Canada FIRST?

[archiver]

Posted by Lloyd Burns.

Other on team #188, Woburn Robotics, from Woburn Collegiate and Canada 3000, ScotiaBank, Royal Bank Financial.

Posted on 9/13/2000 7:27 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Canada FIRST? posted by Lora Knepper on 9/11/2000 7:19 PM MST:



: Matt,

: Actually, I'm not too well versed on my Canada FIRST history and such, but I do know that one of our FIRST teams, #188 Woburn Robotics from Canada was a participant in Canada FIRST...and did quite well from what I remember. They would be the guys to ask on this one. =)

: Lora

Hi:

Canada FIRST is a version of USFirst, in that there is a time-limited construction period, a kit of parrts to be used, etc. There is one competition a year, a 'National'. Last year there was a team from Gunn, making it international, too.

The fun thing is that with so much less sponsorship, things are not the same. The venue this past year was a basketball court, with pits in a weight training area (balcony-style) adjoining but on another floor. There was one playing area (rink). The control systems in the past have been built fot C.F. but there were many timeouts and protests when the equipment did not function reliably. This year, in Hamilton, members of our team arrived as spectators at noon of the Finals and there was a half hour pause while they got the equipment working. Dare I mention that the equipment in use was 6-channel R.C. sets, operating servos and/or speed controls (Tekins ?).

The game was two on two hockey - one match had two robots broken down and the other two were trying, more or less successfully, more or less slowly, to score on the goal, which had a wooden 'Goalie' driven back and forth across the crease by a motor. Teams were allowed an observer behind the enemy goal to help align the hockey stick and the shots. Drivers were seated on oppsite sides of the rink at the blue line. The robots were housed in upside down plastic garbage cans about 2-3 feet tall.

We find the USFirst challenge much more appealing. (We went to C.F. and won two years running, but were put off by things that happened the last time.

Lloyd
Team 188