2008 Arizona Regional

[Don Knight]

Originally Posted by Cactus_Robotics

Don whos the mc gonna be this year though...?

I'm Happy to announce that Wayne Penn from Boston will be making the trip to the "Valley of the Sun" as our Emcee this year. We will also be training some local talent in that key position.

[Ryan Dognaux]

So it seems that the Arizona Regional webcast is up and running. I don't know about anyone else, but it's being pretty choppy, and while I'm glad that team 1828 is making the broadcast possible, is that going to be scrolling across the screen all day tomorrow and Saturday? It's a bit distracting.

[s_forbes]

Yeah, I think they're overdoing it on the effects a little...

I was watching it earlier, and it wasn't choppy until the number of viewers jumped up to 40-50. (with some luck I should be able to see it in person on friday and saturday and won't have to watch the choppy webcast)

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

So it seems that the Arizona Regional webcast is up and running. I don't know about anyone else, but it's being pretty choppy, and while I'm glad that team 1828 is making the broadcast possible, is that going to be scrolling across the screen all day tomorrow and Saturday? It's a bit distracting.

Yeah, its choppy for me too. The field is also super bright, making some of the 'metal' bots appear blend in and look like ghosts. I suspect it is because the field is so bright and the background is so dark that the camera's sensors are trying to find a middle ground, but in doing that the field is getting over exposed.

[vballterry]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

Yeah, its choppy for me too. The field is also super bright, making some of the 'metal' bots appear blend in and look like ghosts. I suspect it is because the field is so bright and the background is so dark that the camera's sensors are trying to find a middle ground, but in doing that the field is getting over exposed.

Thanks for the comments. It's practice for us also, so you might see some strange things today. NO, we won't have the scroll up all the time. Yes, we were training on some gadgets earlier.

We adjusted the brightness and contrast. Let me know if it helps. Our internet connection isn't the best, we're adjusting the frame rate to see if it will help.

[Jonathan Norris]

here's a hint for everyone watching the webcast, go menu-buffer time-increase to 5sec. It will improve the webcast alot.

Guys running the webcast, lower the video quality, hopefully that will increase the frame-rates. Its out right now...

[Nibbles]

The stream should work with any number of people, since it is streaming from ustream, not the stadium.

My web-based scouting system should be running in the stands tomorrow tracking scores, matches, and penalties, should be running. I could use some help entering data in. I'm a real person wearing a caution tape bow-tie (and team 498 button and/or black team shirt), probably in the camera area in the center of the seating.

Great seating/pit layout this year, by the way. Teams just need to learn that you do not own areas of the seating for yourselves...

[MrForbes]

here are some lousy pics of the match list for those who are interested....sorry for the lack of quality!

[Donut]

Unfortunately teams aren't receiving their printed version of the match schedule until tomorrow, all we got was to see it on the video feed. I (and a number of other teams) took down the matches we were in, but I don't think anyone got the entire list.

For anyone who wants an exciting match watch match #1 tomorrow at 9:30 Arizona time. I remember that 39 is in it, one of the best teams here, so it should be a good opener for the regional.

And I'm glad to see team 125's robot arrive today. Can't wait to actually see it on the field tomorrow!

[s_forbes]

And I never saw where the pits are... are they in the back loading area? (and are they open to the public still this year?)

[Donut]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

And I never saw where the pits are... are they in the back loading area? (and are they open to the public still this year?)

Kind of. The practice field is in its normal place next to the machine shop in the back loading area. The pits are on the South side of the stadium under the seating (the areas in the past that were large empty exhibition rooms that teams would cut through to get outside faster).

[s_forbes]

Sounds cool! I'll be sure to check it all out tomorrow morning (hooray for being able to go!)

[MrForbes]

here's a bunch of not too good pictures of most of the robots, but it's practice day and most were being worked on so the robots are not complete.

http://selectric.org/nerds/2008az/

Sorry again for the not so nice web page...it was easy for me to put them there, but not so easy for you to see them.

[BornaE]

We got our match list at 8:40, unfortunately I don't have it with me.

and yes we are on the match #1, Thanks for the comment, your robot was one of the few that were running, and it scores well.

Good luck to all teams tomorrow, should be fun.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Donut

And I'm glad to see team 125's robot arrive today. Can't wait to actually see it on the field tomorrow!

We're also very excited to have our robot in our possession even though we did not get it until 3 pm today

The good news:
We got the robot
We are close to being ready to compete on a full scale

The bad news:
We are not fully inspected
We definitely will be missing our first match tomorrow (Match #2)

We did our best in the 5 hours we had to get the robot as up and running as possible.

Hopefully tomorrow by lunch everyone will see us hurdle, finally.



By the way thanks to all the teams who have been helping us out with parts, information and everything else. Teams 842, 498 and 698 have been class acts and we thank you guys for everything you are doing for us.

It's been a very long journey, and its only thursday night....we're confident however that we can get through this and by tomorrow afternoon it will be like none of this ever happened.