2008 Florida Regional

[Nawaid Ladak]

Originally Posted by Barry Bonzack

Having Fun. Tired. More later.

all of us were having fun

fyi, sam is looking for you

[Michelle Celio]

Originally Posted by Nawaid Ladak

my surprise is this: why no response to this thread, i was hooping to come home to a WHOLE bunch of analysis from Michelle, Barry, Arefin, etc. but looks like im not getting what i want. lol

**Current Analysis:

Field
Robots are killing the carpet which, while it gives me a job, is really bad for the carpet. I did about 200 repairs today (replacing zip ties, taping over gashes, cutting carpet snags).

Robots
I'm surprised about the lack of pure lap bots.

Team by Team (basically who I can remember)

56:I really like 56's robot, I just wish it could hurdle a little bit faster (the lifting basket is slow compared to the awesome punch it give to the trackball).
103: Never ceases to amaze me but they seem to be slacking compared to their performance at the New Jersey regional. But I was impressed by their first match of the day when it was them vs. 3 robots (their alliance partners hadn't shown up yet). Hopefully they'll pick up the pace tomorrow and do good in the eliminations.
179: Just...wow. Another quality Children of the Swamp machine. Very fast laps and decent speed for arm hurdler.
180: I really like Spam's robot too, but I want to know why they chose to use the sides they used, they seem to be unreliable but overall I love the wheeled arm that collects the balls movement.
233: Once PINK got their robot working, I was amazed. I expected a slower hurdle from their type of gripper but it's really speedy.
342: Reminds me a lot of 103, twins separated at birth perhaps?
744: I love the way that Shark Attacks arm moves, it looks like the drive team is getting used to it, but I really like their hurdling speed for what they have. The graphics on their robot are really cool too.
1523: Their launch system seems really unique to me, and I like the horn noise that happens before they hurdle. Question for anyone on 1523, why does it take so long for the hurdle to actually happen after the horn/why does the horn last so long?
1649: Who would of thought that a garbage can lid and two vacuums powered by kit motors would actually work? Not I. Also, I was really impressed on Thursday why they tipped over and then was able to lift themselves back to the upright position.
1902: Defiantly has more bacon than the pan can handle. I really like their design (yes it's similar to 121, and several others but I still like the strategy overall). It seems given the correct alliance they will do really good this year (not like thats any different from the past two years)
2023: My team, I know but they seemed to be having some problems in the begging of the day but eventually got on the ball. They seem to be good at knocking down balls, they're an ok hurdler and pretty decent at laps. IF YOU ARE ATTENDING FLORIDA be sure to stop by their pit and ask about the Differential Swerve drive they have going on.

Game Play
Overall I feel there is a lot more defense going on at Florida than week 1 and week 2 regionals. I haven't seen any of the other week 3 regionals so I can't speak for what is going on in comparison to that.

Theres been a lot of penalties but they don't seem to be deciding the matches like they have been at the other regionals (or might be hearing the results incorrectly).

Surprise!

Having Dean show up this morning was really nice since Florida hasn't seen Dean, Dave or Woodie since 2005 when Woodie Flowers visited. His speech went really well. It was relatively short and to the point with only a few tangents.

Special Mention
Team 79 - Krunch has their thing for Relay for Life which I'm really proud of. Best of luck to the team to raise money for such a great cause.

200+ Lego League Students from Brevard county that were brought over by 233 were graciously given tours of the pits by the FIRST Ambassadors and several members from 1902, they also were able to watch matches for about two hours.

Safety
Team 168 really impressed me with their safety stations. I've used 3 or 4 of the supplies there becuase of little nicks on my person (I'm clumsy and I donut like blood so I cover them)

Team 1902 also has some really cool and good smelling suntan lotion. Because you don't want to be "bacon" in the sun!

Volunteers
Koko Ed came down from Rochester and has been a great help around the field. It's always really great to see friends you don't get to see too often.

Wayne Penn also came down from mass. to do some MC work. He's doing really well and I love his energy. I just wish he'd dance with us on the field!

Chicken Dance
Did anyone notice that during the slow part of the song the people on the field run laps around the track. Yeah I wonder who came up with that I think it's a really fun change to the dance and ode to the game. I also wonder if our dance breaks are on the broadcast...



** Please keep in mind I've been up for over 12 hours on just 4 hours of sleep, some of this post may or may not make sense.

[Cooley744]

[quote=Michelle Celio;718137]**Current Analysis:

Field
744: I love the way that Shark Attacks arm moves, it looks like the drive team is getting used to it, but I really like their hurdling speed for what they have. The graphics on their robot are really cool too.


Why thankyou! BTW....^^^^ ? FROM BOB P.'s TEAM??????(he's the best) Anyway, we have been switching between drivers, but we are putting in our number 1 driver all 2mro. Unfortunatley, I don't feel our ranking matches up to our teams ability (yet I'm sure it's that way for many teams, it's how FIRST goes ). Pretty much need to focus on an alliance to get into finals.....................we are open to any alliance partners! Good Job today. Awesome performance by all. It's been a fun regional.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Michelle Celio

Robots are killing the carpet which, while it gives me a job, is really bad for the carpet. I did about 200 repairs today (replacing zip ties, taping over gashes, cutting carpet snags).

Same thing is happening in Detroit. By the time this field setup gets through WMich and GLR, there's gonna be more tape than carpet surface.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Michelle Celio

Safety
Team 168 really impressed me with their safety stations. I've used 3 or 4 of the supplies there becuase of little nicks on my person (I'm clumsy and I donut like blood so I cover them)

About safety.
There was a major incident in the pits yesterday where a member of 395 lost a part of his finger in the robot. I know you guys at times find the safety aspect of the game to be annoying and intrusive but it's incidents like this is why FIRST drives the safety initiatives so hard. Your body does not have replacement parts. Follow all safety procedures to the fullest even if it adds minutes to what you are doing. It'll be worth it in the long run.

[T3_1565]

to comment on these elims so far


HOLY CRAP!!! These are all really close matches... it's intense!!

[JM987]

Congrats 233, 86, and 1251 great regional

[T3_1565]

congrats to all teams in the finals... those were really exciting matches to watch!!! none of you lost those matches IMO!

Holy almost triple cap at the end on match two...

WOW.. is all I can say (besides the other stuff)

congrats again!!

[cdfps]

What a great regional.

A quick thank you list,

Team 79 and 801 for selecting our team for the final rounds.

Wayne Penn for so many things I would be crazy to try an list them all.

Shaun McNulty from Raider Robotics 25 for all his help and advice, we could not have done it without you.

Team 233 for patiently answering all my questions about their arm, though I still have more.

A big thanks to the guys at 342 who let us use their belt sander for a < 2 min repair in the final rounds!

Great kids, great event, great venue, great competition!

[killerofkiller]

Congrats to 233,1251 and 86
Congrats to MARS for the Chairmans!'

And Congrats to 180 for winning the J&J Sportsmanship award for the Third Year in a Row!!

[dr_robot]

Just wondering how everyone felt about the awards. Were they all fair and reasonable. A lot a great relatively new teams to fla got recognized which is great.

Just wondering how everyone feels.

[IBdrummer]

Originally Posted by Michelle Celio

**Current Analysis:

Field
Robots are killing the carpet which, while it gives me a job, is really bad for the carpet. I did about 200 repairs today (replacing zip ties, taping over gashes, cutting carpet snags).

Robots
I'm surprised about the lack of pure lap bots.

Team by Team (basically who I can remember)

56:I really like 56's robot, I just wish it could hurdle a little bit faster (the lifting basket is slow compared to the awesome punch it give to the trackball).
103: Never ceases to amaze me but they seem to be slacking compared to their performance at the New Jersey regional. But I was impressed by their first match of the day when it was them vs. 3 robots (their alliance partners hadn't shown up yet). Hopefully they'll pick up the pace tomorrow and do good in the eliminations.
179: Just...wow. Another quality Children of the Swamp machine. Very fast laps and decent speed for arm hurdler.
180: I really like Spam's robot too, but I want to know why they chose to use the sides they used, they seem to be unreliable but overall I love the wheeled arm that collects the balls movement.
233: Once PINK got their robot working, I was amazed. I expected a slower hurdle from their type of gripper but it's really speedy.
342: Reminds me a lot of 103, twins separated at birth perhaps?
744: I love the way that Shark Attacks arm moves, it looks like the drive team is getting used to it, but I really like their hurdling speed for what they have. The graphics on their robot are really cool too.
1523: Their launch system seems really unique to me, and I like the horn noise that happens before they hurdle. Question for anyone on 1523, why does it take so long for the hurdle to actually happen after the horn/why does the horn last so long?
1649: Who would of thought that a garbage can lid and two vacuums powered by kit motors would actually work? Not I. Also, I was really impressed on Thursday why they tipped over and then was able to lift themselves back to the upright position.
1902: Defiantly has more bacon than the pan can handle. I really like their design (yes it's similar to 121, and several others but I still like the strategy overall). It seems given the correct alliance they will do really good this year (not like thats any different from the past two years)
2023: My team, I know but they seemed to be having some problems in the begging of the day but eventually got on the ball. They seem to be good at knocking down balls, they're an ok hurdler and pretty decent at laps. IF YOU ARE ATTENDING FLORIDA be sure to stop by their pit and ask about the Differential Swerve drive they have going on.

Game Play
Overall I feel there is a lot more defense going on at Florida than week 1 and week 2 regionals. I haven't seen any of the other week 3 regionals so I can't speak for what is going on in comparison to that.

Theres been a lot of penalties but they don't seem to be deciding the matches like they have been at the other regionals (or might be hearing the results incorrectly).

Surprise!

Having Dean show up this morning was really nice since Florida hasn't seen Dean, Dave or Woodie since 2005 when Woodie Flowers visited. His speech went really well. It was relatively short and to the point with only a few tangents.

Special Mention
Team 79 - Krunch has their thing for Relay for Life which I'm really proud of. Best of luck to the team to raise money for such a great cause.

200+ Lego League Students from Brevard county that were brought over by 233 were graciously given tours of the pits by the FIRST Ambassadors and several members from 1902, they also were able to watch matches for about two hours.

Safety
Team 168 really impressed me with their safety stations. I've used 3 or 4 of the supplies there becuase of little nicks on my person (I'm clumsy and I donut like blood so I cover them)

Team 1902 also has some really cool and good smelling suntan lotion. Because you don't want to be "bacon" in the sun!

Volunteers
Koko Ed came down from Rochester and has been a great help around the field. It's always really great to see friends you don't get to see too often.

Wayne Penn also came down from mass. to do some MC work. He's doing really well and I love his energy. I just wish he'd dance with us on the field!

Chicken Dance
Did anyone notice that during the slow part of the song the people on the field run laps around the track. Yeah I wonder who came up with that I think it's a really fun change to the dance and ode to the game. I also wonder if our dance breaks are on the broadcast...



** Please keep in mind I've been up for over 12 hours on just 4 hours of sleep, some of this post may or may not make sense.

In reply to the chicken dance,
I might have been biased and not paying attention to much else, but I did see the base driver for 233 start doing it.
He may not have been 1st but he was the first one that I saw.
(I am the 233 tower operator, so thus the bias)

[IbleedPink233]

Originally Posted by JM987

Congrats 233, 86, and 1251 great regional

Yes, it was a great regional. Not just because we did well, but all of the teams were great and courteous, the competition was fierce, and it was all around ridiculously fun.
There were definitely some gloomy times for us, since we came to the competition with a non-scoring robot, then had some motors that were smoking like nicotine addict, then had a combo speed controller-potentiometer malfunction, then had our top roller motor blow out during eliminations, then had the robot disassembled when we should have been called for a match. I have seen our pit crew work magic before, but to get all of these things fixed and then to do so well - I never would have imagined.
Thanks to 1251 and 86. We formulated our strategies and they fulfilled their roles beautifully, even when we had a roller malfunction, or even when we were disabled (sorry that we got entangled, 348).
I would also like to give a shout out to the Robocoach from 179, who, when we were caught on 69 as they were falling and we were not helping the situation, signaled me about how to get out of the situation. Awesome GP, especially since if we had stayed like that, we probably would have lost that match.
Great job teams.

PS: I'd also like to commend 342 for excellent base driving skills - some of the most strategic defense and effective execution that I have ever seen.

[vic burg]

Well, Michelle, it was actually about 400 FLL children.
I'm just wondering if Brittany ever did that total count at the end of the safety goggles.... I didn't see her when I left.... Actually, come to think of it, I didn't say good-bye to many of you. But, I couldn't find anyone!!!! LOL
I had a great time though personally, you other guys and girls (volunteers, teams, mentors, etc.)
I would like to congratulate all the teams that participated in this event, to thank all of the other volunteers that helped out, to thank all of the sponsors and mentors there, and also thank UCF for the great new venue.
Also, thank you SOOOO MUCH Mike and Nancy for allowing me to volunteer, and for actually coordinating EVERYTHING today.... and of course thank you to all of the other coordinators and 'head-honchos'!!!!
THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

[Jetweb]

I was yelling at you guys when you were tangled up in 348 as well but you didn't see me then. 1251 definitely stepped to the plate in that match to bring in the win anyway though.
Grate matches played by the winning alliance, your flawlessness was un-beatable. congrats

JT (179 robocoach)