No time to 'play' between regionals!!

[archiver]

Posted by Dodd Stacy.

Engineer on team #95, Lebanon Robotics Team, from Lebanon High School and CRREL/CREARE.

Posted on 11/4/99 9:50 AM MST


In Reply to: Read carefully posted by Joe Johnson on 11/3/99 8:26 PM MST:



Joe,

Let me guess some answers to your questions, assuming FIRST runs true to historical form:

1) 'Do you have to use 'official' shippers .......? Maybe from the last two Regionals (CA and NE), to make sure all affected robots make it to the Nationals. Otherwise, I bet that teams can make their own arrangements, like PCHS's patented lock-n-load system, as long as they observe the spirit of the new rule, ie: no access after Saturday. Teams who have figured out less outrageously costly ways to ship than CF will hopefully be able to do so.

2) 'What about tools?' Who's to say you can't bring your tools with you? I certainly don't agree to be without my tools between Regional and Nationals.

3) 'What about spare parts?' We have always been able to make spares between events and bring them to the next one. We've debated in this forum whether 'improvements' are consistent with the spirit of sequestering the machines, but I think there has been general agreement that 'replacement' spares are ok.

4) 'What if your robot breaks (very seriously ......?' This is a tougher issue, but well-surveyed breakage ought to be repairable at the next event with spares. Weldments are problematic. Hopefully, the pit machine shop will have welding equipment (and skilled welders) available.

I certainly agree with you - this sure changes things. BUT, it does level the field re access to the 'bots, which we've chewed over here a lot in the past. AND, it adds a new dimension to this as an engineering problem. We should see some real bullet-proof designs and very robust mechanisms this year. The emphasis on good drawings of the parts is also a very reasonable incentive to do the job professionally. I really have to hand it to the few teams who build two (nominally) identical robots, and yes they will enjoy a (well deserved) advantage under the new rule. Perhaps they should be required (honor system) to build and ship (or sequester) the duplicate machine within the 6 week period? (I don't buy the argument that a duplicate robot is simply a very complete set of spare parts, which I argue in 3) is ok.)

I can't wait to see the other surprises in store this year!

Dodd