TrackBall Surfing...The Solution to your Problems

[Magiciandude]

Now that the build season is over, we have quite a big problem on hand.

What will we do with all of these $100 balls?

Fortunately, Team 1746 has a solution for you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LqJyDrwKGo

-Chris Folea(pronounced Foh-Lee-Uh)
"Dreams are like rainbows...only idiots chase after them."

[technoL]

That seems intensely fun! We don't have 4 balls, but it would be a cool thing to do at the regionals.

(Unless the UL safety guys deem it as unsafe, of course)

[lasereyes]

Our team would definitely do this if we had more balls. It looks like lots of fun (despite the pain that might be associated with it).

[JennyB314]

Our team would definitely be doing some ball surfing if we had more then one ball.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by technoL

That seems intensely fun! We don't have 4 balls, but it would be a cool thing to do at the regionals.

(Unless the UL safety guys deem it as unsafe, of course)

That's pretty much a given.

[Magiciandude]

Haha...

Yeah...there's no way they'd let us do something like that at the regionals 0_o...way too much liability...

Might as well bring a helmet and shoulder pads in case though! Haha...

-Chris

[Aarnat]

Well guys,
Team 2199 has something better than TrackBall Surfing:

ROBOT SURFING!!!!!!

Attached is a few short videos of what we did with what is remaining of last year's robot while we waited for the FEDEX truck to arive to pick up this year's robot.

We pulled not one, but two people behind our old robot. Then we used the old robot to sweep the floor and haul our stuff around the warehouse.

At the end of the day we can say, we tested to see how durable our old robot is because we drained all the batteries, smoothed the tires, slightly rounded the sprocket teeth, and had fun!!!

Believe it or not, the old robot is still in great working order! From this it is clear, All the Kit of Parts can and will survive a major beating!!!!

[Andrew Y.]

all i got to say is.....why was i not told about this? I woulda had my butt there in about 20 minutes flat. Im upset, im talking to folea tomorrow!

[Magiciandude]

Well guys,
Team 2199 has something better than TrackBall Surfing:

ROBOT SURFING!!!!!!

Attached is a few short videos of what we did with what is remaining of last year's robot while we waited for the FEDEX truck to arive to pick up this year's robot.

We pulled not one, but two people behind our old robot. Then we used the old robot to sweep the floor and haul our stuff around the warehouse.

At the end of the day we can say, we tested to see how durable our old robot is because we drained all the batteries, smoothed the tires, slightly rounded the sprocket teeth, and had fun!!!

Believe it or not, the old robot is still in great working order! From this it is clear, All the Kit of Parts can and will survive a major beating!!!!

Haha...thats pretty sweet! Now, lets see you stand up on only two feet while doing it 0_o...

[purplecatnip]

omg that looks like soooo much fun!!! though slightly dangerous considering how many times I fell on my butt just trying to sit on the ball
still, if we had more than one ball we would be TOTALLY doing that

[SizzelChest330]

I cant say i havent started doing this since week 4... lol
The best we got going was 4 track balls lined up with 2 people riding the same chain, or making a complete left turn on the field with 3 track balls

[Pat Arnold]

Loved the video (with music even!). Felt like there should have been a MythBuster's type disclaimer: "Don't try this at home...we're what you call track-ball professionals." Thanks for the laugh!

[purduephotog]

Originally Posted by Magiciandude

Now that the build season is over, we have quite a big problem on hand.

What will we do with all of these $100 balls?

Fortunately, Team 1746 has a solution for you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LqJyDrwKGo

-Chris Folea(pronounced Foh-Lee-Uh)
"Dreams are like rainbows...only idiots chase after them."

Actually we have had more of a problem with our balls popping and being punctured. I ordered a 6 pack of bladders with the intent of supplying local teams if they needed them- and so far we've ruptured 2 ball bladders this year thru just regular handling and 2 during 'testing'.

One the robot tipped over while holding it- sounded like a large whoopee cushion. The other deflated from a metal filing that it picked up on the floor. The third interacted with a metal table. The fourth was just flat- no idea how.

I'm hoping FIRST chooses a slightly cheaper field element next year, or at least something with a stronger plastic. Heck, everything was made in China anyway so let's get a part that WalMart stocks.

[rcflyer620]

OMG! They HAVE to have this as an event at the After Party in Atlanta!

[Grant Cox]

I just love the gleeful, free, post-ship feeling, don't you?