[FRC Blog] Kit Hints?

[Oblarg]

Why would FIRST say "collectively 3''x3''x60''" rather than "collectively 540 cubic inches" if they were simply giving a spec for the total volume of a collection of items? I'm having a hard time buying that.

Bumper cloth and pool noodles sound reasonable. Re: the seemingly absurd amount of pool noodles that fit in the specified weight, I bet it becomes a whole lot more reasonable if you swap some of it out with plywood .

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

How heavy have the totes been in the past? Is this year's tote much heavier than it has been in the past?

2014 KOP: Veteran tote is same weight, rookie tote is lighter this year.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Oblarg

Why would FIRST say "collectively 3''x3''x60''" rather than "collectively 540 cubic inches" if they were simply giving a spec for the total volume of a collection of items? I'm having a hard time buying that.

Bumper cloth and pool noodles sound reasonable. Re: the seemingly absurd amount of pool noodles that fit in the specified weight, I bet it becomes a whole lot more reasonable if you swap some of it out with plywood .

Because this blog post was named Kit "Hints" and FIRST likes to watch CD squirm...

The noodles seems reasonable, but the 29" seems shorter than you actually want your noodles.

[jman4747]

Originally Posted by Christopher149

2014 KOP: Veteran tote is same weight, rookie tote is lighter this year.

New control system is going to everyone thus it is within box "A" while this year's rookie tote no longer has the C-Rio and other control peripherals.

[jman4747]

Originally Posted by Oblarg

Why would FIRST say "collectively 3''x3''x60''" rather than "collectively 540 cubic inches" if they were simply giving a spec for the total volume of a collection of items? I'm having a hard time buying that.

Bumper cloth and pool noodles sound reasonable. Re: the seemingly absurd amount of pool noodles that fit in the specified weight, I bet it becomes a whole lot more reasonable if you swap some of it out with plywood .

They want us to prepare to transport that long box. From making Mc Master Carr runs in a 4 door sedan for ~5ft long square and rectangle tube, I know there are 0 ways to transport something that long that fully keep it within the car and that allow the passenger to be comfortable.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by jman4747

To the point of bumper materials, why supply everyone with something most of us have already bought and paid for? Why not tell us we are getting bumper fabric and noodles ahead of time so we don't spend the money? The whole point is so we don't spend it anyway.

Something I've noticed is we didn't get the usual "hey you guys should buy pool noodles" blog that we generally see around August.

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

.....why on earth are you going to send teams home with something that cumbersome in a compact car unless you HAVE to?

Compact car? I'm driving my old Suburban....

We've gone back to flags for identifying alliances, and the new flag pole is 60" long...

[D.Allred]

Originally Posted by scca229

Wouldn't the batteries then be included in the items A and E weights (look like the black and green tote sizes from memory) since they are normally inside the totes and be part of the "collectively" statement? The sizes are right for batteries but didn't one of the extra motors boxes come outside the black tote last year?

Last year batteries were included in the totes. This year we're getting boxes, not totes.
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...4-kit-of-parts

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by scca229

Wouldn't the batteries then be included in the items A and E weights (look like the black and green tote sizes from memory) since they are normally inside the totes and be part of the "collectively" statement? The sizes are right for batteries but didn't one of the extra motors boxes come outside the black tote last year?

Sizes match; weights match. Everyone gets one battery; rookies get an additional one. What other item fits that description?

Yes, batteries were in the totes last year, but they've been separate from the totes in years past as well.

[Mr V]

In recent years Rookie teams have received bumper fabric in their KOP, it was folded and placed in the Rookie tote. IIRC the extra battery that rookies received last year was not included in their Rookie tote.

So I'm pretty certain that the 60" long box is not bumper fabric, yes when manufactured it is placed on a roll or bolt but we only need a relatively small amount so once they cut it to size it is easy to fold it up.

I'm also pretty certain that the 14lb items are batteries.

[Everett33]

"We’re in full swing"

We are going to play Baseball!

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Mr V

In recent years Rookie teams have received bumper fabric in their KOP, it was folded and placed in the Rookie tote. IIRC the extra battery that rookies received last year was not included in their Rookie tote.

So I'm pretty certain that the 60" long box is not bumper fabric, yes when manufactured it is placed on a roll or bolt but we only need a relatively small amount so once they cut it to size it is easy to fold it up.

I'm also pretty certain that the 14lb items are batteries.

I agree with this. While it is definitely possible that is is bumper fabric, I find it highly unlikely that they would put the fabric in rolls and not just fold it up. And if the were rolling it it seems like it would make much more sense to roll it the other direction.

[Joey1939]

On AndyMark you can by rolls of bumper material that are 19.5in rolls.
60/19.5 is approximately 3.
3 Alliances confirmed.

[Thad House]

Here are my guesses

A: Standard KOP bin, including motors and basically anything else standard
B: Batteries x2
C: RoboRIO and RoboRIO Parts
D: No clue at all

E: Rookie tote, including joysticks, camera and driver station laptop
F: Batteries x2

G: KOP Drive Base

Man D is killing me.

[Boe]

Originally Posted by Joey1939

On AndyMark you can by rolls of bumper material that are 19.5in rolls.
60/19.5 is approximately 3.
3 Alliances confirmed.

That could make sense, I still feel like it would be an odd shaped box for 3 rolls, does anyone know what the diameter of one of these rolls is?