After Coming Back From The LA Regional: My Thoughts On FIRST

[EricH]

FRC selections are like building your own football team.

I don't see that the competition is based on people's opinions; the only part that is is the alliance selection, and the better scouts know that the only thing that matters is what you do on the field. Unfortunately, due to human nature, insulting a scout will wind you up with a note about "Rude team. Use caution." (Not saying you did, just stating a general fact.)

Judges have their own system. It involves going around and looking at the robots. If they like what they see, they'll come and talk to the team. That's how the awards are given, and that's the way it's called out in the rules for the awards to be judged.

By the way, I wouldn't make such general comments about "all the teams" doing something if I were you. I know that a number of teams do not decorate their pits or wear costumes (and stupidity, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder). If you walked into your archrival's football training facility and started making comments like that, no matter how it was decorated, I would bet that you'd find out very quickly why football and track athletes talk with the scoreboard instead of their mouths. Quite a number of teams do decorate their pits, and that's fine by me--they're trying to attract the attention of the top 8. For the L.A. top 5 or so this year, it wouldn't have worked very well. Those teams tend to scout the field performance, and they do very well at that.

[davidthefat]

Originally Posted by EricH

FRC selections are like building your own football team.

I don't see that the competition is based on people's opinions; the only part that is is the alliance selection, and the better scouts know that the only thing that matters is what you do on the field. Unfortunately, due to human nature, insulting a scout will wind you up with a note about "Rude team. Use caution." (Not saying you did, just stating a general fact.)

Judges have their own system. It involves going around and looking at the robots. If they like what they see, they'll come and talk to the team. That's how the awards are given, and that's the way it's called out in the rules for the awards to be judged.

By the way, I wouldn't make such general comments about "all the teams" doing something if I were you. I know that a number of teams do not decorate their pits or wear costumes (and stupidity, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder). If you walked into your archrival's football training facility and started making comments like that, no matter how it was decorated, I would bet that you'd find out very quickly why football and track athletes talk with the scoreboard instead of their mouths. Quite a number of teams do decorate their pits, and that's fine by me--they're trying to attract the attention of the top 8. For the L.A. top 5 or so this year, it wouldn't have worked very well. Those teams tend to scout the field performance, and they do very well at that.

Team 330? You had a beast of a robot this year, but IDK, the announcer guy made it seem so unprofessional for me...Yea sure his job may be to entertain, but he was acting unprofessional IMHO... Do you see DARPA Grand Challenge announcers doing that? I think not

[EricH]

Does the DARPA Grand Challenge even have announcers?

And I believe that you are referring to the emcee, who's job is to fire up the crowd, much like a cheerleader at a football game. If you object to that, then I suggest that you float a proposition to disband any cheer squad you have at your high school.

Spoiler for :

[/satire]

[Rion Atkinson]

I didn't read very much past the OP. So if I am restating something... Well. I frankly don't care.

You say that we are "Selfish" if that is true. Why, in the middle of mass chaos of our robot not working, did I take time out to help out any time that asked? Why, when our programmer was deep in his work, did I request that he go help another team? Out of selfishness? Or selflessness?

Unproffesional to be selfish? Sense when?!? Why does you team get money from the state, sponsors, ect. Because they want smart employees! It is NOT out of the bottom of their heart. (Most of the time) So before you say that everyone is selfish and unproffesional. Take a look at the reason WalMart buys from China instead of the USA.

[MagiChau]

Originally Posted by davidthefat

Team 330? You had a beast of a robot this year, but IDK, the announcer guy made it seem so unprofessional for me...Yea sure his job may be to entertain, but he was acting unprofessional IMHO... Do you see DARPA Grand Challenge announcers doing that? I think not

I have not heard the announcer at this event but what do you exactly define as unprofessional from the person?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by davidthefat

Team 330? You had a beast of a robot this year, but IDK, the announcer guy made it seem so unprofessional for me...Yea sure his job may be to entertain, but he was acting unprofessional IMHO... Do you see DARPA Grand Challenge announcers doing that? I think not

To be fair you are thinking of the MC, not the announcer. I don't know who the announcer was, but I thought he was fantastic. very knowledgeable about the game and the robots. I was not a big fan of the MC.

[TKM.368]

Originally Posted by Cory

To be fair you are thinking of the MC, not the announcer. I don't know who the announcer was, but I thought he was fantastic. very knowledgeable about the game and the robots. I was not a big fan of the MC.

Game announcer there was Dave Seidel of JPL. We were most fortunate to have him with us last year. He collects a bunch of info from the teams on Thursday and when the match list comes out, puts together a spreadsheet and pops out his own announcer sheets.

Here's an older conversation with Dave about what he does, etc.