[FVC]: Transporting your robot to the Championship

[nonother]

For all those teams that are flying to the Championship, how are you transporting your robot?

Our team hasn't settled on an idea yet, but we are leaning towards disassembling our robot into 3 parts and then taking them on the plane with us as carry-on. We're really wary of placing the robot in the lower luggage hold or shipping to the hotel ahead of time.

We'd love to know what you plan on doing as there could definetly be better ways that we have not thought of. Especially for teams that competed last year...what did you do last year? Past experiences are always very valuable.

[Francis-134]

Last year, my team placed the robot into a bin and closed it with some reusable zip-ties (not sure what they are really called, but they've got a round hole and bunch of studs on the long bit). In the bin, we put in some rags and the like because they could provide adequate protection to the robot without the danger of fragments of packing peanuts getting into gears or the mirco controller. We had no problems with security or damaging of the bot.

We opened the box once we got the crate from baggage claim and the robot was perfectly fine. A really easy way to make sure you are not damaged is to place the bot in a HARD plastic bin (like what the FRC KOP comes in) with a little padding, and maybe some fragile stickers. Don't forget to put a piece of paper on it with your address and contacts phone number, just in case something does happen.

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by Francis-134

Don't forget to put a piece of paper on it with your address and contacts phone number, just in case something does happen.

As with ALL your luggage, don't forget to include a piece of paper inside with your destination hotel/contact info, as well as a home address/contact info. Should the luggage get astray you might have a chance of recovering it while still in Atlanta.

[volcom248]

Well we arent taking a plane but on the bus we are putting it in the seat next to someone so if you can do that than you should.

[Rick TYler]

Don't underestimate the ability of the TSA to find that your robot looks suspicious and has to be shipped to Cabo San Lucas instead of Atlanta. I personally would NOT take my robot along as luggage. I have had two incidents in the last two years where my bag was "accidentally" put on an airplane to Mexico. When the bag caught up to me, it was obviously rummaged through and things were missing. I think they were stolen here in Seattle and then the bag sent to Mexico to delay the discovery of the theft. This happened on two different airlines.

Ship it UPS or FedEx overnight or second-day. You'll be happier.

[Thiele]

Rick you said to ship it overnight and I think it is a great idea -- What if you don't know anyone in Atlanta?

[KathieK]

See if your hotel will accept and hold packages for you.

[ManicMechanic]

Found this post on the FLL forum
"Our experience in traveling to Atlanta from Tucson last year – a team member carried the robot on the plane and our spare RCX on a simple chassis went in checked luggage.

There was no problem with carry on at all.

The RCX in the luggage was a different story – the luggage received some extra attention from the TSA staff. Our checked luggage RCX had been opened and the cables and batteries had been removed but left in the suit case. I would not put anything with batteries and wires which you want to stay assembled in the checked luggage."

Our hotel won't accept packages . Has anyone successfully transported a Vex robot in carry-on luggage? My suspicion is with all the metal parts, unlike LEGO, they're not as likely to allow you to carry on.

If checked luggage is the only choice, we plan to disconnect the wires and batteries and store them separately.

[Chuck Glick]

Team 1712, both the VEX team and FRC team will be shipping their robots within our shipping crate to ATL. We also need to fit all of our tools and other things needed for the pit as well in the crate, so it's gonna be a tight fit! Good luck to everyone in ATL!

-Chuck

[Chuck Glick]

Originally Posted by ManicMechanic

Has anyone successfully transported a Vex robot in carry-on luggage? My suspicion is with all the metal parts, unlike LEGO, they're not as likely to allow you to carry on.

If checked luggage is the only choice, we plan to disconnect the wires and batteries and store them separately.

Yes you can transport vex parts, but only unassembled on carry on. I found this out traveling back from Texas last year, however it probably depends who gets you through security (may not be the case anymore do to rise in security, I don't suggest risking it). You still need to check in the controllers and batteries (I suggest in a bag with clothes, nice and soft!) and if you are ambitious enough (and ready to answer lots of security questions, or risk the bot being confiscated) try to check it in as well. If you take this path I suggest you to talk to right airport officials and show them exactly what it is before they clear it; go to them before they come to you.

Good Luck and Keep us posted!

-Chuck

[Jessica Boucher]

Bring it in a box and bring a roll of packing tape with you. That way you can open the box, show them the insides, and then tape it back up once you're done.

[John Gutmann]

Find a team that is taking a bus to ATL then ask if you can overnight it to them and have them bring it.

-John

[emmell]

Originally Posted by Thiele

Rick you said to ship it overnight and I think it is a great idea -- What if you don't know anyone in Atlanta?

Well, hopefully my family won't kill me, but I will graciously volunteer to be a recipient of any team's Vex Robot if they want to ship it to Atlanta in advance.

My name is Mannie Lowe and I am one of the coordinators of Georgia's FVC tournament and a very involved volunteer for several FLL teams, tournaments, and the mentor for Chimera FRC/FVC #832. I will also be volunteering at the Championships this year. You can PM me and I will give you the particulars of where to ship the bot and will email/phone you when it arrives.

Good luck to all coming to my great town. Go FIRST!!!

Mannie

[Jeff Pahl]

I'm not sure what they charge, but if you are flying Delta, they have a cargo service called "Delta Dash", which lets you send a package by air cargo and they guarantee that it will go on the flight you specify. You can pick it up at their office at the Atlanta airport an hour after the plane lands. The air cargo gets treated a little better than the stuff the baggage handlers "inspect". I'd pack it inside something like the plastic tote boxes the FRC kit comes in. This option is probably more expensive than FedEx. Most other airlines have freight or cargo services, too.

If you want to ship FedEx, there is a FedEx Service Center in downtown Atlanta at 401 Windsor Street SW, ZipCode 30312. It's about 1.7 miles from the World Congress Center (5 minutes), and you can ship the package to "Hold At FedEx" and then pick it up there. There is no extra charge for this service if I remember correctly. They are open from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM. If you need to be able to pick it up before or after these hours, there is a FedEx Kinkos on Peachtree Street that's a little farther away but is open 24 hours.

Or just take Mannie up on his offer to have all the Vex robots shipped to his house He's a great guy and you will not have anything to worry about if you go with that option.

I used to be in the overnight shipping business... No matter how you ship it please put your information both on the outside and the inside, including a phone number that you can be reached at in Atlanta. It was amazing how many things would have the airbill fall off or get destroyed and had no other identification. They usually figure it out eventually, but if there is no other contact info it can take a couple of days.

[ManicMechanic]

Thanks Jeff, for the great info and Mannie for your very generous offer. Still thinking through the options...