Robot in 3 Days : Feedback

[AllenGregoryIV]

I loved Robot in Three Days, it helped a huge number of teams be competitive.

I think the biggest thing it did was ground some teams. Many young teams can't really find any idea of what a robot should look like for any given game. They don't have anything to base their ideas around. Ri3D gave them that base. Many of the Ri3D inspired robots didn't look much like the original but you could sort of see where they started. It gave teams a place to start their improvements and modifications and that's what a lot of teams need.

It also provided simple solutions to some of the game challenges that helped teams that really couldn't find a workable solution on their own.

I don't think last season lacked in creativity in anyway, if anything there was far more robot diversity and creativity than in the previous three years. That was largely driven by the game but Ri3D just make it a bunch of clone robots running around the field.

I'll be watching Ri3D and we plan to share ideas/designs as much as ever.

[philso]

Excluding those team that are extremely self motivated, I would suspect that many of the remaining teams typically were inspired to work harder, sooner and likely ended up with a better robot than if there was no Ri3D. Even if a particular team was going to use completely different concepts, say a 30 point climber with no drive base, they can see an example of a team that is ready to go compete.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

More cute baby.

[raptaconehs]

It would be pretty cool if you guys took suggestions from teams after 3 days and prototyped them. As some teams may not have the resources necessary to prototype a lot of the designs they think of.

[Connerd]

Our team has been doing practice and preseason challenges to get ready for the 2014 season. One problem we've been running into during our design process is the fact that many, myself included, love to design and prototype by putting metal together. Our mentor reminds us that using time on activities such as drawing, CADing, and simple planning saves soooo much time.
Maybe, instead of telling us your whole design process, you could try to drive home the engineering method, of analysis, planning, prototyping, building, fixing, and such.
On the other hand, thanks for doing Ri3d last year. You made what was a big and daunting rookie year into something I'll remember for the rest of my life.

[NYCBobby]

I hate to be a Kill Joy, but having mentored FIRST Robotics for 15 years, I am not a fan of the 3-day build. I feel it greatly stifles the creative thinking of our students. Once they see that 3 day build they want to basically build the same thing and I can't exactly blame them, after all, it's designed by a super smart, super experienced engineer and in all likelihood often will be better than what they might come up with. I think if you want to build something in three days go on Junk Yard Wars or build a funny stupid robot for the entertainment value. You think it will be inspiring but I think it can be demoralizing too. But hey, it's free country.

-BOB STARK, team 395, 2 Train Robotics

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by NYCBobby

I hate to be a Kill Joy, but having mentored FIRST Robotics for 15 years, I am not a fan of the 3-day build. I feel it greatly stifles the creative thinking of our students. Once they see that 3 day build they want to basically build the same thing and I can't exactly blame them, after all, it's designed by a super smart, super experienced engineer and in all likelihood often will be better than what they might come up with. I think if you want to build something in three days go on Junk Yard Wars or build a funny stupid robot for the entertainment value. You think it will be inspiring but I think it can be demoralizing too. But hey, it's free country.

-BOB STARK, team 395, 2 Train Robotics

Pretty harsh words right here. I think you're being more critical of these resources than you are of your own team's processes. A properly organized team and build process can discuss all sources of information. If you feel that it is this negative to your process, talk to your kids about how everyone feels about it. Don't just take it out on the various groups and teams trying to do something good for the community. There's pretty much 0 possibility that your kids don't already see a ton of prototyping videos on Youtube from a variety of teams and groups, but it is up to YOU to help them determine what designs to pursue. This and Build Blitz from VEX will show teams what a baseline for a competitive robot will be. It has the potential to raise the bar at competitions.

[Hallry]

Out of curiosity, was RI3D contacted at all by VEXpro about their 'Build Blitz' that they're planning on this year? I find it interesting that Build Blitz seems to be taking the idea and doing it themselves rather than working with RI3D.

[geomapguy]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Out of curiosity, was RI3D contacted at all by VEXpro about their 'Build Blitz' that they're planning on this year? I find it interesting that Build Blitz seems to be taking the idea and doing it themselves rather than working with RI3D.

Same thing I thought......I would've thought that VexPro would have "sponsored" it except for the fact that Ri3D collaborated with 221 Robotics, IR3 Creative, and CTR Electronics.

[Mike dennis]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Out of curiosity, was RI3D contacted at all by VEXpro about their 'Build Blitz' that they're planning on this year? I find it interesting that Build Blitz seems to be taking the idea and doing it themselves rather than working with RI3D.

My guess for this would be that RI3D will continue to use iR3 components, while Build Blitz will use VEXPRO components. I for one am extremely excited to possibly see three drastically different robots take three different approaches to the same game all within three days of kickoff.

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Out of curiosity, was RI3D contacted at all by VEXpro about their 'Build Blitz' that they're planning on this year? I find it interesting that Build Blitz seems to be taking the idea and doing it themselves rather than working with RI3D.

We at VEX Robotics are HUGE fans of Ri3D and the things they're doing. Their efforts last season greatly inspired us.

The Build Blitz is something we're doing as our own version, and is not tied in with the Ri3D build. We did not reach out to the Ri3D team.

[Coach Norm]

Originally Posted by JVN

We at VEX Robotics are HUGE fans of Ri3D and the things they're doing. Their efforts last season greatly inspired us.

I think many of us are huge fans of Ri3D. I also second Mike Dennis's post that it is very exciting to get to see 3 robots in such a short time.

I personally am very excited to get to see the behind the scenes peak all teams will be exposed to in this process. Talk about INSPIRING. It is so helpful for teams to be able to see the process going on and then watch the development over this time period.

Thanks to all involved and allowing us to be spectators in this process.

[Ether]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Pretty harsh words right here. I think you're being more critical of these resources than you are of your own team's processes. A properly organized team and build process can discuss all sources of information. If you feel that it is this negative to your process, talk to your kids about how everyone feels about it. Don't just take it out on the various groups and teams trying to do something good for the community. There's pretty much 0 possibility that your kids don't already see a ton of prototyping videos on Youtube from a variety of teams and groups, but it is up to YOU to help them determine what designs to pursue. This and Build Blitz from VEX will show teams what a baseline for a competitive robot will be. It has the potential to raise the bar at competitions.

I think that is the best way to look at it.

[geomapguy]

Originally Posted by Ether

I think that is the best way to look at it.

Nice take on it Ether

[pfreivald]

Akash is wise and full of knowy goodness.

I think Ri3D is a fantastic resource for those who need the inspiration, in a couple of different ways:

1. Rookies and young teams see what can be done, with limited resources and limited time. The phrase, "if they can do that in three days, we can do it in six weeks" was bandied around quite a bit last year (that I heard, anyway). It instills a, "yes, we can!" attitude in those intimidated by the challenge.

2. By upping the lowest-tier teams, it gives the middle-tier teams something to worry about. You see the designs and say, "okay, that's the baseline; those are the teams that can play but won't stand out. We need to do it better than that." You can emulate, iterate, or reject in favor of other designs.

3. The top-tier teams probably aren't directly affected much; they don't need the inspiration. They get it, they know how to design, they know how to not get stuck on ideas too early into the design process, they know that they're going to be competing with the 148s and 1114s and 217s and 2056s and 354s and and and out there, and they have a plan on how to continue to be one of the best teams in the world.

Furthermore, I think the most valuable lesson that Ri3D teaches those that need the lesson is that you don't have to do everything to make a competitive robot--and indeed, with limited resources you should focus on building the best robot you can, not the best robot possible.

I love it. I'm excited to see it again, and I'm excited to see VEX in on the game, too. I guess my only improvement would be to do it again week 2 with a different game strategy. (Yeah, I'm not asking for much, am I?)