SCRIW III (South Carolina Robotics Invitational and Workshops 2013)

[Billfred]

The registrations keep on coming in--welcome FRC 4261, Academic Magnet Raptors to the SCRIW III lineup!

281 - EnTech GreenVillains
342 - Burning Magnetos
343 - Metal In Motion
1293 - D5 Robotics
1398 - Keenan Robo-Raiders
1539 - Blue Eagle Robotics Team
1553 - KC Robotics Team
1758 - Technomancers
2059 - Hitchhikers
2187 - Team Volt
2655 - Flying Platyπ
2815 - Los Pollos Locos
3489 - Category 5
3490 - Viper Drive
3976 - Electric Hornets
4243 - STAR Warriors
4261 - Academic Magnet Raptors
4451 - ROBOTZ Garage
4533 - Wando Advanced Robotics

11 spots left! Claim your spot today at http://scriw.org before we fill up![/quote]

[Billfred]

This team update just went out to registered teams:

Greetings, SCRIW III teams!

First, an update on registration. We have 19 great FRC teams signed up already for SCRIW III:

281 EnTech GreenVillains Greenville, SC
342 Burning Magnetos North Charleston, SC
343 Metal In Motion Seneca, SC
1293 D5 Robotics Columbia, SC
1398 Keenan Robo-Raiders Columbia, SC
1539 Clover Blue Eagle Robotics Clover, SC
1553 KC Robotics Team Lugoff, SC
1758 Technomancers Florence, SC
2059 Hitchhikers Apex, NC
2187 Team Volt Conway, SC
2655 Flying Platypi Colfax, NC
2815 Los Pollos Locos Columbia, SC
3489 Category 5 North Charleston, SC
3490 Viper Drive Summerville, SC
3976 Electric Hornets Hopkins, SC
4243 STAR Warriors North Charleston, SC
4261 Academic Magnet Raptors North Charleston, SC
4451 ROBOTZ Garage Laurens, SC
4533 Wando Advanced Robotics Mt Pleasant, SC

If you don't see your sister team on the list, make sure they sign up before we hit our 30-team capacity! Signup is at http://scriw.org/team-registration-form/; registration is still just $350.

Also, registration is now open for B-teams, where your students compete with a second robot you happened to have lying around. B-team registration is just $200, space permitting; use the link above.

Before you do that though, we've received word of a chance to help a pre-rookie team out. A new team is starting at Richland NE here in Columbia, and they'd love to enter SCRIW as a pre-rookie team. If you have a spare robot (and probably a mentor or two) that you could loan them for a day, let me know and we'll get everybody in touch.

Additionally, you may have seen on ChiefDelphi that we've added a new FLL scrimmage for 2013! If you're mentoring an FLL team, put 'em on the bus with you and let them give their robot for the Nature's Fury challenge a shakedown. We'll time the scrimmage to wrap before finals, so you can give the kids a taste of what's to come in high school a few years down the road too! Registration for the FLL scrimmage is $20 a team, and it goes through the same form as FRC: http://scriw.org/team-registration-form/

If you've got any questions, please drop us a line. We're looking forward to making SCRIW III the best event in the South!

Thank you for your support as always,

--Billfred Leverette
SCRIW Planning Committee

[Billfred]

With school back in, things are moving fast! 3976 had to scratch (but congrats to their lead teacher on a rookie of her own--five years 'til JFLL!), but we just added FRC 3459, Team PyroTech to the SCRIW III lineup!

281 - EnTech GreenVillains
342 - Burning Magnetos
343 - Metal In Motion
1293 - D5 Robotics
1398 - Keenan Robo-Raiders
1539 - Blue Eagle Robotics Team
1553 - KC Robotics Team
1758 - Technomancers
2059 - Hitchhikers
2187 - Team Volt
2655 - Flying Platyπ
2815 - Los Pollos Locos
3459 - Team PyroTech
3489 - Category 5
3490 - Viper Drive
3976 - Electric Hornets
4243 - STAR Warriors
4261 - Academic Magnet Raptors
4451 - ROBOTZ Garage
4533 - Wando Advanced Robotics

11 spots left! Claim your spot today at http://scriw.org before we fill up!

[Billfred]

We're up to 20, folks! Welcome FRC 4582, RoboHawks to the SCRIW III lineup!

281 - EnTech GreenVillains
342 - Burning Magnetos
343 - Metal In Motion
1293 - D5 Robotics
1398 - Keenan Robo-Raiders
1539 - Blue Eagle Robotics Team
1553 - KC Robotics Team
1758 - Technomancers
2059 - Hitchhikers
2187 - Team Volt
2655 - Flying Platyπ
2815 - Los Pollos Locos
3459 - Team PyroTech
3489 - Category 5
3490 - Viper Drive
3976 - Electric Hornets
4243 - STAR Warriors
4261 - Academic Magnet Raptors
4451 - ROBOTZ Garage
4533 - Wando Advanced Robotics
4582 - RoboHawks

10 spots left! Claim your spot today at http://scriw.org before we fill up![/quote]

[Billfred]

Back to something divisible by three! Welcome FRC 3506, YETI Robotics to the SCRIW III lineup!

281 - EnTech GreenVillains
342 - Burning Magnetos
343 - Metal In Motion
1293 - D5 Robotics
1398 - Keenan Robo-Raiders
1539 - Blue Eagle Robotics Team
1553 - KC Robotics Team
1758 - Technomancers
2059 - Hitchhikers
2187 - Team Volt
2655 - Flying Platyπ
2815 - Los Pollos Locos
3459 - Team PyroTech
3489 - Category 5
3490 - Viper Drive
3506 - YETI Robotics
4243 - STAR Warriors
4261 - Academic Magnet Raptors
4451 - ROBOTZ Garage
4533 - Wando Advanced Robotics
4582 - RoboHawks

9 spots left! Claim your spot today at http://scriw.org before we fill up!

[Billfred]

We have our first prerookie entry for SCRIW III--welcome FRC 4901, Garnet Squadron to the SCRIW III lineup!

(Huh, wonder how they heard of our event?)

281 - EnTech GreenVillains
342 - Burning Magnetos
343 - Metal In Motion
1293 - D5 Robotics
1398 - Keenan Robo-Raiders
1539 - Blue Eagle Robotics Team
1553 - KC Robotics Team
1758 - Technomancers
2059 - Hitchhikers
2187 - Team Volt
2655 - Flying Platyπ
2815 - Los Pollos Locos
3459 - Team PyroTech
3489 - Category 5
3490 - Viper Drive
3506 - YETI Robotics
4243 - STAR Warriors
4261 - Academic Magnet Raptors
4451 - ROBOTZ Garage
4533 - Wando Advanced Robotics
4582 - RoboHawks
4901 - Garnet Squadron (Prerookies!)

8 spots left! Sign up at http://scriw.org before next Saturday, October 5![/quote]

[Billfred]

The hits just keep on coming! Welcome Peachtree Regional Rookie All-Stars FRC 4452, FIRST Noble Team to the lineup!

281 - EnTech GreenVillains
342 - Burning Magnetos
343 - Metal In Motion
1293 - D5 Robotics
1398 - Keenan Robo-Raiders
1539 - Blue Eagle Robotics Team
1553 - KC Robotics Team
1758 - Technomancers
2059 - Hitchhikers
2187 - Team Volt
2655 - Flying Platyπ
2815 - Los Pollos Locos
3459 - Team PyroTech
3489 - Category 5
3490 - Viper Drive
3506 - YETI Robotics
4243 - STAR Warriors
4261 - Academic Magnet Raptors
4451 - ROBOTZ Garage
4452 - FIRST Noble Team
4533 - Wando Advanced Robotics
4582 - RoboHawks
4901 - Garnet Squadron (Prerookies!)

7 spots left! Sign up at http://scriw.org before next Saturday, October 5![/quote][/quote]

[Billfred]

This email blast just reached the SCRIW teams:

Greetings, SCRIW III teams!

Thank you for your patience on the workshop lineup, but today we finally got the ink to dry on the lineup. It's easily our strongest lineup yet, and we hope you'll take advantage of them!

9:00-10:00: An Introduction to Maya and 3D Animation - Mike Hoatson, FRC 3489 (Category 5)
10:20-11:20: Scouting for FRC - David Allred, FRC 4451 (ROBOTZ Garage)
11:30-12:30: Using Pneumatics in Robot Design - Kevin Thorp, FRC 3489 (Category 5)
12:45-1:45: Team Building - Linda Whipker, FRC 3459 (Team PyroTech)
2:00-3:00: Outreach Activities Round-Table - FRC 3459 (Team PyroTech) and Friends

Workshops will happen in the cafeteria once again; there will be signs.

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The traffic flow on Saturday is exactly like last year: http://scriw.org/wp-content/uploads/...ow-IrmoHS.jpeg

Construction continues on campus, and a back road to the team parking area may be ready in time that will keep you from having to go back onto St. Andrews Road. We will divert you that way if we can--it sure beats that traffic light!

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In case you misplaced your event schedule, here's the plan again:

0800: Pits open to teams
0801: Sync checks
0940: Check-in closed (Once we make the schedule, that’s it.)
0945: Mandatory Driver’s Meeting On Field, Qualification Match Schedule Released
1000: Opening Ceremonies
1010: First Match (both FRC and FLL)
1200: Lunch Break
1235: Resume Qualification Matches
1500: End Qualification Matches
1505: Alliance Selection
1530: Elimination Rounds Start
1730: Elimination Rounds End (approximate)
1740: Awards (Finalists and Champions) & Breakdown

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Make sure to check out our inaugural FLL scrimmage, which will be taking place in the gym lobby and in the rear of the main gym. Matches begin with the FRC rounds at 10:10, and we expect matches to wrap around lunchtime with the FLL-standard three rounds of on-table competition with the new Nature's Fury challenge. Make them feel welcome--they'll be on your FRC teams soon enough!

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As you pack and prepare, we suggest double-checking to ensure you have the following:
-Safety glasses (standard FRC pit rules apply, including closed-toe shoes)
-Red and blue bumpers (bookmark this white paper for next year: http://chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2437)
-Charged batteries and chargers (robot and tools)
-Driver station and controls
-Closed-toe shoes
-Your Gracious Professionalism!

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And finally, thank you for supporting SCRIW III! We aim to put on the best off-season in the South, and we hope you have a great time competing. If you have any questions or comments, drop us an email or tweet @SCRIW during the day.

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Travel safe,

Billfred Leverette
SCRIW Planning Committee

[Kevin Thorp]

Cat-5 (Team 3489) is excited to compete at SCRIW III!

We've been trying to get our robot back up to 100% functional. This week we we able to fix most of the stuff we broke last week.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Kevin342

Cat-5 (Team 3489) is excited to compete at SCRIW III!

We've been trying to get our robot back up to 100% functional. This week we we able to fix most of the stuff we broke last week.

Sounds like us on 4901! We'll be fixing the stuff that didn't exist last week.

(Our first meeting with kids was September 25, and the first time in the shop was October 1 with a borrowed chassis from 1293. Over six working nights, understaffed with a crew of newbies and on a shoestring budget, we've about completed a working robot that might just dump in the low goal, hang for 10, and look good doing it. Forgive me if I have a proud papa moment while announcing that first match.)

[Billfred]

My feet are sore and I'm dead tired, but the field is assembled, the pits laid out, and the drinks in concessions on ice. We'll see y'all in the morning!

[Kevin Thorp]

3:45 am? when do you sleep?

Please send our thanks to all the volunteers for running a great off season competition.

[Billfred]

I just woke up after 20-some hours in the Irmo gym over the past two days. (Surprisingly, I'm not nearly as sore as I was the past two years!)

Before I get into my thank-yous, here were the alliances and bracket:

1) 4533/2059/2815
2) 3490/3489/281
3) 1758/343/1293
4) 3459/2655/342
5) 1553/4452/1398
6) 1539/4451/4901
7) 3506/2187/4582

(With 22 teams competing, we had 7 alliances. Left unpicked was 4261. Nobody declined.)

The elimination bracket went as follows:

Quarterfinals
1 had a bye
2 d. 7 in two
3 d. 6 in three
5 d. 4 in two

Semifinals
5 d. 1 in three
2 d. 3 in two

Finals
2 d. 5 in two

So first, congratulations to 3490, 3489, and 281, our SCRIW III champions!

Further congrats to FLL team 13297, who took first place in our FLL scrimmage in the morning. And a big thank-you to Mary Graves, FLL's operational partner in South Carolina for putting that on. I didn't get to see it, but I've heard a lot of good things.

A HUGE thank-you to FRC 4451, ROBOTZ Garage, who stayed after the finals to help us tear down and pack the field away. I've never had a year where we had more manpower than we knew what to do with, but their help shaved untold time off the process.

Also thanks to our referees Terrell Burch, Tina Drake, and Jacob Paikoff for their experienced help. We're exceptionally lucky to have a Championship division head ref in our area, plus refs that worked Palmetto, North Carolina, South Florida, and probably more over the season, and the entire crew handled every match with a healthy dose of Gracious Professionalism.

I missed a lot of names, but thank you to our entire volunteer crew, host teams included. I know my name is on a lot of things with SCRIW, but it is far from a one-man operation. We've already got a list of improvements going for SCRIW IV.

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To switch hats, SCRIW was 4901's first time entering a competition after just two weeks to get their robot ready. It was a crash course on everything from building bumpers to Why You CAD and Don't Build A Robot This Way If You're Gonna Play Defense (And You're Gonna Play Defense), and our small group handled it with flying colors. Thank you to FRC 1293, the Pandamaniacs for loaning the team a chassis and electronics, to FRC 1102, M'Aiken Magic for additional parts, and all the teams who helped with guidance and parts as we worked through our gremlins. (I think it was their third match when they finally moved; that was the first time the robot moved under its own power in our care.) Further thanks to teams 1539 and 4451 for picking them for eliminations. I thought to myself "Man, that combo might just do it!", but with 4451's arm issues it just wasn't meant to be.

I was also very pleased to have a couple of our kids stick around and help fill some volunteer gaps that developed late in the day. Sandstorm 0 isn't much more than a pile of two-by-fours and scrap wood at this point, but the lessons learned will definitely help Sandstorm 1 be more of a contender.

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Thank you again to all of the teams and volunteers for making SCRIW III a great success!

[mandrews281]

Having been to all three, I can safely say "SCRIW III was the best one yet". Awesome job to everyone involved. Thank you.

Also thanks to our alliance partners 3490 and 3489 for picking us -- I thought we had a really good chance after looking at the alliance picks, and sure enough we did. You are both were awesome teams, and it was a pleasure to play with you.

See everyone in 2014.