in the pits

[D.Fahringer]

I would always want to see something cool and unique at these events, but you have to be reasonable. Not all people are going to be as enthusiastic as you with your new creation. I am pretty sure the hovercraft cart would be blowing dirt, dust and little metal chips into the breathing air of teams near the floor working on their robots. There is leakage around the skirt to consider. Use it for technical education, fund-raising, and FUN !

[Koko Ed]

I still remember that massive boombox on wheels that one team had in Atlanta (forgot the number) and beside it being illegal I wonder how well they got along with the otehr teams who probably don't want to hear thumping bass all day long.
Remember, if you're looking to make something unique one, make sure it is within the rule and two make sure it's not going to turn every team against you. I'd rather have the support, goodwill and respect of every FIRST team at the competition than to have something cool and everybody hates our guts.

[dlavery]

My all-time favorite "addition" to the pit area was contributed during the 1998 Championship Competition in Orlando. One of the Florida teams (perhaps 233/Space Coast?) arrived with an eight-foot-tall Trojan Rabbit, right out of Monty Python! The entire thing fit over one of the team members who was riding a bicycle, and they wheeled it around the pits and food court areas all weekend long, threatening to storm the castle of any team that beat them in the competition. It was great! (and it worked wonderfully, all the way up to the point where the French team threw a cow at them; but that is another story... ) If anyone still has any pictures of that contraption, I would love to see them!



-dave

[Zippiot]

At my regional team 254 (cheesy poofs) had one of the car stereos on wheels, and it was cool for a while but it soon soured...
Does anyone else have an idea for something cool to make for the competition?
At the nationals last year i saw a little bicycle, but it had 2 wheels in front and 1 in back, anyways it was powered by a small battery and i think one of the black motors (cim or somethign like that) and my team liked that. Would a squad of little contraptions like that be ok (at my regional we can store stuff outside to keep it out of the way)? If not a squad at least a few, maybe one that has a trailer with a bench on it to transport the driver and the other 2 kids along with the mentor to the feild. You guys seem to be against a powered cart to move the bot, but what about one to transport us around?