Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

5. I saw several teams having to carry their robots to the field. I think it would be an awesome thing to do if a veteran would help them out with an extra cart (if they have one. One of those furniture movers might be all that's needed). Not only is it unpleasant to have to carry a 120 pound robot from the pits to the field but it can be dangerous as well). Who knows? It might attract the attention of a judge and get you a GP award.

This is something I think we can and have to fix and yes furniture movers with a bit of rope is all that is needed. Some sort of cart should be a requirement to compete not just a strong recommendation (http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/viewItem/6#4.2.2). If a team falls while they are carrying their robot through the pits it would be horrible. We require that you don't have sharp edges that might cut someones hand but carrying a robot through the pits is allowed and that might break someones leg.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV

This is something I think we can and have to fix and yes furniture movers with a bit of rope is all that is needed. Some sort of cart should be a requirement to compete not just a strong recommendation (http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/viewItem/6#4.2.2). If a team falls while they are carrying their robot through the pits it would be horrible. We require that you don't have sharp edges that might cut someones hand but carrying a robot through the pits is allowed and that might break someones leg.

Oh yeah, that reminds me. We should probably encourage teams to use gloves too. Carrying that weight that long with bare hands has got to be brutal. I mean some of those kids were stumbling by the time they got to the field and I'm amazed no one fumbled a bot to the floor.

[quinxorin]

Honestly, I have never seen these issues happen at a Michigan event (except people not getting out of the way for "ROBOT!"). Might be due to experience, but we all have carts, people never go beyond the blue curtains when they aren't supposed to (we don't even really bother with the drivers' passes anymore) and people were smart enough not to play around on the field or practice field bridges.

[jsasaki]

Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV

This is something I think we can and have to fix and yes furniture movers with a bit of rope is all that is needed. Some sort of cart should be a requirement to compete not just a strong recommendation (http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/viewItem/6#4.2.2). If a team falls while they are carrying their robot through the pits it would be horrible. We require that you don't have sharp edges that might cut someones hand but carrying a robot through the pits is allowed and that might break someones leg.

Its a bit hard for teams that come from other places using crates and fedex to ship robots. Batteries and a half taken apart robot with bumpers are nearly 400 lbs. making a cart a requirement would not be ideal for such teams.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by jsasaki

Its a bit hard for teams that come from other places using crates and fedex to ship robots. Batteries and a half taken apart robot with bumpers are nearly 400 lbs. making a cart a requirement would not be ideal for such teams.

Teams should have to communicate with the regional director or with teams to find some way to have a cart. Carrying the robot for every match is not acceptable.

[Andy A.]

Originally Posted by jsasaki

Its a bit hard for teams that come from other places using crates and fedex to ship robots. Batteries and a half taken apart robot with bumpers are nearly 400 lbs. making a cart a requirement would not be ideal for such teams.

Lifting and carrying a robot to and from the pits isn't ideal either, and down right dangerous for the people lifting, the people the robot might end up dropped on and the robot its self. I agree that a cart isn't just a good idea- it's essential and should absolutely be a requirement just like safety glasses.

A trip to Home Depot can get you a very decent 'garden' cart for about 100 bucks you can put together in the pit. At the end of the event you can take apart and ship it home or sell it to another team or whatever.

It's money well spent.

[nitneylion452]

Regarding the cart issue, in 2010, we didn't have one. We had poles that we put trough dedicated holes in the robot to carry it everywhere. I was on the drive team, so I was carrying it very often. Even at ~90 lbs IIRC it was a pain and began to hurt my hands. Luckily, we had a short walk from the field to the pits, but at Hatboro this weekend, the walk was relatively substantial as we had to go to a separate gymnasium and the door was at the opposite corner of our pit.

Carts are extremely helpful and a requirement might not be a bad idea.