FRC Blog - A Story about Coopertition

[cgmv123]

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...t-Coopertition

Please see the note below from our Kit of Parts Team:

I’d like to tell you a story about Coopertition, Gracious Professionalism, and a group of our Suppliers working together to improve the team experience, even if it might cost them some business.

Earlier this year, Innovation First International agreed to donate half of the CIM motors we needed for each team. That batch was received with no problem and was packed into Kickoff Kits. However, due to shipping issues, the other half of the CIM motors we needed were going to miss the delivery date for items to go into the Kickoff Kit.

The KOP Team called everyone they could think of in North America that would have CIM motors available for us to “borrow” for the Kickoff Kits. AndyMark, BaneBots, and Innovation First International came through for us, each one graciously sending every CIM motor they had in stock to our warehouse to complete the Kickoff Kits. Once we receive our shipment of CIM motors, we’ll use them to restock our Suppliers’ inventory. They should be at “full strength” prior to Kickoff. Until then, you may see CIMs “out of stock.” Now you know “the rest of the story,” and hopefully cut them some slack.

Because of this effort, each FRC Team will again receive the full allotment of CIM motors intended as part of their Kickoff Kit. This example is one of many we could tell you about our Suppliers doing everything they can to help FIRST and FIRST teams. If you see representatives of our generous Suppliers like these, please thank them for the hard work and dedication of so many that make each season possible – it really does mean a lot to them and to us.

Thank you AndyMark, BaneBots, and Innovation First International – and all Suppliers - for going above and beyond to support the FIRST mission!

[Lil' Lavery]

Phew. And I was beginning to worry that CIM motors were about to become illegal!

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Phew. And I was beginning to worry that CIM motors were about to become illegal!

All electric motors will be banned this year. Only rotary pneumatics, high-stroke solenoids, and hamsters in wheels will be legal.

[Arpan]

Originally Posted by Whippet

All electric motors will be banned this year. Only rotary pneumatics, high-stroke solenoids, and hamsters in wheels will be legal.

Excellent. Now to figure out what to feed a hamster for best performance.

[Tungrus]

Don't forget the performance enhancing zinc plated nuts and washers on the side!

[audietron]

On a serious note:
This is something that really shows how AndyMark, BaneBot and IFI/Vex really care about the organization and not just money. All three always create some innovative products to help teams out in anyway possible and to support every FRC team competing this year with donated motors is something that can not be put into words for the gratitude everyone has.

[Thad House]

Anybody else think the quotes are kind of suspicious? I get the "Borrow" and the "Out of Stock", but "Full Strength" and "Rest of the Story" seem like weird quotes...

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by audietron

On a serious note:
This is something that really shows how AndyMark, BaneBot and IFI/Vex really care about the organization and not just money. All three always create some innovative products to help teams out in anyway possible and to support every FRC team competing this year with donated motors is something that can not be put into words for the gratitude everyone has.

+9,001

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by Arpan

Excellent. Now to figure out what to feed a hamster for best performance.

I hear you get the best results if you run them in distilled water for a few minutes.

[Shrub]

What about two hamsters on one wheel? Is that GP?

[MysterE]

Originally Posted by Thad House

Anybody else think the quotes are kind of suspicious? I get the "Borrow" and the "Out of Stock", but "Full Strength" and "Rest of the Story" seem like weird quotes...

The "Rest of the Story" is an homage to Paul Harvey's Broadcast that started back in WWII. He would tell an amazing story about someone's life or a product and where it came from. In the end, he would leave off by saying "And now you know the rest of the story."

He is perhaps one my favorite people :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rest_of_the_Story

[Tom Line]

Originally Posted by Whippet

All electric motors will be banned this year. Only rotary pneumatics, high-stroke solenoids, and hamsters in wheels will be legal.

I believe team 33 did a study on how long you can leave your hamster hooked up to a charger before it overheats.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

I believe team 33 did a study on how long you can leave your hamster hooked up to a charger before it overheats.

This depends on the insulation class of the hamster. Class F hamsters cost a little more.

Seriously, I love this story. I love any story where people put their differences aside to make sure the motors are delivered on time.

[MrRoboSteve]

This is a great story, and it says a lot about the FIRST community.

A hamster powered game can only mean one thing.

[GaryVoshol]

Was it FRC or FLL rules that specifically outlawed rodents running in wheels one year? (I say rodents because I can't remember if it was hamsters, gerbils or squirrels.)