2009 New Zealand Regional Cancelled

[phr34kR]

Hi im from Onehunga high school in NZ, we are not a "rich" school but we do fairly good metal working capabilities, MIG TIG welders lots of lathes band saws automatic hacksaws, CNC and allot of space. As far as metal working experience goes I am probably the most experienced in engineering and electronics, luckily I have two more years before I can no longer be on the team, but because of the way our school year works the 6th forms that are one year ahead of me will not be able to compete if this is really cancelled. Our school has done well so far in the vex (winning both unofficial competitions) but im sure allot of us will feel let down by this announcement.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by BrentJ

It would also depend if First holds an official kickoff here.

Organizing a kickoff event is not much effort, unlike a full regional (where you need [experienced] judges, referees, etc...

Originally Posted by BrentJ

Do you have on your teams, students who have basic metal working skills such as turning metal on a lathe, milling machine operation etc.

No student so far has had advanced metalworking skills like lathe or mill experience, but some start out good with drills, saws and hand tool skills from home. We are fortunate to have a lathe, and so I teach the 2 or 3 kids each year who express an interest. Except for the rare precision work, they do it all.

The rest of the kids, we teach them at least one level of tools above where they are when they start each year (more or less). So from nothing, they go to hand tools, then to basic power tools, then to big saws, grinding cutoff saws, lathe, etc.

Some kids do know how to weld when they start, or they learn over the summer on their own. We don't have a welder, that's the only thing we farm out to a local sponsor.

Don

[phr34kR]

From the person responsible for first in NZ," First robotics has not been cancelled it is being re structured at present but it has definately not been cancelled".



apparently they have got half the money they need, enough to hold the competition and to get the kits but not enough to get everyone to america. so eitherway we will all be able to build the robots and compeate which will be awesome and im looking forward too it.

[BrentJ]

Originally Posted by phr34kR

From the person responsible for first in NZ," First robotics has not been cancelled it is being re structured at present but it has definately not been cancelled".



apparently they have got half the money they need, enough to hold the competition and to get the kits but not enough to get everyone to america. so eitherway we will all be able to build the robots and compeate which will be awesome and im looking forward too it.

I never said First Robotics was cancelled but that there won't be a 2009 regional like in the States. This information came from the Head of First, Bill, from his blogspot.

Unless it is an official regional I am not sure how teams could compete to be selected as one of 3 to be sent to the Atlanta .

So from what the person told you will it be run just as if it was a regionel ie kick off day, 6 week build etc?

Phr34kr is next Saturday's competion at Westlake still on?

Brent

[phr34kR]

It is my understanding that it will be run as if it was a regional (6 week build etc) i have gotten this information from Bill Smale. And yes as far as i know next saturady (the 11th) competition at westlake girls is still on.

-Tim

Sorry i have just realised that the information may have not come from him but i do know it has come from a person assosiated with the running of the competition. The teacher running it at our school contacted them for me.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Qbranch

Only two letters and one punctuation mark can describe my feelings about this...

NNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

-q

Technically that's 14 letters, three punctuation marks and an emoticon in need of a hug.

[Trueliez]

I haven't heard anything through my team about the regional being cancelled, though perhaps I'm just in denial! haha
BrentJ, could you post a link to the blog where you read about this?

In terms of NZers coming over to international competitions, I know a lot of my fellow team members will be gutted about this, so we'll probably do some fundraising to come over and see you guys compete. It's expensive to travel to anywhere from New Zealand though!

[BrentJ]

Originally Posted by Trueliez

I haven't heard anything through my team about the regional being cancelled, though perhaps I'm just in denial! haha
BrentJ, could you post a link to the blog where you read about this?

The info comes from the First Director's ( Bills ) Blog, the entry for Thursday 2nd October 2008, second paragraph.

http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/

From what the guy from Onehunga said it sounds like we might still have a kick-off , build , competion etc but it won't give the winners an entry into the Atlanta champs.

We might be able to find out more at next Saturdays Vex comp at WestlakeGirls.

[Trueliez]

Cool, thanks.
It does sound as though we'll still have a national competition, they just won't do another 'all expenses paid' trip to the US which, to be honest, is a very big ask.
Mmm, hopefully the westlake competition will shed some light on the situation.

[BrentJ]

Hi

Just letting everyone know what is happening with down here in New Zealand with regards to FRC.

Instead of being part of the FRC from the January Kickoff we will have a New Zealand only FRC competion starting about April. So obviously this won't count to the 2009 FRC season. Maybe 2010 will be our first offical FRC year.

But the good news is we are having an official VEX regional in March.
The winning teams will be going to the World Vex Championship.

While not doing FRC from kickoff is a bit of a disappointment I think in the end it will work out for the best.

This will give our students the chance to work on the small scale Vex to develop their skills.

Even some of the veteran teams are stressing over just the new controller so imagine how it would be to have over thirty new rookie teams trying to get to grips with everything involved in the FRC. Especially when the nearest veteran team is a couple of thousand miles away.

So in the end I think this will better in the long run.

Brent

[Bob Steele]

hi Brent,

Glad to hear that FIRST FRC is still alive and well in New Zealand.

I am curious as to why you chose to do VEX rather than FTC?

FTC would give your teams more experience in the LabVIEW environment and you could have sent a team to Atlanta for the championship.

thanks

Good luck!!!

R

[BrentJ]

Hi Bob

I am not quite sure why Vex over FTC.
But I think it is probably because as part of our FRC preperation, Vex kits were supplied to the participating schools.
So we are just using what we have got.

But the main thing is the students have the Vex World Champs as a goal to aim for.

Brent

[Bob Steele]

Good luck to you!!
No reason to buy more stuff if you already have VEX!!
That's a good reason..

I wish you the best in your quest for the VEX World championships!!

Maybe I will still see a few of you in Atlanta!!

R

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Brent,
Please encourage your students to check in here on Chief Delphi during their season. There is some great tech support and a good way to feel connected from so far away. I hope all goes as planned and Kiwi's will be part of the 2010 season. Looking forward to that time.

[Akash Rastogi]

So...I just saw that a NZ team is reg. for NJ. Is this correct?

https://my.usfirst.org/myarea/index....event_type=FRC

This would be huge for the NJ regional