CDI or OCCRA?.....CDI or OCCRA?.....CDI or OCCRA?

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Posted by S. Krussell.

Coach on team #349, Robahamas, from International Academy and Ford Motor Co..

Posted on 10/13/2000 8:35 AM MST



Well, this really was a problem for my team this year. I would like to get involved in the new Oakland County robotics team, but

1)couldn't afford to pay $2500, and
2) we can't do both ChiefDelphi and OCCRA at the same time.

YIKES! Is this going to happen every year from now on?
I feel that these two events create a clash of interests.
Additionally, it is difficult when I am the only teacher and coach on my team.....the time issue is too hard to reconcile.

What is the future of CDI? Will it take a back seat to OCCRA? How can OCCRA survive if teams find it too expensive, like I do?

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Posted by Mike McIntyre.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #1, Juggernaut, from Oakland Technical Center Northeast and 3 Dimensional Services.

Posted on 10/14/2000 8:45 AM MST


In Reply to: CDI or OCCRA?.....CDI or OCCRA?.....CDI or OCCRA? posted by S. Krussell on 10/13/2000 8:35 AM MST:



OCCRA is a shared dream of many people: to raise an academic competition to the same level of support and celebrity currently reserved for athletic competitions. Mike and Joe of the Chief Delphi team shared that dream and have been involved with us in OCCRA from the earliest planning stages. When OCCRA was first launched, they thought they might stop doing the Chief Delphi Invitational (CDI) but later decided to go ahead with it since most of the teams were from outside Oakland County anyway and they had sunk so much time and energy into getting it to be the class event that it is; they knew that many Oakland County Schools would opt out for OCCRA but they were not concerned as they expected to have a full tournament anyhow. Chief Delphi is participating in OCCRA. We at the Juggernauts are going to do both since we have 25 students on the team and it gives everybody a chance to play a bigger role in a robot build; in effect, we split our team. The OCCRA season began with kickoff on Sept. 11th and will have tournaments that run weekly from Oct. 21st to Nov. 11th; the CDI kit will be released this week, one month after the OCCRA start, and the CDI is to be held on Nov. 18th (their original plan to have it in Dec. fell through due to schedule conflicts). The OCCRA experience has been designed to get competitions into local high schools and we'll have 4 this year, probably a lot more next year. We have 22 member schools that have formed 17 teams. OCCRA will probably continue to grow as many teams that missed it this year have called to say they want to participate next year. The CDI will probably continue to flourish, also.
The $2,400 entry fee may sound like a lot at first, but it pales compared to most sports budgets, or even the budget of putting on an event like the 'Sweet Repeat'. You should also consider the fact that YOU GET TO KEEP THE ENTIRE KIT when the season ends, Innovatiion FIRST controls and all; next year, returning teams will probably have to pay only a couple hundred dollars! Finally, as I told you earlier this year, Sue, Oakland Schools (the parent organization), would want a team to sit out for financial reasons: they would have covered you until 'whenever' to make sure member school was denied this opportunity for their kids. It's too late to get involved this year, but if you want to order a kit to start preparing for next year, give me a call.

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Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 10/14/2000 10:17 AM MST


In Reply to: CDI or OCCRA: How to make the choice posted by Mike McIntyre on 10/14/2000 8:45 AM MST:



I second what Mike McIntyre said.

In the long run, OCCRA is the future. My vision is that OCCRA-type leagues form around the state and, yes, even around the country. If I had my way, FIRST or a FIRST-like organization would take the lead in terms of coordinating & standardizing the leagues.

But... Back to the point. In the short run, we decided that we wanted to do CDI again this year. We will definitely be reviewing our decision every year. Next year, it is possible, perhaps even likely that we choose not to host a CDI. It is also possible that some 3rd way can be found where CDI is not in any way pulling folks away from OCCRA.

One thing is for sure, Chief Delphi greatly regrets that any team decided to only do the CDI rather than join OCCRA.

Joe J.

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Posted by Nick .

Student on team #240, Mach V, from Jefferson Monroe High School and Visteon.

Posted on 10/14/2000 1:40 PM MST


In Reply to: CDI & OCCRA posted by Joe Johnson on 10/14/2000 10:17 AM MST:



What exactly is OCCRA? Is it basically like FIRST or something entirely different?

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Posted by Joe Johnson.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 10/14/2000 8:55 PM MST


In Reply to: OCCRA posted by Nick on 10/14/2000 1:40 PM MST:



OCCRA (Oakland County Competitive Robotics Association) is a highschool robotics league that draws a lot of its roots from FIRST but also from the various highschool sporting leagues.

Basically, the idea is to make a FIRST-like highschool robotics competition organized around a highschool sports model (or more importantly, we want it to get FUNDED like typical highschool sports program).

Oakland county Michigan is a FIRST hotbed. We have a lot of rabbid FIRST teams around these parts (I won't even name one or I will have to name a dozen). A lot of us thought that it would be great if we could set up a highschool robotics league. Through the hard work of a lot of folks, it has happened.

The kit and rules are such that the robot can be built in a typical gargage by highschool kids working with handtools. The rules are intended to equalize the resource advantage. No precision machining is allowed. No welding is allowed. Also, the stuff in the kit is sort of designed to go together so that a lot of machining is not really needed.

We are just about a week away from our first OCCRA meet.

Our vision is to have a number of meets and finish with a big county-wide finale (Nov. 11, Avondale HS).

It is a huge experiment and it has been a TON of work for the organizers but it is a very important effort. Let's hope for a great first year for OCCRA.

Joe J.

P.S. Just so folks don't get the wrong idea, I have only put in a few ounces of that ton of work I wrote of earlier -- I really admire the men & women who have put their hearst & hands into making this thing work. I have the heart but my hands are more or less spoken for 23.99 hours a day so I haven't really been able to pitch in as much as I would have liked. Well done OCCRA organizers!

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Posted by Mike Aubry.

Engineer on team #47, Chiefs, from Pontiac Central and Delphi .

Posted on 10/14/2000 8:12 PM MST


In Reply to: CDI & OCCRA posted by Joe Johnson on 10/14/2000 10:17 AM MST:



:One thing is for sure, Chief Delphi greatly regrets that any team decided to only do the CDI rather than join OCCRA.

: Joe J.


We would also like to thank anyone that is joining us at the CDI, from outside of Oakland County or Oakland Community schools. This is a wonderful chance for all of the other teams that do not have the opportunity to be part of OCCRA. So, teams from out of state, and from other places in Michigan as well - Glad to have ya! I personally hope that the CDI continues - it is my highlight of the FIRST experience. Hopefully, it gives the people at FIRST some insight to help improve and change their approach, their games, their controls, etc. I'm very happy and proud to be a part of this experience, and hope it continues on and on!

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Posted by Mike McIntyre.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #1, Juggernaut, from Oakland Technical Center Northeast and 3 Dimensional Services.

Posted on 10/14/2000 9:23 PM MST


In Reply to: CDI or OCCRA: How to make the choice posted by Mike McIntyre on 10/14/2000 8:45 AM MST:



There is a very important word missing in my posting which I need to capitalize here: 'Oakland Schools (the parent organization), would NOT want a team to sit out for financial reasons: they would have covered you until 'whenever' to make sure that NO member school was denied this opportunity for their kids.'