2009 New Jersey Regional

[Akash Rastogi]

Best of luck to everyone. Please remember to bring some warm clothing and try to wash your hands often. Germs manifest at the SBA and love to give everyone a cold or flu. It sucks so may want to bring cold/cough medicine with your school nurses. Advil and Tylenol are also recommended as cheering can make for killer headaches and dizzyness.

Hope everyone rests up for tomorrow. Practice day should be interesting. If anyone needs help in the pits just give anyone a call and we'll all work to solve your problems.

[nahstobor]

If any team needs Programming, Mechanical or Electrical assistance. Stop by 612's pit and we will send someone to assist you. It's not as fun if everyone isn't playing at top form.

Also for the practice field, our team has made 2 50ft tether cables. If you would like to borrow them when you are on the practice field just come by and ask.

[DonRotolo]

This thread has the link to the webcast.

Don

[Athleticgirl389]

Originally Posted by Lowfategg

You know what,

We have been wondering the samething.

At least we have highest seated rookie without even trying.

How will we do? Completely amazing!!! (I hope!)

I've had the privilege of MCing FTC events in the past and watching how amazing these guys (and gals) are. They have amazing students and amazing mentors and an amazing "fan" base. I expect nothing but amazingness from this team this year and MANY years after that. Look out NJ Regional... Overdrive is coming!!! Definately a team to look out for where ever they go with whatever kind of robot

[Danny McC]

Woot see everyone today. Good luck. Lets have some good practice and some great times.

[robowarriors41]

Anyone know why there have only been 2 matches in the last 6 hours? Our robot has been sitting on the regolith for a total of 4 hours so far...

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by robowarriors41

Anyone know why there have only been 2 matches in the last 6 hours? Our robot has been sitting on the regolith for a total of 4 hours so far...

Because you're at a week one regional.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Because you're at a week one regional.

Yea, the field crews were trying everything they could. Just lighten up to those who got a bit edgy.

We got in a grand total of 2 practice matches! But at least they went amazingly!

Can't wait for the real start of competition tomorrow. Should be very interesting.

Teams to watch out for so far, 2344, 1923, 25, 103, 816,my favorite rookie 2753, and w/o any shame, 11. Of course these are the only teams I had to chance to watch in the span of like 6 hour practice sessions.... Cya tomorrow!

PS. : Note to anyone who doubted the driver skill of 25 b/c of their loss of their signature drivetrain....they are BEASTLY on the field. Scoring is awesome too. Insanely good drivers, I was thoroughly impressed.

[Ice Berg]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

Teams to watch out for so far, 2344, 1923, 25, 103, 816,my favorite rookie 2753, and w/o any shame, 11.

I couldn't see the webcast today, what kind of bots are 2344 and 103?

[mtaman02]

Webcast will be up tomorrow...

www.robotics.nasa.gov
www.Team1676.com

follow links on either one

FYI, NJ wasn't the only Regional w/ delays.... From what I know things might and shall hopefully be alot smoother these next 2 days... The Field Team and FTA Crew have been working countless hours so far to do everything they can to get things to run smoothly.

I can honestly say those who didn't get on the field probably used the practice field to test everything out...

[Wayne C.]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Because you're at a week one regional.

Elgin- week one or not these delays were ridiculously long. Perhaps the fields should have been put to bed running from Wednesday night instead of assuming things could be fixed in the morning. The teams needed the practice rounds especially on the special floor that many didnt have to play on. And the field tech crew were working like dogs all day to get this thing to work.


One thing all must realize is that we all paid $6000 to attend this initial regional. The less rounds you end up with the more the cost per round goes up. For many teams this is their ONLY regional and at $500-1000 per two minute trip to the floor it is pretty steep. I cant imagine putting out that kind of change for anything that doesn't work right.

Not to mention the hardware issues... (no I wont go there)

Lets hope things run smoothly tomorrow.

WC grrrrrr

[thefro526]

Today was very interesting to say the least.

We're in for one heck of a time.

See you on the field tomorrow.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by thefro526

Today was very interesting to say the least.

I was rather disappointed in only going on the field twice because we didn't get a chance to test out different coaches. But w/e, just another challenge.

[mtaman02]

Originally Posted by Wayne C.

Elgin- week one or not these delays were ridiculously long. Perhaps the fields should have been put to bed running from Wednesday night instead of assuming things could be fixed in the morning. The teams needed the practice rounds especially on the special floor that many didnt have to play on. And the field tech crew were working like dogs all day to get this thing to work.


One thing all must realize is that we all paid $6000 to attend this initial regional. The less rounds you end up with the more the cost per round goes up. For many teams this is their ONLY regional and at $500-1000 per two minute trip to the floor it is pretty steep. I cant imagine putting out that kind of change for anything that doesn't work right.

Not to mention the hardware issues... (no I wont go there)

Lets hope things run smoothly tomorrow.

WC grrrrrr

Once again, as part of the Field Assy. crew, we powered up around 5 or 6 ish last nite. We followed the step by step directions and went over our work at least 30 times. Between the current stresses of not knowing whats going on and being constantly reminded that SBA wanted to close up didn't help. We stayed as late as we could to get things going. There were many contacts made to try and help get this solved. It's not like we were just sitting around and saying tomorrow is another day the teams will understand. We were working our rears off to get things going. We all realize that teams paid good money to participate and so they shall, but the one thing teams MUST do is excersize patience and understanding. We're not playing with IFI controls anymore here, we're dealing with new stuff and while we all expect perfection we all have to realize that perfection doesn't come easy. Fri and Sat should be better days or at least I'm crossing my fingers and praying that it will be, we just ask that everyone be calm and bear with us. Angry Teams will not get the field going any quicker trust me on that!

[DonRotolo]

The last few practice rounds looked great, i think most of the bugs are gone (knock wood), the field crew DID work their tails off to make it work, and we all just wished we could help. (I did by encouraging the field crew!).

Yes, 3 hours on regolith with only a 45 minute air supply was taxing. But for the first time in years, we left the pits before they closed...

Don