The Pits

[UlTiMaTeP]

They are 10x10 minus the dividers

[dhitchco]

I need to resurrect this thread to get some better info:

1) There now is a rule 7.7.4 that states that

For safety and because of insurance regulations, teams cannot build any structure that supports people or items for storage above the work area in their pit space. No structures should be higher than 10 feet above the floor and must safely support any signs or displays mounted to the structure. FIRST will require the removal of any pit structure that is deemed unsafe by event management personnel and local committee members

OK...That makes a lot of sense


2) BUT, it also seems like the pit perimiter is 10'x10' at the Atlanta championship, but may be as small as 8'x8' at regionals.

Is there really any standard?

3) According to the official FIRST Q&A Forum (http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=371)

The intended table size is a 6’X30” banquet table, with no linen or draping. In some sites it may be larger, such as 8’X30”.

So it appears that the pits "may" be as small as 6' or 8' in width (yikes!)

Pits need to be set-up quickly onthe morning of the competition and can't be set-up the evening before; correct? namely, the rules stipulate that ONLY robot unpacking can occur with a small number of people BEFORE the 1st day of any event....

Some other pit thoughts we've been mulling-over
1) No roof/top over pit since the ambient lighting from gym/hall will be needed to work on robot
2) Need at least 80" to 90" of vertical clearance at front of pit/booth to roll robot on car in and out of pit area
3) Although the pit comes equipped with one table, we're thinking of re-using parts of the robot crate (e.g. the doors) as extra tables/shelves.

Other creative thoughts?

[GaryVoshol]

The size of the table in the pit and the overall size of the pit itself are independent variables - except of course that the pit must be at least as large as the supplied table.

Surely you don't interpret that because some regionals will have 6 x 2.5 -foot tables, that will be the maximum size of the pit?

[dhitchco]

Hi Gary,
Agreed. Each team needs to assume that the pit perimiter will be GREATER than the table size.....now, that would be funny!

Originally Posted by GaryV1188

Surely you don't interpret that because some regionals will have 6 x 2.5 -foot tables, that will be the maximum size of the pit?

Anyways, except for the Atlanta championship, there doesn't appear to be a guideline for pit size. If a team was to procure one of those pop-up tents or pop-up backdrops, it would be good to NOT have it too big which would encroach on your neighboring pits......and that's not "gracious professionalism" unless your a landlord mogul like Donald Trump!

I'd have to build a pit that is 10'x10' only to find that it's too big for most regionals, etc. Anyone else got input on this?

[Freddy Schurr]

Is the table-size like one of those tables you have at lunch or in the library? I though that the table was a lot smaller.

Anyway, we have to adjust now to fit the display under the table.

[yodameister]

Are any folding chairs provided in addition to the table?

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally Posted by yodameister

Are any folding chairs provided in addition to the table?

In past years (at least at competitions I've attended) there have not been chairs provided.

[dhitchco]

I concur with Katie that no folding chairs were provided in 2005 at:
Finger Lakes Regional
Buckeye Regional
Toronto Regional
Atlanta Championship

so.....your team should NOT be congregating in front of your pit except to show-off stuff to the judges as they make their rounds. Your team should be off meeting other teams and scouting them (their pits, robot, spirit, etc) or should be sitting in the stands cheering other teams.

But...with that said, if you have somebody on your team that really needs a chair, consider a way to put a lightweight chair into your robot crate or carry to the event.

Just be sure to NOT block the aisles with chairs, etc. It gets really crazy in the pit area.

ps: I'm still looking for info on the "size" of pits at various regionals.....

[devicenull]

Originally Posted by dhitchco

I concur with Katie that no folding chairs were provided in 2005 at:
Finger Lakes Regional
Buckeye Regional
Toronto Regional
Atlanta Championship

so.....your team should NOT be congregating in front of your pit except to show-off stuff to the judges as they make their rounds. Your team should be off meeting other teams and scouting them (their pits, robot, spirit, etc) or should be sitting in the stands cheering other teams.

But...with that said, if you have somebody on your team that really needs a chair, consider a way to put a lightweight chair into your robot crate or carry to the event.

Just be sure to NOT block the aisles with chairs, etc. It gets really crazy in the pit area.

ps: I'm still looking for info on the "size" of pits at various regionals.....

The pits are very, very crowded. So having a bunch of people in/around your pit would not be the best idea.. Unless you got one of the end ones, like we did at nationals

[EricH]

Originally Posted by dhitchco

Pits need to be set-up quickly onthe morning of the competition and can't be set-up the evening before; correct? namely, the rules stipulate that ONLY robot unpacking can occur with a small number of people BEFORE the 1st day of any event....

Pits can't be set up the evening before. The only time robot unpacking can occur before Thursday's pre-entry is Wednesday night at the Championship; all regionals have it about 1/2 hour before main opening on Thursday. Plus, takedown should be quick too as you need to get it down in an hour or so (give or take a bit, depending on how you do).