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#91
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It was an amazing 2 days. I can tell you that right now Arizona is trying to host an all rookie event and Canada's Event Coordinator's came to help out at Kettering. They came to see if it was viable for Canada to host something such as this as well. Trust me they loved it! We hosted the event for $500.00 a team, had them sleep in the dorms at Kettering for $14.00 a night for 2 people ( each person spent $7.00 per night). You won't find a hotel that cheap! Sure we didn't provide all the bells and whistles that you would normally get but it was an extremely high quaility event. I never heard 1 bad comment other than the breakdown of the field. In actuallity that helped teams, it allowed them more time to work on the bots. I am pretty excited about this. I am pretty sure Kettering will host the event in my area. If not Kettering than possibly Grand Blanc High school. The email and package that was sent out to the Michigan teams did state in it, that the Michigan Championship will cost $4,000.00 However I was told at 1 point a few months ago Michigan teams won't be forced into participating in this event this 1st year if they wish to opt out. I am not sure if that has changed or not. |
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#92
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
I would hope that the powers that be would see that a waiver of some kind needs to be in place for teams in the U.P. This is a test program and i see no need to make every team take part. However, if you take waiver you might not be able to play in states.
Also, Thursday is abit of a concern. One thought would be that a teams near the district, with good practice fields, would offer its use. Maybe with a small fee. That first friday could be ugly. |
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#93
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
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I can imagine a future FRC season having only Michigan-style district and regional competitions, and a world championship event with participation based on merit alone. From a previous highly active thread, that would obviously make many people happy. But I can also see a use for a handful of official "invitationals" which teams can apply for regardless of region. |
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#94
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
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I really see no reason to get rid of Thursday. FIRST has proven time and time again that they graduate some of the best and brightest in the country and the world. You're actually missing the same amount of time if you were to attend one regional like a lot of teams do. Quote:
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#95
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
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I would like to know more about media coverage of the rookie event. How were media guests and VIPs handled? Was there a catered reception, special seating or guided tours? I think that, ultimately, if we're going to drive interest in science, technology, engineering and math on a national or global scale, we have to recognize that inspiration -- while enormously effective through direct mentoring -- can occur by other mechanisms. Interest by youth in becoming a professional athlete is disproportionately high compared to the number of youth that have met a professional athlete. Why can't the same be true of STEM heroes in the future? Why does someone have to meet Paul or Andy or their local, homegrown equivalent to understand that what they do is cool and worthwhile? Why can't we put these guys up on ESPN (y'know, like we used to?) alongside their teams and drive interest that way? Last edited by Madison : 31-07-2008 at 12:53. |
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#96
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
I've been pondering the issue of tech inspection in this format for a bit and think there may be a solution. There is no technical reason that inspection MUST take place at an event... if tech inspectors are willing to volunteer their time in the evenings in the week leading up to an event, they could travel to a team's workshop, unseal the robot storage bag, complete a tech inspection and re-seal the bag. Then the team could use their 8 hour "fix it" window to make any neccesary changes and go through a quick re-inspection at the event. Yes, this would mean that tech inspectors would have to drive about the state, carrying a robot weigh scale with them, but in a state with a high density of teams and sufficient volunteers to handle 7 district events, this shouldn't be the same problem that would exist in other areas.
Alternatively there could be a district tech inspection on the Saturday... or a weekday evening... preceeding the event. The important part is that teams have a chance to correct any errors, and inspectors have sufficient time to complete a thorough, high quality inspection. Jason |
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#97
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
One thing I haven't picked up out of the discussion here is how Michigan teams are going to qualify for Atlanta. Do you go for winning districts? States? How/Where will Chairman's be awarded? Etc. If anyone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated.
I have mixed feelings at this point. This could either be the future of FIRST, or... unsuccessful. But hey, that's why this is a pilot right? We're bound to learn something from it, so it can't be all bad. ![]() |
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#98
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
http://www.flickr.com/gp/20629362@N05/C9J3FV
Here is a link to the Kettering Rookie Event pictures. You have to understand that Kettering is one of the top universities in the world for engineering. It is in a small setting but one of the most unique schools you will ever see. Look it up in the Princeton Review or at Time Magazine ranking of top colleges in the US. Kettering is always at the top. I have sat on the committee their for the past 8 years, they don't do things 1/2 way or even 99% of the way. It is the best. We bring in bleachers, we have pits, we have the loud music we have the awards etc. We even had the officals from FIRST there were blown away. Yes we had a catered reception, we just didnt throw pizza at people unless that is what you wanted!!! Kettering is willing to give tours at any time. They have a fuel cell development program that they love to show off. Including if somebody wanted to take a ride in a fuel cell car, they will take you. It is the same field you play on, the field we used had been at the Midwest the week before. Here in Michigan we pride ourselves on helping each other including and esp. the rookies. We look after each other like you wouldn't believe. We hold phone sessions with them on a weekly basis during build. If a team has an issue we make sure we find somebody nearby to aid them. Of course this doesn't work so well in the UP but we as veterans make ourselves available either through email or phone to them. Take a look at the Championship. What state sticks out? Michigan! It seems every year or close to it, the Champion comes from here. We look at not just the issue in front of us, but look for ways to make it better. I'm I convinced this is the way to go? I'm not sure, but I am willing to give it a shot before I shoot it down. I do think there will be teams who hate it and others who will love it and embrace it. Isn't this what engineering is all about? Design it and see if you can improve it? I am going to be open minded about it! ![]() Last edited by maltz1881 : 31-07-2008 at 14:09. |
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#99
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
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See page two of the pdf Beth posted. Bullet 4 under 'District Events'. Odd, the post is #67. How fitting for a post that good. |
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#100
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
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MI teams are saving money, yes...unless you merit Atlanta, compared to teams who qualify through one regional. [Disclaimer2: My information could very well be incorrect. Please excuse me if it is. Simply trying to point something out I noticed. ]Last edited by ParkerF : 31-07-2008 at 14:38. Reason: Quote chop for point. |
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#101
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
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One example is the shipping of robots. We paid a lot more for shipping this past season following FIRST guidelines as opposed to some other teams that got them way cheaper, doing it themselves. These are the kinds of things that should be brought to light and shared to bring the costs down. Its too bad after talking with other teams that we found this out. Last edited by waialua359 : 31-07-2008 at 14:54. |
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#102
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
Pros:
Multiple Events!!! - This would be a first for my team. We have never been able to raise the money to go to multiple events. No Shipping - For those local teams who remember shipping was terrible this year, with our UPS (or Fedex I don't actually remember) calling us at the end of the last day of build season saying they wouldn't be able to pick up our robot on time. Cons: No Practice Day - For Team 240, and I'm sure many others, practice day is the first time our robot sets its wheels on the field. Without a practice day it will be very difficult to implement a good autonomous/hybrid mode. Additional Cost for Michigan Championship - Even if our team made it to the Michigan Championship, I'm not sure we would be able to raise the funds to compete in it. Overall: I like the idea. I think its going to give us more time to compete with our robot while still keeping costs down. And as mentioned, its a pilot, if it doesn't work FIRST can kill it. If it does work, however, I can see this moving on to all of FIRST. |
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#103
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
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Its not that I think teams need more time to fix any bugs that their robot has, its the other factors that we have no control over. In 2006 and '07 when we tried to calibrate and get our CMU cam to work properly, different venues lighting were slightly different causing what we think is the reason for its malfunction at times. It also gives teams time to meet each other, check out other robots, and scout. |
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#104
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
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#105
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Re: New FIRST competition structure in Michigan
[quote=francistexas;759567]
MI teams are saving money, yes...unless you merit Atlanta, compared to teams who qualify through one regional. [quote] I guess what you say could possibly be true, but did not actually happen last year. From the 118 teams in Michigan, only 4 went to one regional and Atlanta. None of these 4 earned their way in to Atlanta, they purchased open slots and did not qualify thru competition. So I guess if you want to do one event and try to get lucky, you can go out of state. Here in Michigan we are going to try to reduce randomness as much as possible and implement a system in which all competing teams get enough matches to more definitively determine who is the best. If you want to depend on luck, go to the casino. FIRST is about Math and Science. Statistic 101 says, if you take more samples, you can sort more robustly. The new system will definitely be much better at promoting the best robots. Obviously cannot be proved until we execute, but I would be willing to bet that the level of competition at the 2009 MI championship will be better than at any other regional event in the world. |
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