[FRC Blog] FIRST Choice 2017

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by Foster

Wow, 23 items!! Is that the record for items in one order via FirstChoice?

We certainly weren't trying for a record. We only got three 50 point items, (10DoF, compressor, signal light), most of the items were 5-20 points each. We actually have 54 pieces in the box. Amazing that it ships for only $16, so these pieces cost us an average of about 30 cents to ship. We even have 50 points left!

Mostly we ordered key items that we pay for from time to time, but also put in for things that looked like they would be neat to have in the prototyping bag of tricks, like the Oldhams.

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Everything is better than the flags.

Looks like those were only used in 2006 and 2007. I'm guessing that they fell out as often as not when a robot got tipped on its side. Even back then, bumpers didn't count towards weight, so they had to be removeable. For all the pain we go through with making easily swappable (or reversible) bumpers, I can see that that was worse. It also restricted the GDC from any mobility incentive to keep robots short (e.g. lowest rung on the pyramid in 2013 and the low bar in 2016).

What's more interesting from my dumpster dive of the rules is that this will be (presuming it's mandatory, which is likely, given that its again in the KoP) the 11th consecutive year with what at least appears to be the same signal light. We should probably have some 10th anniversary celebration - it's a shame that the RSL doesn't really fit the steampunk theme very well.

[Lil' Lavery]

The flags were used from 2006-2008. Having trailers in 2009 made it so the colors of the bumpers on the trailers could be used to identify alliances. They carried that forwards to robot bumpers starting in 2010.

While infinitely easier to see than the tiny lights used in 2004-2005, the flags just weren't all that visible. Spectators had to really focus to find an visual indicator of which robots were on which alliance. And even when you saw them, it always appeared to be a pretty low tech and inelegant solution.

Tipping and falling out wasn't really a huge concern, because most robots are done when they tip anyway. However, errant tubes were prone to getting stuck on the flags in 2007, which counted as possession of a game piece. Additionally the rules for the flag holders (had to be held vertically on the top of the robot) were hard to work around with some ramp designs in 2007. Ultimately the inspectors/refs would end up looking the other way for most teams, much to the chagrin of the some the teams that put significant effort into located their flags to avoid ramp interference (such as 1114, who had a really nifty design to keep their flag vertical as they unfolded).

[maxnz]

Originally Posted by Conor Ryan

You'd think we would:
2) move to something that is easier to mount

This past season, I actually found that if you take the bearing portion out of a KOP pillow block bearing, the RSL will fit perfectly where the bearing was. You then use the screw part of the RSL to hold it in the bearing holder. You can then zip tie it wherever you need it without worrying about it falling off.

[Chief Hedgehog]

For 4607 we were very happy with our haul:

1. TX-1 (now crossing fingers for the ZED Camera to hit FC round two)
2. Talon SRX (4)
3. Victor SP (2)

We will wait to see what round two brings us...

[CMBrandon]

How many credits does each team get to spend?

[Lireal]

Originally Posted by CMBrandon

How many credits does each team get to spend?

Each team gets 750 credits the first round, and than (I think) another 200 more for the second round.

[maxnz]

FIRST Choice is giving me this:

{"Message":"The given key was not present in the dictionary."}

Any idea why?

[Cothron Theiss]

Originally Posted by maxnz

FIRST Choice is giving me this:

{"Message":"The given key was not present in the dictionary."}

Any idea why?

I'm running into the same issue. I logged in successfully yesterday, and now am running into the same error.

[cpapplefamily]

I googled first choice andymark and used this link. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&u act=8&ved=0ahUKEwjdiZTW1PLQAhWMWBoKHV2aCRsQjBAIIjA B&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffirstchoicebyandymark.com%2Flo gin&usg=AFQjCNHZebxmPoKlOb7IXDmozE8iRMH8sA

or

https://firstchoicebyandymark.com/login

and got in.

[Mark McLeod]

Sold out of several more products now that open ordering began.

NeveRest 60 (fc17-020)
PG71 Gearmotor With Encoder (fc17-017)
Sensor6PAK (fc17-023)
the purple hex shaft collars
etc.

[frcguy]

Originally Posted by cpapplefamily

I googled first choice andymark and used this link. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&u act=8&ved=0ahUKEwjdiZTW1PLQAhWMWBoKHV2aCRsQjBAIIjA B&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffirstchoicebyandymark.com%2Flo gin&usg=AFQjCNHZebxmPoKlOb7IXDmozE8iRMH8sA

or

https://firstchoicebyandymark.com/login

and got in.

Neither of those are working for me.

EDIT: I went here: http://firstchoicebyandymark.com/everything/ and I'm able to access the site.

[Mark McLeod]

I get the message when I do certain things, like try to login, but if logged in I can navigate around.

[SoftwareBug2.0]

Let me first start by saying that my team is very happy with the results and with the process for FIRST Choice this year.

Ok, now that that's out of the way let's do some analysis:

Too cheap:
Also known as "what sold out?" or "what should have been worth more points?"
In no particular order

500EX Hex Hub (fc17-013) 
AMT103 Cable Assembly, 5-pin, 5 x 22AWG, 1 ft. (fc17-030) 
AMT103 Cable Assembly, 5-pin, 5 x 22AWG, 6 ft. (fc17-031) 
Pneumatic Solenoid, Double Valve Kit 2016 (fc17-041) 
CIM Motor (fc17-069) 
Talon SRX (fc17-070) 
Victor SP (fc17-071) 
NavX-Micro sensor (fc17-074) 
CAN Wire, 22 AWG, Green/Yellow twisted pair, 4 ft. long (fc17-081) 
1/2" Hex Shaft Collar, Blue (fc17-082) 
1/2" Hex Shaft Collar, Gold (fc17-083) 
1/2" Hex Shaft Collar, Green (fc17-084) 
1/2" Hex Shaft Collar, Orange (fc17-085) 
1/2" Hex Shaft Collar, Red (fc17-087) 
Denso window motor connector 2 housings & 4 terminals (fc17-150) 
DryLin® W, linear guide system, guide carriage, assembled (fc17-151) 
Precision Metalworking Gauge Kit (fc17-156) 
Acer Aspire E11 Netbook (fc17-158)

Too expensive:
Less than 4% of available items claimed; aka maybe the price was too high
Ordered by smallest fraction sold of inventory gone

Single Edge Steel Track, Size 3, Variable Length 16-26" (fc17-148) 
Single Edge Steel Track, Size 1, Variable Length 16-26" (fc17-146) 
Mounting bracket (fc17-142) 
USB A Male to B Male, 2m, Grey(fc17-024) 
iglide plastic clip bearing (fc17-059) 
Fan, small, 20mm 412 (fc17-039) 
Industrial RJ45 Modular Plug (fc17-001) 
iglide plastic thrust washer (fc17-062) 
Lead Screw (fc17-139) 
Compact Fan, 12V, 10mm 412F (fc17-040) 
iglide plastic flange bearing (fc17-060) 
8 x 3-conductor Lever nuts (fc17-134) 
iglide plastic sleeve bearing (fc17-061) 
AndyMark Anchor Bolt (fc17-015) 
MC5e Catagory 5e Modular Patch Cord, (colors & lengths vary) (fc17-154) 
47mm OD, 17mm ID Bearings (Sleeve of 10) (fc17-126) 
igubal spherical rod end bearing EBRI-10R (fc17-065) 
iglidur Tribo-Filament (fc17-056) 
Fan, large 4412 ML (fc17-038) 
26mm OD, 10mm ID Bearings (Sleeve of 8) (fc17-127) 
Teflon tape PTFE-1/4 (fc17-055)

Unnecessary limits:
There was a per-team limit but less than 25% of available stock was used
Ordered by fraction of stock remaining

Digital Multimeter Model 175 (fc17-136) 
LaunchPad Evaluation Kit (fc17-131) 
HS-322HD Servo (fc17-053) 
iglide® PRT slewing ring (fc17-063) 
Robot Signal Light (i.e. Panel Signal Device) (fc17-145)

[maxnz]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

What's more interesting from my dumpster dive of the rules is that this will be (presuming it's mandatory, which is likely, given that its again in the KoP) the 11th consecutive year with what at least appears to be the same signal light. We should probably have some 10th anniversary celebration - it's a shame that the RSL doesn't really fit the steampunk theme very well.

I was looking through rules and it seems that Victor 884s have been legal since at least 2003. (I couldn't find anything for 2004 or prior to 2003. And 2017 hasn't been completely released yet.) 14 years.

[marshall]

A note to Team's who received the TX1. It is shipping from Nvidia and not AndyMark. Just FYI.