ahead of the robot, not pulling it, an independent person. This person walks ahead of the robot, and politely asks anyone who may be in the way to please move out of the way momentarily for the robot to pass by. If they are facing away from the robot, a gentle tap on the shoulder followed by the same explanation does wonders.

This is SO effective! We migrated to this from yelling over the past few years, and it works so much better.

[Mr. Van]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Send one drive team member ahead of the robot, not pulling it, an independent person. This person walks ahead of the robot, and politely asks anyone who may be in the way to please move out of the way momentarily for the robot to pass by. If they are facing away from the robot, a gentle tap on the shoulder followed by the same explanation does wonders.

This should be the recommended way to move robots around at an event. The "ROBOT" screaming actually causes problems. It tends to give kids the idea that robots have the right of way over people and they expect people to clear a path for them instead of clearing a path themselves, and it adds to the overall noise in the pits, making the environment more hazardous.

Thanks Brando!

- Mr. Van
Coach, Robodox

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

In my now 9 years of being on a drive team and moving robots to the field, the most effective way to clear a path is the following:

Send one drive team member ahead of the robot, not pulling it, an independent person. This person walks ahead of the robot, and politely asks anyone who may be in the way to please move out of the way momentarily for the robot to pass by. If they are facing away from the robot, a gentle tap on the shoulder followed by the same explanation does wonders.

Our team hasn't yelled robot in the 7 years I have been on it, and we don't need to. We move through the pits just fine without creating extra noise pollution. Teams should try it, you will be surprised how much more easy it is to move to and from your pit.

-Brando

A best practice that the safety inspectors can pass on while they do their rounds. I need the lingo. What would be a good name to call this position, leading the team robot safely through the crowded pits without yelling. Robot docent? Robot Page? Help!

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

In my now 9 years of being on a drive team and moving robots to the field, the most effective way to clear a path is the following:

Send one drive team member ahead of the robot, not pulling it, an independent person. This person walks ahead of the robot, and politely asks anyone who may be in the way to please move out of the way momentarily for the robot to pass by. If they are facing away from the robot, a gentle tap on the shoulder followed by the same explanation does wonders.

Our team hasn't yelled robot in the 7 years I have been on it, and we don't need to. We move through the pits just fine without creating extra noise pollution. Teams should try it, you will be surprised how much easier it is to move to and from your pit.

-Brando

Based on this post, I sat down with the green shirts for a few minutes at breakfast first thing on Thurs, made this suggestion using Alan's title of 'vanguards" and asked them to spread the word.

I still heard "robot" throughout the 3 days, but it sure seemed like I heard it a lot less.

Thanks!

[Gray Adams]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

Based on this post, I sat down with the green shirts for a few minutes at breakfast first thing on Thurs, made this suggestion using Alan's title of 'vanguards" and asked them to spread the word.

I still heard "robot" throughout the 3 days, but it sure seemed like I heard it a lot less.

Thanks!

I only heard it a few times myself. When I went to visit the Sacramento regional, it was painful to hear everyone yelling robot (though the aisles did seem smaller and more prone to being blocked).