Paper Airplanes

[stephenmcd71]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

Also, I saw another thing being thrown form the upper arena. I don't know what it was but it was lit with led's and seemed to have some mass to it. What were they and why would you think it was cool to throw it into the crowd?

Yes i saw that too got hit with one almost it was a plastic small light-up disc really thrown from where they were throwing them from that could of done tons of damage to people.

[jwallace15]

Originally Posted by stephenmcd71

Yes i saw that too got hit with one almost it was a plastic small light-up disc really thrown from where they were throwing them from that could of done tons of damage to people.

I saw that disc fall and thought "Oh my god that could seriously hurt someone".

[sarah_storer]

After reading the post from Libby and the post about the VIP getting hit in the eye, I am disgusted about how the other FIRST kids acted during Einstein.

However, I think that a compromise WOULD work. Consolidating the airplane throwing to certain times and giving a different goal each year would be fun and COULD actually become a constructive tradition.
A competition to see who could recycle the most airplanes by division would be VERY helpful as well. [And maybe even fun!]

But really guys? Throwing the airplanes during the speeches and matches? Have some respect.

[fb39ca4]

I am sorry to say that I threw some airplanes Satrday afternoon, and after reading about the other side of the story, I will not do it again next year. I apologize for anyone I may have hit and the mess that I contributed to.

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Someone was also flashing laser pointers down on the field. Me and Tom Nader were trying to see if we could spot the idiot.

I saw the green ones pointing up on the ceiling from the seats on the floor, is that what you are talking about? I thought those were neat how they were moving in time with the music, but yes, I can see why shining them towards the field is bad.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by seg9585

EricH, my undergrad school (RPI) owned several radio controlled blimps and several members of our embedded control class (plus local robotics team) attended Championships (and other events) to fly those blimps. They had several sensors and could easily lift a camera. These weren't considered dangerous despite their size. Although slow, a torn blimp (due to hitting a cable, for instance) could have easily hurt bystanders as well.

In regards to EMI in the 2.4 Ghz range, most R/C transmitters use spread-spectrum techniques that minimize interference with itself and with other devices running locally. Even then, 900 Mhz crystals are still used on my local flying fields with plenty of reliability.

The reference was to heavier-than-air birds (planes, quadcopters, helicopters). Lighter-than-air birds tend to be much slower and have enclosed propellers; these combined with being lighter makes an R/C blimp a bit safer than your average R/C airplane.

@runneals: I won't go so far as to say that no professional R/C pilot would accept such an offer. However, there are far too many things that can go wrong--flying over people, flying in an area with obstacles, carrying a payload (though that part depends on the plane). However, I would hazard a guess that a pilot who did such a thing would end up on AMA's "We don't want this guy around" list, like the person who flew an R/C airplane under multiple NYC bridges using only a POV camera for location and then posted the video online. There ARE safety codes, folks, and flying over people is highly discouraged! I would say that very few pro-type pilots would even consider it after you mentioned the people on the floor and the cables, or once they saw them.

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by fb39ca4

I saw the green ones pointing up on the ceiling from the seats on the floor, is that what you are talking about? I thought those were neat how they were moving in time with the music, but yes, I can see why shining them towards the field is bad.

There were two green ones, and I'm fairly certain they were hand held lasers, of probably a Class III nature. Not only would it be a fairly un-provable distraction in the biggest match of your life, but that could hurt! (Side note: If someone can direct me to a Class I green laser, I'd very much love having one.)

[Doc Wu]

Originally Posted by Oblarg

They could do a lot to alleviate the problem if they'd just do the following:

1) Give Dean Kamen a reasonable time limit for his speech, and make him stick to it.
2) Consolidate the giving of awards into a single ceremony, as is done for every regional competition I've ever been to and which I've never heard anyone complain about before. The awards-between-every-match system was horrid.

Deans speeches have been quite a bit shorter than they have been in past. He knows he can be long winded and dry and has shortened them up, but he does have a message to get out and it can only be cut so short.

The awards used to be all in one setting. Everyone complained about that and about the dead time while setting up for the next match, so they broke the speeches and awards up into smaller pieces and use them in between matches.

You can't have it both ways.

I was disappointed by the conduct of students throwing paper planes and in their Mentors for not stopping it. I was concerned for people's safety. The stands are a place where safety glasses are not required (and should not need to be. its a place where you should be able to relax.)

I would have more to say about this, but couldn't possibly say it better than Libby did. It was embarrassing.

I fully expect this to result in another unenforceable rule, like noisemakers or saving seats, but enforceable or not, it has to be spelled out, apparently. We can't just rely on common sense.

I fully realize that we are dealing with 25,000 young adults. That means half adult and half child. Unfortunately, in situations like this, the child half often takes over. This is why we have Mentors or chaperones, in this case, to remind the students to stop and think before they act in situations like this. I'm disappointed more Mentors didn't step in here. I know, had my team been here, our teachers would have had the whole team on the bus and gone if they behaved like that.

[Andy Grady]

Personal opinion here, but I think it's highly disrespectful that this airplane throwing has reached this point.

It was cute at first, but once the ceremonies start there should be none. It even disapponted me further when I saw mentors doing it too, during a speech.

I won't even get into the danger of eye injury, that should be common sense.

This one is on us, not FIRST. Think about the safety and the message it sends, and lets fix it.

[jwallace15]

Originally Posted by Andy Grady

Personal opinion here, but I think it's highly disrespectful that this airplane throwing has reached this point.

It was cute at first, but once the ceremonies start there should be none. It even disapponted me further when I saw mentors doing it too, during a speech.

Yeah, I agree. Sure, it may be fun for a few throws, but people have to know when enough is enough.

It was really disrespectful to see people throwing them during matches as well as during speeches.

I'm sure Woody Flowers would agree with me in saying that that isn't graciously professional.

Now, I admit to throwing some paper airplanes, but once the awards ceremonies/Einstein matches started, I ceased.

I see a no projectile throwing rule being added in the near future.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by jwallace15

I see a no projectile throwing rule being added in the near future.

Would that go before or after the no saving seats rule?

[CalTran]

One other food for thought - Say you're a student, and you see members from another team preparing to throw a paper airplane. Are you in your place to tell them not to throw it? Who would, short of the people on stage, have jurisdiction to tell someone that their practice is unsafe, rude, and unnecessary?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by CalTran

One other food for thought - Say you're a student, and you see members from another team preparing to throw a paper airplane. Are you in your place to tell them not to throw it? Who would, short of the people on stage, have jurisdiction to tell someone that their practice is unsafe, rude, and unnecessary?

If it's a safety issue, throw caution out the window instead of paper airplanes and tell them that it's a safety issue--if that airplane hits someone in the eye, they could be blind in that eye for life. Safety is EVERYONE's jurisdiction.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by fb39ca4

I am sorry to say that I threw some airplanes Satrday afternoon, and after reading about the other side of the story, I will not do it again next year. I apologize for anyone I may have hit and the mess that I contributed to.



I saw the green ones pointing up on the ceiling from the seats on the floor, is that what you are talking about? I thought those were neat how they were moving in time with the music, but yes, I can see why shining them towards the field is bad.

Someone had a red one too and was flashing it on the floor.

[CENTURION]

Originally Posted by CalTran

One other food for thought - Say you're a student, and you see members from another team preparing to throw a paper airplane. Are you in your place to tell them not to throw it? Who would, short of the people on stage, have jurisdiction to tell someone that their practice is unsafe, rude, and unnecessary?

I don't see why FIRST can't make an announcement about it. I'm sure someone at HQ will be reading this thread, and maybe doing something about it. A good stern announcement before the Einstein ceremony begins would stop it I think.

[Mk.32]

Originally Posted by CENTURION

I don't see why FIRST can't make an announcement about it. I'm sure someone at HQ will be reading this thread, and maybe doing something about it. A good stern announcement before the Einstein ceremony begins would stop it I think.

I think we need Frank and this blogging awesomeness this year.