2008 Wisconsin Regional

[Shyguynate64]

Originally Posted by BigJ

It's legal if the shooter isn't lifting the ball or moving towards the Overpass... then again, you still gotta be ale to take the hit

It was a great regional, thanks to 1625 and 1730 for the pick, and congrats to all the other teams at the regional. It was a blast.

I was wondering not if the shooter gets hit, but if the arm robot moves so that its arm blocks the ball.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by Shyguynate64

I was wondering not if the shooter gets hit, but if the arm robot moves so that its arm blocks the ball.

I don't think there is any rule against blocking an already launched ball.

The rule about protection for shooter is that the top of the ball has to be higher than the line divider (it doesn't matter if the ball is being lifted or not) or the robot has to be moving towards the overpass in order to recieve protection. This is something that I noticed with 1730. Right before they shot, they stopped most of the time allowing them to be hit. I didn't see any teams take advantage of it, though.

[AllieLallah15]

Originally Posted by Chaos in a Can

Also, we heard over the intercom that someone was in need of a plutonium battery. Are you sure that's a legal part?
(Better yet, how'd you get that announced?)

Last year we got "Attention in the pits. Team 2169 is in need of a flux capacitor." announced.

It was amazing.

[AllieLallah15]

Also, in the practice matches, it was team 2169 and another arm bot that scored 130 points.

[Shyguynate64]

Originally Posted by AllieLallah15

Also, in the practice matches, it was team 2169 and another arm bot that scored 130 points.

Did that match have all 6 robots and 2 minutes long, because I know that there werent always 6 robots, and many of the practice matches were longer the 2 minutes.

[BigJ]

1675 had a flux capacitor that ran on safety tokens instead of plutonium!

[Shyguynate64]

On our robot before the regionals, when we had weight to spare, we had an extra vector speed controller and spike relay, which we connected with a green piece of pneumatic tubing, and called the spike relay "super charger", and the speed controller "instant win".

[Dan Petrovic]

Team 166 would love to thank everyone for what you did when we received the Gracious Professionalism award.

Nothing was better than hearing everyone else chant "Wicked Awesome!" as we made our way down to the field.

We would like to thank Team 141 and Team 1259 for being great partners in the elimination rounds. You guys kept a great, positive attitude during those matches.

[hillale]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

I don't think there is any rule against blocking an already launched ball.

The rule about protection for shooter is that the top of the ball has to be higher than the line divider (it doesn't matter if the ball is being lifted or not) or the robot has to be moving towards the overpass in order to recieve protection. This is something that I noticed with 1730. Right before they shot, they stopped most of the time allowing them to be hit. I didn't see any teams take advantage of it, though.

Yeah, we were concerned about having defense played on us while we were hurdling. We talked to the ref about it and checked it out. On a field built to the specifications put forward by FIRST, we ball would have protruded above the top of the lane divider. However, the one at milwaukee was 6'2" instead of 6' so we weren't covered. And yes, blocking an already released ball is a legitimate strategy, kudos to 537 on blocking and withstanding the force of the projectile. That was quite a sight.

[galesc]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

I'm not a big fan of all the typical congratulations for the winners/thanking alliance partners that everyone does, but 1714 is truely deserving of the chairman's award. While they are not that well known here, they are the real deal. Every time there is some publicity for FIRST, community service or anything related to FIRST happens in the Milwaukee area 1714 is involved and most of the time leading and organizing it.

Not to take anything away from the winners, but it is always difficult to see elimination matchs effected or decided by robots breaking down. In the Semifinals, 1625 was 'shooterless' for a match and a half, and 1730 bent their ball picker upper, making it 'shooterless' too for almost an entire match. I think those two teams were a clearly the best two teams at the regional and it is unfortunate to see them fall short by breaking. Then in the finals 1652 broke down, forcing 1306 (not 2169 as mentioned above). In the final match, 2169 broke down or got stuck on thier first lap.

I do agree with you that 1714 is a great team and deserves recognition for all of there accomplishments.

However, I don't agree with you about finals being decided by robots breaking down. You are taking away from my alliance accomplishing winning the regional, and I will tell you why. You can build an awesome shooting robot, but it doesn't do any good if you don't build it robustly. During the entire competition our robot, need only fine tuning, but no major repairs. Our alliance and pit neighbor 2549 needed little repairs either. It is also not wise to hinge your whole design on the fate of one small component. If you watch the footage from the regional 171's ball collecting belt cam off in the end of the final match, however we were still able to operate with the other belt.

So, although I am bias, I disagree with your assessment of the best teams at the regional. The design process starts with the concept and ends with the longevity of your design. I think the best teams won the regional!

Casey Gales
Mechanical Engineer

[galesc]

Originally Posted by Aren_Hill

i'm am completely confident if both shooter robots were functioning the arms wouldn't have stood a very good chance.

if video of our last qualification match is anywhere count the hurdles.
shooters are still better

If both shooters were built more durable they may have been better. But the shooter design is more fragile, and it is still part of the outcome if your robot breaks. Thats like saying, my car would have won the race if the transmission didn't blow up. So, its not shooter verses arm, its durable versus fragile. That is the design dilemma.....

Casey Gales
Mechanical Engineer

[Chaos in a Can]

But, our transmission did... umm... never mind. XD

A shooter isn't necessarily more fragile than an arm.
I've seen multiple arms fall apart during a match, but many shooters, especially the mechanically simple ones like ours, would have to take quite a beating to break.
Breakdowns are also often caused by parts not specific to either shooters or arms. Problems in the drivetrain or electronics can easily leave you motionless on the field.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by galesc

However, I don't agree with you about finals being decided by robots breaking down. You are taking away from my alliance accomplishing winning the regional, and I will tell you why. You can build an awesome shooting robot, but it doesn't do any good if you don't build it robustly. During the entire competition our robot, need only fine tuning, but no major repairs. Our alliance and pit neighbor 2549 needed little repairs either. It is also not wise to hinge your whole design on the fate of one small component. If you watch the footage from the regional 171's ball collecting belt cam off in the end of the final match, however we were still able to operate with the other belt.

So, although I am bias, I disagree with your assessment of the best teams at the regional. The design process starts with the concept and ends with the longevity of your design. I think the best teams won the regional!

Casey Gales
Mechanical Engineer

I did not say your team was bad or that your team would have lost to them in the finals if they would not have broken. I think it is disapointing to watch a match that one or two teams breaks instead of having all 6 robots play thier hearts out and the match be decided on a last second place or knock off. As a fan watching the matches, most would agree that this is more exciting than having a robot stuck or broken. If I offended you or your team, I am sorry.

Last year at Wisconsin, we were paired with 1816 in the eliminations. We thought we had a very strong alliance. But in the semifinals, 1816's banebot transmission broke on the left (?) side. Without thier defense, we lost the next 2 matchs. It is a very bad feeling to lose because someone on your alliance breaking down. I would have much rather lost by simply losing to a better alliance. Then, I would have known that we were not the best alliance. Instead, I am still thinking "what if...".

I do stand by my comment that 1625 and 1730 were the best teams at the regional. Again, that does not mean that your team is awful or anything. Just by looking at the numbers 1625 and 1730 averaged 42.8 and 37 points respectivly. 171 was 5th with 30.9.

Yes, being a robust robot is important. But to the best of my knowledge, 1730 never had the problem of thier ball picker-upper bending, or 1625 with the motor.

I also think it is nearly impossible to make the claim that the shooter design isn't has robust as the arm design (or vica versa) without doing a huge statisically study on it.

[niteowl22]

On Friday afternoon, 3 students were interviewed by the media from team 1091. Does anyone know where the team could find the video? Although I don't believe it was broadcast, the team would like to have a copy of it.

Team 1091 is looking forward to seeing you all next year. We were only able to attend one regional event this year, but hope to go to two regionals next year.

Thanks to the Regional Committee for putting on a great Regional.

Anne

[niteowl22]

On Friday afternoon, 3 students were interviewed by the media from team 1091. Does anyone know where the team could find the video? Although I don't believe it was broadcast, the team would like to have a copy of it.

Team 1091 is looking forward to seeing you all next year. We were only able to attend one regional event this year, but hope to go to two regionals next year.

Thanks to the Regional Committee for putting on a great Regional.

Anne