Not to Be a Total Stick in the Mud

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

I'm scratching my head over the bridge play, though. Not cool.

Jane

Kids being kids.
We told them to stop.
It just shouldn't be done in the first place.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Kids being kids.
We told them to stop.
It just shouldn't be done in the first place.

Why did they have access to the field?

Jane

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Why did they have access to the field?

Jane

They were volunteers from a team and a team that won they event. they always are on the field after the event. We just have to make sure they don't play on the bridge. That's all.

[OZ_341]

Originally Posted by Meredith Novak

May I add another?
Yelling "ROBOT!" does not make it okay to run over someone escorting a group of VIPs who may not know to leap out of your way instantly. (And exactly why should they?)

This was a massive problem in St. Louis last year. I keep meaning to say something to FIRST about this. Having a robot is not a license to run people over.
I do remember a more civil time when kids walked slowly in front of their robots and yelled "robot" with their arms out or waving a flag. And ALWAYS waiting for people to move out of the way.

I think we need to change the culture back on this one.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

A best practice that the safety inspectors can pass on while they do their rounds. I need the lingo. What would be a good name to call this position, leading the team robot safely through the crowded pits without yelling. Robot docent? Robot Page? Help!

Vanguard.

[rsisk]

Another Problem with shouting "robot" and also loud cheering in the pit is that it interfers with teams being interviewed by the judges.

[Astrokid248]

Originally Posted by rsisk

Another Problem with shouting "robot" and also loud cheering in the pit is that it interfers with teams being interviewed by the judges.

Oh, I am so glad you mentioned this. Last year I was talking to judges about 60% of the time I was in the pits, and teams would plow through screaming ROBOT with no regard for what they were interrupting. This meant that I had to repeat things and get uncomfortably close to the judges just to explain parts of our robot. This is especially difficult for teams like Gatorzillas, who have a pit that's not conducive to quickly shuffling judges in as a robot comes plowing through.

As others have said, our policy is to send whichever driver is holding the OI ahead of everyone else to politely clear the way, with the other driver pulling the robot behind. Admittedly, when I took point, I'd mix it up by throwing in sarcasm, but I wouldn't advise that particular method, especially around anyone on a Segway.

From one BEST/FIRST vet to the rest of you, what things that are common place in BEST competitions would you rather not see at a FIRST regional? I think it would be good to compile a specific list.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Astrokid248

From one BEST/FIRST vet to the rest of you, what things that are common place in BEST competitions would you rather not see at a FIRST regional? I think it would be good to compile a specific list.

This may not be the thread to do this in. It might be good to start a separate thread.

I will add a couple of thoughts here:

1. Many teams treat the FRC pits like they treat the Display halls - using those for social gatherings. In LASA, we treat both competitions the same:
- enjoy the competition/check out the Displays and Pits but you have jobs to do and don't shirk those
- don't cluster, gather, block, bottleneck
because
- you each have jobs to do
- don't hang around the Pit or Display
because
- you are interferring with the work that needs to be done
- for Display purposes, the presenters that maintain the Display are there to talk about the team and the community involvement to visitors, guests, VIPS, Judges, and the teams. They are not there as a magnet for their fellow team members.
- for the Pit purposes, the pit crew is busy maintaining the robot, the Pit, and making themselves available to talk with visitors, guests, VIPS, Judges, and other teams. They are not there as a magnet for their fellow team members.

Because of the nature of the Displays and their purpose, I think some of the FRC/BEST teams fail to completely grasp the importance of the purpose of the Pits and they overwhelm them with social clusters and bottlenecks.

2. This is a different discussion but it is an important one. BEST is student centric. FRC isn't. The programs both support and encourage STEM initiatives but their programs are very different. It takes a lot of time and effort to help new team members and parents understand and grasp the value of those differences each year. Some teams do that well. Some teams don't. The teams that grasp the value of the differences and work towards setting the bar of excellence in each - are the ones that we see garnering awards and recognition in FIRST and BEST and the other robotics programs as well.

One thing that I love about BEST is their approach to the Pits. They are not open to everyone. They are only available to those who have pit passes and to BEST folks which include Judges and invited VIPs. I like that and think FRC could benefit from something similar with designated times for the Pits to be open to the everyone.

One of the things that I despise about the BEST competitions at Regional level are the bands that are allowed in the stands to support the teams. Not all teams can afford to fund their bands or their cheerleaders travel and they can seriously impact the Spirit Award and other awards, in my opinion. The noise level is dangerous and ridiculous. It totally overwhelms to the work of the DJ who, 9 times out of 10, blasts the speakers to distortion to try to overpower the bands. It's insane.
---
In Texas, I think a lot of this has to do with how young and inexperienced so many of the FRC teams are. We should see huge strides in development in our regions in the next 3 to 4 years. That is the hope.

Jane

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

One thing that I love about BEST is their approach to the Pits. They are not open to everyone. They are only available to those who have pit passes and to BEST folks which include Judges and invited VIPs. I like that and think FRC could benefit from something similar with designated times for the Pits to be open to the everyone.

I think one of the most inspiring things about FRC competitions is seeing teams working on their robots. Removing that from the public's view would be detrimental to the program. Some outside observers don't always believe that the students are building these robots. FIRST does a very good job of keeping spectators safe and just the safety glasses requirement alone keeps some people out of the pit.

Teams are able to take their own view on how welcoming they want their pit. For example at Alamo team 4000 (a rookie team) had a pit that included cut outs for people to take photos with, they obviously didn't mind having people come by their pit. On the other hand (this is just my take) team 245's pit was less welcoming which is not a bad thing. Their students were diligently working most of the time and I don't think many spectators would have interrupted them. How you construct your pit and how you interact with it and manage it determines a lot.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by AllenGregoryIV

I think one of the most inspiring things about FRC competitions is seeing teams working on their robots. Removing that from the public's view would be detrimental to the program. Some outside observers don't always believe that the students are building these robots. FIRST does a very good job of keeping spectators safe and just the safety glasses requirement alone keeps some people out of the pit.

Teams are able to take their own view on how welcoming they want their pit. For example at Alamo team 4000 (a rookie team) had a pit that included cut outs for people to take photos with, they obviously didn't mind having people come by their pit. On the other hand (this is just my take) team 245's pit was less welcoming which is not a bad thing. Their students were diligently working most of the time and I don't think many spectators would have interrupted them. How you construct your pit and how you interact with it and manage it determines a lot.

I absolutely agree with everything you have said. What I don't feel is necessary, is having large groups forming and blocking the robot access to and from the field and making it difficult for the Judges and VIPS and the teams that are working.

Jane

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

I absolutely agree with everything you have said. What I don't feel is necessary, is having large groups forming and blocking the robot access to and from the field and making it difficult for the Judges and VIPS and the teams that are working.

Jane

This was a massive problem in Montreal as teams had to cross where the public went to and from the stands, the coat check (a very nice feature indeed) and the FLL event. It didn't help that people going by would be enthralled by the lights and excitement of the event and stop in the middle of the que path to watch. Most people at the event had never seen a FIRST event before so it was quite a challenge to keep the event moving a everyone safe and away from the playing field area ( I must have made a few hundred "saves" over the weekend playing goalie and blocking people from entering the playing field area. It made the que teams job much much harder that it had to be but I don't think there was any other way to run the path so we made the best of it).

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Vanguard.

I like it!!

[Mr. Van]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Vanguard.

I'd like to suggest "Robot Escort" - kind of like a police escort.

- Mr. Van
Coach, Robodox

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by Mr. Van

I'd like to suggest "Robot Escort" - kind of like a police escort.

- Mr. Van
Coach, Robodox

Hmm, a new role for Robodox?

[littlejimmy1058]

I saw similar things at GSR. There were kids with capes on in the pits. Ummmm safety hazard? yes. loose clothing is not allowed no matter what. great team spirit but not in the pits please! No one wants people to get hurt. The first aid kits aren't there to be used all the time, just for emergencies. Not trying to be ,as Koko Ed said, "a stick in the mud". i agree with him on in this situation.