Taking your robot to the field

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by Memento Vitam

Can it be in pieces?

As long as the pieces fit in a box that's no larger than the transport configuration.

That said, you have 60 seconds to assemble the robot on the field. I'm sure the FTAs and Refs will be forgiving the first few rounds, but I expect that once the matches are 20 minutes behind schedule they'll be making teams clear the field and go, ready or not.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by DareDad

As long as the pieces fit in a box that's no larger than the transport configuration.

That said, you have 60 seconds to assemble the robot on the field. I'm sure the FTAs and Refs will be forgiving the first few rounds, but I expect that once the matches are 20 minutes behind schedule they'll be making teams clear the field and go, ready or not.

This sounds backwards, but I really hope they're firm about the time limit from the beginning. Set your robot down, 60 seconds to put it together, clear the field.

If you're giving teams freedom in their first few matches they'll adjust to that. Once you tighten it up they'll get annoyed/have to change their system. I'd rather have to start sub-60 seconds and never, ever - not even once - have the chance to go over it.

My advice? Practice your NASCAR-pit-speed assembly early, and often. Right now we only have one assembly that may stick outside the transport config, and if it does you can be sure our Drive Team will spend a good chunk of their practice getting that stuff on & off the robot as efficiently as possible.

[MrForbes]

I hope our robot design works, because I'm pretty sure it will fit in the transport configuration without having to do anything to it, aside from make sure two mechanisms are at the end of their travel in the right direction.

[MrJohnston]

I would be disappointed if the rule were not to be enforced... Abiding by it while giving the robot the functionality that we desire adds a layer of complexity to the build... I guess I could understand giving some "flexibility" to teams at the beginning of their week 1-3 events, but it would have to be limited lest it give an advantage to teams that disregarded the rule as they were designing their bot.