The 5th NYC FIRST! Regional in 2005

[Denman]

759 are currently in a bit of a panic. The robot is stuck in customs, we are desperately trying to get it sorted... I think even if our robot isn't arrived, we will still be there. Its been stuck since march 1st ... we dont exactly know why. I'll keep you all updated...

[Rich Wong]

Originally Posted by Denman

759 are currently in a bit of a panic. The robot is stuck in customs, we are desperately trying to get it sorted... I think even if our robot isn't arrived, we will still be there. Its been stuck since march 1st ... we dont exactly know why. I'll keep you all updated...

OUCH!

KEEP US UPDATED IN NYC.
If your BOT doesn’t get thru customs or ends up in the Caribbean islands; contact me ASAP (IM or email) and I'll try to arrange for a KOP-BOT base (assembled) for you to work with on Thursday.

[Denman]

i believe we have contacted first a lot and it should be sorted. I will as i said post updates. I'm hoping its just a scare and it will be fine...

[Denman]

its going good

We are somewhere around 13th i think, and we won the imaging award. I was at the machine shop when the other awards were announced, as someone managedt o break the steel on steel welds.... ... We got inspected by john neun, but i'm not sure if it is the one JvN.... i havn't seen any pics etc, and i found 2 john neuns on here lol...


Anyway, see you all tomorrow!
Steve

[Rich Wong]

Yes you did.....Team 795 is the winner of the Imagery Award at NYC!

And:
Innovation in Control Award won by Team 694 Stuyvesant HS
Xerox Crativity Award won by Team 1257 Technical and Magnet HS
Drive Tommorrow's Technology Award won by Team 354 G. Westinghouse HS
KPC and B Award won by Team 1155 Bronx Science HS
Judge's Award won by YMCA & Rice HS & The Frederick Douglas Academy
Website Award Award won by Team 555 Montclair HS
Autodesk Visualization Award won by Team 1257 Technical and Magnet HS
Regional WFA won by Tom Ferguson of Team 694


http://www2.usfirst.org/2005comp/Events/NY/awards.html

BTW- that is JVN's dad! That is the real JVN (Sr.)

[TonzOFun]

So far the NYC Regional seems to be going really well. I didn't hear of many bots in massive need of repair (based off of the lack of supply calls put out) and everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun. There are a lot of good teams competing at the competition and many rookie teams are surpassing my expectations with designs I would never have thought of, such as 1689's huge scissor lift and a couple of other designs whose team numbers I'm forgetting.

[mtaman02]

yes the NYC Regional is going extremely well, little to no scoring problems as of late. ummm however one thing i frown upon is the amount of penalties being issued - but eh its only a game nothing to get all worked up about. JVNs father is here inspecting the robots =) got a pic which ill post saturday nite.

Good luck to all the Teams competing,


Rich we need some line dancing music and the volume to be raised a tad.

[TonzOFun]

Originally Posted by mtaman02

little to no scoring problems as of late. ummm however one thing i frown upon is the amount of penalties being issued - but eh its only a game nothing to get all worked up about.

The few scoring problems were worked out in the first four to five rounds.

The penalties, on the other hand, came by the truck loads. The massive quantities of penalties wasn't because of heavy-handed refs, but because teams were making simple mistakes.

1) Human Loading Zone
a)Robot not touching triangle.
b)Human player not in box.
c)Opposing robots hitting bots in the loading zones.
d)Teams using tetras that had hit the ground outside the field.

2) Uncapping by accident

The second penalty only happened once or twice, but the Human Loading Zone caused penalties for all but four rounds.

EDIT: I didn't think the music was too low. Normally the music is too loud for people's tastes. THe lower level actually made it easier for teams to communicate among themselves in the stands.

[mtaman02]

ok i understand that the music needs to be at a respectable volume but when u have to sit in front of the speaker to hear it its a totally different story. All i kept hearing was robots bashing and stuff falling but no real sounds coming from the speakers. I had asked the DJ about it and he said that he had his volume maxed out and that its up to the AV team to kick the volume up a notch. However during the last couple of dozen matches the music was finally noticeable. =( [EDIT - i'm watching the video of the matches now and i noticed the music to be at a fairly decent level but maybe its only because i was plugged in directly to the feed and not doing the recording free lancing]

Crowd control too and from the field was not a problem on my side because me and another team quer managed to get a method worked out. espicially during the final rounds of the regional.

pits was not that bad - as if it ever changed in the past 2 years. =)

[Denman]

was good

Well done to 694 for winning chairmans, and for being picked by the second alliance. We had a good match (4 rounds!!!!!!)
anyway
i'll post more when i get home
s

[Waynep]

On behalf of 395, we would like to thank Team 375 and Team 1230 for being our alliance partners and working so well together. We could not have done it without either of you. Special Congratulations to 1230 for qualifying for Nationals for the 1st Time and now going down to ATL with us!

38, 555, 1660. We're sorry about the problems you faced during elims. We could not be more honored to play an alliance in the finals that never stopped trying even when things looked grim. Your alliance fought hard, had all 3 robots been 100% I'm not sure the outcome would have been the same. Especially given 38's capping ability unchecked (one of the coolest tetra grippers, loading and delivery methods, my favorite design by far), 555's unique strategy and ability to rapidly deliver tetras under the goal, and 1660 for being one of the most impressive and effective rookie teams at the regional. So congratulations to you for being Regional Finalists

We'd also like to Congratulate Team 694 for their Chairman's and Woodie Flowers Award win.

There were a lot of gracious teams at NYC which we had the pleasure of working/assisting. As a mentor, seeing how excited, appreciative, and inspired all of the students were could not have made me happier. Working with other teams to try and help them run their best, and in turn seeing what they got out of it is more special than winning the Regional. I must have gotten a thousand hugs and smiles between the various members of Team 1230, the Lionics from the time we picked them to the end. Seeing how grateful we were affirmed that no matter how elims went we had made the right decision in our alliance selection. I know that some of you may view this as easy for me to say with our accomplishments, but I want to remind you all that winning on the field isn't everything. Battles are won everyday with the self-confidence you gain, repsect for your teammates as well as science and technology, knowledge and experience that you gain, working with mentors and other professionals, having fun etc. Please do not lose sight of this, continue to work hard to spread the message of FIRST in the community, get more students involved and other things will come. When you focus on being a gracious professional, you're winners and the winnings will come.

Winning at all costs especially at the expense of your opponents is not in the spirit of FIRST. All of the teams have worked hard to put a robot on the field and compete with it there is absolutely NO REASON to try and pound other robots into submission. There is no need for unnecessary roughness, ramming, pinning, stuffing robots into goals, tipping other robots, not to mention risking taking penalties for your alliance ro getting disqualified. Kamikazes were not cool in World War II, nor are they in FIRST. I have not nor ever will run an "Aggressive Defensive Strategy" with an alliance of mine and I hope you will consider making sure that your team doesn't either. FIRST is about bringing out the best in everyone involved, let the teams play at their best, and you play at your best against them and see how you actually measure up against one another. Earn the respect of other teams for being a gracious team that puts out a good robot that plays with a solid clean strategy.

I want to personally thank all the students, volunteers, and other team members that introduced themselves to me who now know me by name and I got to meet and work with over the weekend. Team 395 had a great time competing with every one of the teams competing in New York. We hope to see you at Nationals or next year back in the big apple.

Best,
Wayne

[Ianworld]

The regional so far has been a blast. 694 is right behind the brits in 13th or 14th(not sure where they finally landed.) They have .11 RP's on us. *shakes fist in mock anger*

The top teams i've seen(and i'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch since i'm too busy driving, building and fixing to watch much), 38, 522, 375, 1257, 395, and many more!

[Simon Strauss]

Originally Posted by Denman

The robot is stuck in customs

what is there for customs to be so concerned about though? i mean unless you packed the hollow aluminum with cocaine or something which i doubt you did. there aren't any any agricultural things for them to worry about and its not a killing machine so why would they keep it. its probably that $@#$@#$@#$@# American state department. w/e hope it gets here in time if it doesn't I'm sure we'll all figure out a GP solution. i agree with what people were all saying before that we should make our own team social. if any of the teams want to get together and give the out-of-towner's a tour of our great city the night before competition email me and ill try to organize something. the email is Hockeygoalie33@nyc.rr.com

[Denman]

edit:
misread - so you mean wednesday? We are meeting up with 694 in the afternoon. Maybe you could give a tour on the morning?
odd : http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2005...lic_Agenda.pdf
has a bit for team social
yet http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/2005...tyRegional.pdf says there isn't one...

[Rich Wong]

New York City Regional Public Agenda *Updated*


Thursday, March 24, 2005

8:30AM .............. 3 Team Reps to uncrate
9:30AM ...............Pits and Machine Shop open
9:30AM-1:00PM.....Registration and inspection
12:00AM-5:00PM...Practice rounds
1:00PM–2:00PM.... Lunch
8:00PM................Pits and Machine Shop close


Friday, March 25, 2005

8:00AM.................Pits and Machine Shop open
10:00AM ..............Opening ceremonies
10:20AM-5:00PM....Seeding matches
12:00PM-1:00PM ....Lunch
5:00PM..................Awards ceremony
6:00PM-7:00PM ......Team Social
7:00PM .................Pits and Machine Shop close

Saturday, March 26, 2005

8:00AM .................Pits and machine shop open
9:00AM .................Opening ceremonies
9:20AM-11:15PM.....Seeding matches
11:15PM ...............Alliance Selections
12:00PM-1:00PM.....Lunch
1:00PM-3:00PM.......Final rounds
3:00PM..................Awards ceremony
6:00PM..................Pits and Machine Shop close, crates packed for shipping


**Schedule subject to change. All times are estimated based on flow of rounds.
See Pit Administration table for updated times.