The District System

[DELurker]

Originally Posted by Pault

One thing that I have not really heard much about is how the robot unbagging period compares to the Thursday of a regional. Is it bad that you have less time with the robot, or is it better because you are in your shop and free to do it whenever?

It depends on what you have, what you have to do, and what you usually leave behind. In our team's case, we should be doing driver practice, just like would happen in the practice matches. In reality, we're fabbing and mounting the items we developed on our practice bot (can't mount anything not developed during the 6 hours). We do take a little time making sure the competition bot runs similarly to the practice bot.

Without the unbagging time, we wouldn't have ever figured out why our potentiometers have been wonky for several years (300 degrees of turn, 60 degrees of response).

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by JohnBoucher

The reference was made that it was known for 2 out of 3 events, the pyramids would be the same. I am just asking what the difference was and how you knew it before the event?

2 out of 3 events my team attended, (Bridgewater-Raritan and MAR Championships) were the only MAR events running that weekend, so it was certain that we had the MAR field, whereas TCNJ was the same weekend as Chestnut Hill, so without inside knowledge, there was no way to be sure that that was the MAR field.

[JohnBoucher]

Originally Posted by DevenStonow

2 out of 3 events my team attended, (Bridgewater-Raritan and MAR Championships) were the only MAR events running that weekend, so it was certain that we had the MAR field, whereas TCNJ was the same weekend as Chestnut Hill, so without inside knowledge, there was no way to be sure that that was the MAR field.

Thanks

[Deetman]

Originally Posted by DevenStonow

2 out of 3 events my team attended, (Bridgewater-Raritan and MAR Championships) were the only MAR events running that weekend, so it was certain that we had the MAR field, whereas TCNJ was the same weekend as Chestnut Hill, so without inside knowledge, there was no way to be sure that that was the MAR field.

If you were wondering, the MAR field was at Chestnut Hill that weekend. The field at TCNJ was a FIRST field. One quick way to tell is if there is a giant CRT monitor at the scoring table. The MAR field does not have one so we either make do without one or have a standard computer monitor hooked up like we did at Monty Madness this weekend. This monitor shows the "audience screen" feed from FMS for the scorekeepers/field staff, which is traditionally directly overhead/behind them at regional events.

[PVCpirate]

Originally Posted by DELurker

It depends on what you have, what you have to do, and what you usually leave behind. In our team's case, we should be doing driver practice, just like would happen in the practice matches. In reality, we're fabbing and mounting the items we developed on our practice bot (can't mount anything not developed during the 6 hours). We do take a little time making sure the competition bot runs similarly to the practice bot.

Without the unbagging time, we wouldn't have ever figured out why our potentiometers have been wonky for several years (300 degrees of turn, 60 degrees of response).

Can you cite the rules supplement or wherever this is stated? It seems strange to me since I thought the intent of the 6 hour window was to replace Thursday at regionals, where teams can bring in prefabricated items.

[Littleboy]

Originally Posted by PVCpirate

Can you cite the rules supplement or wherever this is stated? It seems strange to me since I thought the intent of the 6 hour window was to replace Thursday at regionals, where teams can bring in prefabricated items.

Materials can be fabricated outside of the 6 hour window. However, they count in your 30 lbs withholding allowance. Items fabricated inside of the 6 hour window do not count. So as long as your withholding allowance stays below 30 pounds, your fine. Anything after 30 and it has to be during the 6 hour window.

Originally Posted by R21

Teams may bring a maximum of 30 lbs of FABRICATED ITEMS to each event to be used to repair and/or upgrade their ROBOT.

For Teams attending 2-Day Events, these FABRICATED ITEMS may be used during the Robot Access Period and/or brought to the Event, but the total weight may not exceed 30 lbs. FABRICATED ITEMS constructed during the Robot Access Period and bagged with the ROBOT are exempt from this limit.

The OPERATOR CONSOLE, BUMPERS, and any ROBOT battery assemblies (as described in R05-A) are exempt from this limit.

[wilsonmw04]

This unbagged period may have just made me a VERY happy coach. 8 hours to work on the robot at our build space? We get one of these before every district event?

[PVCpirate]

Originally Posted by Littleboy

Materials can be fabricated outside of the 6 hour window. However, they count in your 30 lbs withholding allowance. Items fabricated inside of the 6 hour window do not count. So as long as your withholding allowance stays below 30 pounds, your fine. Anything after 30 and it has to be during the 6 hour window.

Ah, I see. That makes a lot of sense.

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

This unbagged period may have just made me a VERY happy coach. 8 hours to work on the robot at our build space? We get one of these before every district event?

6 hours, but yes, in the district system you get 6 hours to use at your build space within 1 week of your upcoming district event (but not regional championship). You can split this 6 hours up into different intervals too, but the minimum interval is 2 hours out of the bag, at least in MAR (i.e. don't open the bag for just 5 minutes of work, because that will count as 2 hours).

[IKE]

The first year in Michigan it was 8 hours. No limit on minimum. It just had to occur within 1 week of the district event.

[Wayne TenBrink]

Originally Posted by AGPapa

I hate Thursday. Its the biggest waste of time. Nothing significant ever gets done. I hated ever second of Thursday at MAR Champs. The unbagging periods are infinitely more useful.

At MSC, qualification matches start on Thursday afternoon - similar to CMP, except the 64 teams each get 12 qual matches.

As for the district events, I have never regretted not having practice day on Thursday. The 6/8 hour unbag time in our own shop is much more useful. At MI disricts, pits open Thursday evening and they try to get the robots through inspection. They run unscheduled practice matches early Friday morning and try to get every robot on the field at least once to make sure their radios communicate with the field. In other words, between Thursday evening and Friday early morning, we are able to accomplish most of what happens on Thursday at a traditional regional. Since the districts are limited to 40 robots, we still get in 12 qual matches in by noon Saturday.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by dodar

Life aint fair, this is just another life lesson FIRST will teach kids.

Ah, yes, now I get your point. The current Regional system, with less than half the play time for the same price, isn't as fair as the District system.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by IKE

The first year in Michigan it was 8 hours. No limit on minimum. It just had to occur within 1 week of the district event.

Wow, really? Can I ask what the MSC schedule was? (i.e. Do we know why this is now different between district regions?)

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

Ah, yes, now I get your point. The current Regional system, with less than half the play time for the same price, isn't as fair as the District system.

My parents always told me the fair was at the Union Fairground in August.

[IKE]

Originally Posted by Siri

Wow, really? Can I ask what the MSC schedule was? (i.e. Do we know why this is now different between district regions?)

It was a pilot that year. Lots of little differences. Not really sure why the Delta happened but it happened year 2.