FIRST Choice

[SarahBeth]

The snow blower motor made me raise my eyebrow. So did the sonar sensor and the laser distance meter.

So we're either moving snow or playing Battleship.

Got it.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by SarahBeth

The snow blower motor made me raise my eyebrow. So did the sonar sensor and the laser distance meter.

So we're either moving snow or playing Battleship.

Got it.

or both

[IndySam]

The eccentric grooved wheels, regular grooved wheels and guide track were in last years First Choice. They are nothing new.

Lot of things are Granger just clearing out old stock like the crank ratchet and steel cable.

So don't read to much into anything in First Choice game wise.



Focus on the lots cool stuff like the new Clippard tanks, new style compressors, new couplers, and talons. Great work by the KOP team.

[DampRobot]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Focus on the lots cool stuff like the new Clippard tanks, new style compressors, new couplers, and talons. Great work by the KOP team.

I thought the Clippard tank was back from last year, and that the compressor was the same that was legal starting in 2011. Did I miss something? Does the compressor have a larger cubic feet per minute rating?

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

I thought the Clippard tank was back from last year, and that the compressor was the same that was legal starting in 2011. Did I miss something? Does the compressor have a larger cubic feet per minute rating?

The new plastic tank is what I was referring too and the compressor is the same as the last two years but was never available in First Choice.

[FrankJ]

circular saw? Battle bots? We don't need no stinking bumpers!!!

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

circular saw? Battle bots? We don't need no stinking bumpers!!!

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr.../blog-09-18-12

Pool Noodles

Buy them, if you don’t have them already, for your 2013 bumpers.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Gary Dillard

Emails from AndyMark are considered an official communication from FIRST? Could you point me toward that ruling?

I would infer rather that they are legal because they are in FIRST Choice, not because of the AndyMark email.

Andy Baker not wanting to cheese off a significant portion of his customer base by lying to us is good enough of a reason for me to believe him.

[maddoctor90]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

Andy Baker not wanting to cheese off a significant portion of his customer base by lying to us is good enough of a reason for me to believe him.

I would agree that there is plenty of evidence that the Talons will be legal. What I don't get is why FIRST won't be more direct on these things so all teams (especially rookie ones who who may not be aware of all the channels of communication) have an equal opportunity and understanding.

[z_beeblebrox]

Why are the graphics cards available?

[Jibsy]

Originally Posted by maddoctor90

FIRST really needs to come out with an official statement on which motor controllers will be legal and soon!

"It’s safe to assume that if you see a robot component in FIRST Choice when it opens for “window shopping” on November 12th, it will be legal for teams to use in the 2013 season. Please don’t go all ‘lawyer’ on me with this one. Use good judgment. If you see a plasma cutter available in FIRST Choice, you should not think you’ll be able to put it on your robot. (Spoiler: There will be no plasma cutters available in FIRST Choice). "

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr.../blog-11-02-12

You can be sure that Talons, Jags, and Victors will all be legal!

[MagiChau]

Originally Posted by z_beeblebrox

Why are the graphics cards available?

Animation and CAD software are resource intensive especially with rendering the graphics. High performance cards run hundreds of dollars to buy brand new. I am guessing the value in credits from Andymark in actual money would cost less than buying it at retail price.

I assume NVIDIA decided to not only give gfx cards to help teams at regionals they show up at but to all teams through FIRST Choice. I don't know if they offered cards for a generous discounted price so take it as just a possible speculation.

[Kevin Selavko]

Originally Posted by MagiChau

Animation and CAD software are resource intensive especially with rendering the graphics. High performance cards run hundreds of dollars to buy brand new. I am guessing the value in credits from Andymark in actual money would cost less than buying it at retail price.

I assume NVIDIA decided to not only give gfx cards to help teams at regionals they show up at but to all teams through FIRST Choice. I don't know if they offered cards for a generous discounted price so take it as just a possible speculation.

Not discounted, free! They donated them, I assume that is so if you like the card you may buy one for yourself, but ours is still nicely wrapped up because we haven't had the time to build a compatible computer (In close to two years!)

[David Doerr]

I wonder if the items that can now be seen on FIRST Choice will not be in the KOP - joysticks, classmate, camera, batteries, window motors, pneumatics components ... ?

I was not on a team last year and I didn't see the 2012 FIRST Choice. How did it work last year?

[Jon Stratis]

Some items might be included in the KoP, others might not. For example, last year everyone got 1 battery (rookies got a second one) in the KoP, but you could order more on FIRST Choice. However, the compressor wasn't included in the KoP, but you could get it on FIRST Choice.

The best information we have right now is last year's KoP. With it, you can get an idea of what we might be getting this year, however it could all change!