I've been out of FIRST for a while and decided I want to mentor again.

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Careful about that optimism--we've had an outsize number of Jaguar failures, enough so that we stay with Victors in spite of the potential benefits of CAN.

The cRIO isn't obnoxiously heavy--and the cRIO-FRC II that comes in the rookie kits next year (and is available to everyone else for around $300) will make that less of an issue still. Other IO modules haven't been allowed so far...but 2012 is another day.

Oh, and bumpers are now mandatory--in 2010 and 2011, the whole way around. Keep that in mind.

Back in MY day, we had full metal to metal contact. Not any of this wussy bumper stuff!

So you have the option to not use the cRIO (at least so far)? Does IFI still offer controllers to use?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

So you have the option to not use the cRIO (at least so far)? Does IFI still offer controllers to use?

No and yes...but not the one you remember. Innovation First folded what we knew as IFI Robotics into their Vex division and rebranded it VexPro. Along the way, they discontinued the old RCs to focus on Vex. That said, there are many folks who've operated prototypes and off-season robots on the Cortex controller (and the older PIC controller, which has some familial relations with the old IFI RCs) just fine.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

Back in MY day, we had full metal to metal contact. Not any of this wussy bumper stuff!

So you have the option to not use the cRIO (at least so far)?

Amen, Brother!

And, sorry, no, you have to use the cRIO (one of the versions) to control your robot. And, it takes a while to boot up the control system. Just a heads-up on that front--FRC rules the last couple of years.

BEP, or more correctly, will.i.am, sought out Dean Kamen and what eventually happened was:
-will.i.am appeared at Kickoff (the other special guests were the author and the primary subject of a book called The New Cool, about FRC1717).
-The BEP gave a concert at the Championship, moving 2 fields to the pits (causing a bit of annoyance--until it was discovered what the real purpose was. Keep reading.)
-8/14: An ABC special called i.am.FIRST: Science is Rock and Roll showed for the first time. Filmed at the Championship, it used the concert as a hook to get people interested in the show, then told them about the robots, teams, and people behind them. (If that purpose had been mentioned in March/April, the aforementioned annoyance would have been much less voiced.)

Oh, and Chief Delphi is no more. They joined forces with the Husky Brigade to form the Wings of Fire a couple years back. (47+65=51) This would explain the purple logo at the top left of each page instead of the old logo. They did leave the coloring of the site the same, and the team still helps run it.

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by EricH

Amen, Brother!

And, sorry, no, you have to use the cRIO (one of the versions) to control your robot. And, it takes a while to boot up the control system. Just a heads-up on that front--FRC rules the last couple of years.

BEP, or more correctly, will.i.am, sought out Dean Kamen and what eventually happened was:
-will.i.am appeared at Kickoff (the other special guests were the author and the primary subject of a book called The New Cool, about FRC1717).
-The BEP gave a concert at the Championship, moving 2 fields to the pits (causing a bit of annoyance--until it was discovered what the real purpose was. Keep reading.)
-8/14: An ABC special called i.am.FIRST: Science is Rock and Roll showed for the first time. Filmed at the Championship, it used the concert as a hook to get people interested in the show, then told them about the robots, teams, and people behind them. (If that purpose had been mentioned in March/April, the aforementioned annoyance would have been much less voiced.)

Oh, and Chief Delphi is no more. They joined forces with the Husky Brigade to form the Wings of Fire a couple years back. (47+65=51) This would explain the purple logo at the top left of each page instead of the old logo. They did leave the coloring of the site the same, and the team still helps run it.

Wow, I just found the I.am.FIRST thing on Youtube. Watching it right now. I remember Dean Kamen wanting a lot more publicity. Looks like he got it.

Regarding Chief Delphi, I assume that has to do with Delphi cutting funding? My dad (somehow) still works at Delphi in Kokomo. They've been reduced from a large complex full of offices and fabrication labs to two buildings (one of which looks like a large shed). GM now owns most of what used to be the Delphi complex. So I can see if it's because of funding...gotta take care of your own company first.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

Regarding Chief Delphi, I assume that has to do with Delphi cutting funding?

Incorrect, actually.

Pontiac School District combined the Pontiac North and Pontiac Central high schools. I think funding was an issue, but I'm not certain. There was thread about it.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

Regarding Chief Delphi, I assume that has to do with Delphi cutting funding? My dad (somehow) still works at Delphi in Kokomo. They've been reduced from a large complex full of offices and fabrication labs to two buildings (one of which looks like a large shed). GM now owns most of what used to be the Delphi complex. So I can see if it's because of funding...gotta take care of your own company first.

65 and 47 combined when their two schools combined, due to declining enrollment and funding.

[Peyton Yeung]

One thing that hasn't changed is that team 45 is still up and running.

[Jimmy Nichols]

Are you still in the Dayton area?

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Nichols

Are you still in the Dayton area?

I actually just moved to the Dayton area. I got a full time job at Wright-Patterson AFB.

[Taylor]

If you want to catch up with lots of old friends, there's an offseason competition on October 15th in Indianapolis. It's at Southport High School, about 2 hours from Dayton. You can see the 2011 game in action, visit with 20-something Midwest teams, and see what you've been missing.

Welcome back.

[ratdude747]

Originally Posted by Taylor

If you want to catch up with lots of old friends, there's an offseason competition on October 15th in Indianapolis. It's at Southport High School, about 2 hours from Dayton. You can see the 2011 game in action, visit with 20-something Midwest teams, and see what you've been missing.

Welcome back.

seconded. CAGE match is a perfect chance to see what FRC is today. A lot of teams (including the two I have history with) use it a rookie training competition to train rookies on the dynamics of competition. not to mention it is fun seeing a bunch of robots beat up from the regular season (and for some, IRI) compete... it is kinda the last time a given season's bot is used competitively.

If you do decide to come, be sure to mention it here; there will be plenty of people to welcome you back.

[Jimmy Nichols]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

I actually just moved to the Dayton area. I got a full time job at Wright-Patterson AFB.

Just re-read your first post. Which team are you in touch with? We are great friends with 3138, we mentored them their first year and have been helping each other out ever since.

We are on the north side of cincinnati, in Butler County, about 45 minutes from the base. I was jus up there for the FLL Tournament Director Meeting a couple weeks ago.

[Katie_UPS]

Macanum wheels are not only easy to buy (and in multiple sizes) but there is also a kit-code for them.

Morgan Freeman attended Champs 2011.

George Bush (Senior) attended the 2008 champs. Popular quote "Its like the WWF, but for smart people" was said in his speech.

There is no more FVC, its now FTC (I'm pretty sure that shift happened after 2007).

We have a fundraiser similar to girl-scout cookies now. Its super efficient LED light bulbs. Extraordinarily profitable for teams provided they market/target correctly.

West coast team, 1717 "D'Penguineers" was featured (as well as a few other teams) in "The New Cool" giving FIRST some publicity in mainstream literature.

Hiwiian Kids, Miss Daisy, Techno Ticks, and Falcon Robotics won the Championship chairman's award from 2008-2011 (reverse order). Also, a video is now required with Chairman's submissions (to be played at the award ceremonies).

Dave Lavery and Woodie Flowers left the GDC.

Bumpers are now replacing the flag/colored insert system previously used to indicate robot alliance.

Tube skirts are back.

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Nichols

Just re-read your first post. Which team are you in touch with? We are great friends with 3138, we mentored them their first year and have been helping each other out ever since.

We are on the north side of cincinnati, in Butler County, about 45 minutes from the base. I was jus up there for the FLL Tournament Director Meeting a couple weeks ago.

3186. You know, I'm surprised there aren't any teams with much lower numbers in this area. The Dayton area is rich with engineers because of the base, and there are no shortages of high school students.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

3186. You know, I'm surprised there aren't any teams with much lower numbers in this area. The Dayton area is rich with engineers because of the base, and there are no shortages of high school students.

3138 is a rising power in FIRST.
They went to Einstein their rookie year and were the top seed in their division this year. They're no joke.