News from the Rocket Ranch - 1st Practice of the 2001 Season

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Posted by Mike Sklar at 03/01/2001 8:23 PM EST


Engineer on team #21, ComBBAT , from Astronaut H.S. and Titusville H.S. and Brevard Community College and Boeing Company and NASA-KSC.



Here's some quick news from KSC for those of you stuck in school or at the office all day today.

There are 44 teams at KSC. The most well known probably being Baxter/Lakewood HS "Heatwave" #312, and Honeywell Navigators #79.

MY stats and data are not totally accurate but close since I was involved in a lot of VIP work, team mgmt etc. Only 3 robots have the ability to go under the bar and all do it fairly quickly. I only saw 1 team, Honeywell balance both goals (full) on the ramp. However it took quite a while to do this and seems unlikely it can be done under 2minutes and definitely not 1 1/2 minutes. Only a few teams (approximately 7-8) can handle the large ball and place it on a goal adequately. There were about 15 teams that could balance 1 goal fairly quickly and with consistency. Because of the time factor 10 minute practice rounds are very misleading. The name of the game this year, at least for ramp handling is traction. Very few machines have enough traction and torque to handle balancing 2 goals.

As for our team, Boeing ComBBAT #21 reliability was the word of the day. We ran perfectly out of the box and required virtually no repairs or major mods all day. We were able to balance 1 goal extremely well (full) and we can travel under the bar quickly. We also showed we can lower the ramp and traverse it about 4 times today. Thus we are confident, but this is a real crap shoot this year.

If these reports are desirable and satisfying to all you FIRST junkies out there say so and I'll continue each day if I haven't collapsed at home.

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Posted by Becky Allen at 03/01/2001 8:31 PM EST


Other on team #356, The Enigma, from North Little Rock High School and Pulaski Academy and UALR/BEI/Controlled Automation/Hendrix College.


In Reply to: News from the Rocket Ranch - 1st Practice of the 2001 Season
Posted by Mike Sklar on 03/01/2001 8:23 PM EST:



Thanks for the update, Mike! I appreciate it.
Good luck!
Becky

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Posted by Kevin Sevcik at 03/01/2001 8:43 PM EST


Other on team #57, Leopards, from BT Washington and the High School for Engineering Professions and Exxon, Kellog Brown & Root, Powell Electrical.


In Reply to: News from the Rocket Ranch - 1st Practice of the 2001 Season
Posted by Mike Sklar on 03/01/2001 8:23 PM EST:



Stupid college. Why can't I quit and go to KSC to see the team? Thanks for the update. It's good to know our robot can do something that most others can't. (Limbo) If only we had sent it with with all the optional attachments... :^) But there's always LoneStar and Nationals to try all of that stuff out.

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Posted by Ken Leung at 03/01/2001 9:34 PM EST


Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.


In Reply to: News from the Rocket Ranch - 1st Practice of the 2001 Season
Posted by Mike Sklar on 03/01/2001 8:23 PM EST:



I am sure the days of sitting at home waiting for the news from other regional competition will be much more exciting if all the regional have reports like this!

That report is excellent! Not only is this interesting to read, but also it really help scouting for everyone to get ready for the National competition. I can't wait to read more!

Thanks.

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Posted by Joe Ross at 03/01/2001 11:23 PM EST


Engineer on team #330, Beach Bot, from Hope Chapel Academy and NASA/JPL , J&F Machine, and Raytheon.


In Reply to: if only every regional have this
Posted by Ken Leung on 03/01/2001 9:34 PM EST:



Hmm,

I got the report from hartford from Tom and Jess in the Tigerbolt chatroom.

hint, hint

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Posted by Andy Baker at 03/02/2001 8:14 AM EST


Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.


In Reply to: News from the Rocket Ranch - 1st Practice of the 2001 Season
Posted by Mike Sklar on 03/01/2001 8:23 PM EST:



Mike,

Great update. We all really appreciate it. Good luck!

Andy B.

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Posted by Rich at 03/02/2001 9:24 AM EST


Engineer on team #334, BTHS Knights, from Brooklyn Tech. HS and Con Ed, SIAC Keyspan.


In Reply to: News from the Rocket Ranch - 1st Practice of the 2001 Season
Posted by Mike Sklar on 03/01/2001 8:23 PM EST:



THANKS, this is valuable information.

We have no NTV and our Webcast is blocked
by our @#$%&* internet proxy.

GOOD LUCK!

[archiver]

Posted by Ken Patton at 03/02/2001 11:55 AM EST


Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.


In Reply to: News from the Rocket Ranch - 1st Practice of the 2001 Season
Posted by Mike Sklar on 03/01/2001 8:23 PM EST:



Thanks for the update, Mike! Its good to hear whats happening for those of us who haven't gotten a chance to compete yet.

Ken

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Posted by Mark Pierce at 03/02/2001 1:03 PM EST


Other on team #288, RoboDAWGS, from Grandville High School and X-Rite, Delphi, and others.


In Reply to: News from the Rocket Ranch - 1st Practice of the 2001 Season
Posted by Mike Sklar on 03/01/2001 8:23 PM EST:



Since we are still waiting for the National news media to catch the spirit this is the only way we can get reports like this. Can we see more from other regionals?

For my part, I'm helping at the West Michigan Regional next week and will try to get a report out, either from myself or one of the RoboDAWGS.