2007 New Hampshire Regional (BAE SYSTEMS Granite State Regional)

[Jonathan Norris]

I am surprised no one has made a thread for this regional yet (correct me if i am wrong), seeing that it is a first week regional. This will be the first year that 610 has traveled to the New Hampshire regional, and it looks like our Canadian counterparts and 2006 Champions team 296 will be joining us as the two international teams. I remember that there was some controversy last year with the general first week regional blues, hopefully it will be smoother this year. What's the regional like? How is the venue? Who are the teams to look out for?

[Ken Streeter]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

... This will be the first year that 610 has traveled to the New Hampshire regional, and it looks like our Canadian counterparts and 2006 Champions team 296 will be joining us as the two international teams.

First off, we're glad to see that you'll be attending the BAE Systems Granite State Regional -- welcome!

We've enjoyed the fact that multiple Canadian teams have attended in recent years!

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

... there was some controversy last year with the general first week regional blues, hopefully it will be smoother this year.

There's always some leve of controversy about rules in the first week regionals, as the referees and teams are seeing how the rules actually play out for the first time. The only significant controversy I recall from last year concerned disqualification of teams that penetrated the restricted space in the low goals when opposing robots pushed them there. However, any controversy is usually handled quickly and fairly since the referee crew at the BAE GSR tends to be amongst the best anywhere, with some very experienced refs.

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

How is the venue?

We think you're likely to have an awesome time at this regional event. From our perspective, the volunteers at the BAE GSR have always been very friendly, helpful, and eager to ensure that all teams are treated well and fairly. The venue itself features close seating for spectating team members, excellent access between the pits and the field, top-notch professionals in an on-site machine shop that can fabricate almost anything a team might need to repair their robot, a half-court practice area for robots, and a very friendly atmosphere. The announcers are awesome, and the multimedia A/V equipment is second-to-none for FIRST events. The level of excitement and intensity is fantastic!

About the only troubles are that parking near the Verizon Wireless arena can be a bit of a hassle on the weekdays (but even that isn't a problem if you don't mind walking a couple blocks) and that the morning waiting area to get in is outside, where it can be bitter cold! (Then again, you might find New Hampshire in March to be downright balmy compared to the weather back home... )

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

Who are the teams to look out for?

As far as the level of competition goes, there are dozens of teams capable of fielding top-notch robots. With over 24 teams at the regional being veterans of 5+ years, 18 teams that have been to the championships two or more times, 15 teams that have been past regional champions, 6 different teams that have earned regional Chairman's Awards and 2 Championship Chairman's Award winners, it's unlikely that any team will have more than one match that doesn't include one or more powerhouse teams on the opposing alliance! The competition at BAE's GSR features many teams that have a lot of battle-hardened experience -- this isn't the regional to attend if you are looking for an easy path to bring home a trophy! There's almost too many powerhouse teams to list but teams that have been regional champions multiple times within the last few years include teams 126, 131, 133, 134, 175, 501, and 549. (Please forgive me if I've left anybody out!) Add to that list the 8 other teams that have won regional championships in recent years, and you can count on some very steep competition!

We look forward to meeting you in March, and hope that your team is at their best for the regional!

[Ian Curtis]

I was just looking at the team list, and BAE has only 1 rookie...

Is it just me or is rather unusual to have so few rookie teams? But I guess judging by the number of teams at other regionals, they all went to Boston, with a few heading to UTC.

[Ken Streeter]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

I was just looking at the team list, and BAE has only 1 rookie...

Is it just me or is rather unusual to have so few rookie teams?...

I agree that it seems very unusual to have so few rookies. However, given the density of teams in Southern New Hampshire, it's not surprising that there aren't many local rookies.

I am hoping that there will be still more rookies signing up for the event -- even though the tournament is full, space is reserved for rookie teams to attend. Team 2218 only signed up within the past week or so. I think many rookie teams don't establish their funding sources until December, so it is possible that more rookies might attend that just haven't yet registered.

However, if more rookies don't attend the BAE Granite State Regional, it should make it easy for the judges to select the Rookie All Star winner!

[Rick-906]

yo
we sooo would have won that regional last year... we were DQd in the semi's for a stupid reason, one of our alliance partners [1547 <3] was rammed and their ramp was pushed into a lower goal...
im pretty sure it states in the rules that that is not cause for a DQ
hopefully theyl get their rules figured out this year.
hehe

[kaszeta]

Team 95 is going to Manchester, like we've gone for virtually every year since we started (I think we missed one year). We need to go back, our experience last year at BAE was awful (not any fault of BAE, it was that darn 8.2V bug), and we need to purge the demons.

BTW, we're probably going to bring a 30 degree plywood ramp so that we (and other robots) can practice ramp climbing.

[Ian Curtis]

Who's gearing up for New England's first regional of the season? I'll be coaching for 1276.

Did anyone take a camera to BAE's robot revealing deal? Or are those teams trying to keep their robots a secret? Last year BAE hosted pictures of it on their site, but this year there is no such gallery.



On the subject of those doing scouting before the regional, if you're interested...

1276

4 ft
120 lbs

6wd (all of which are tread covered)
3 speeds (4fps, 10fps, 15fps)

Tube scoring on all levels
Spoiler removal on all levels

Pickup from the floor only

Capable of climbing steep ramps, providing you don't have have high guide rails on the inside edge

EG
We can climb a ramp like this |_____ _____|
But not like this |______| |_____| (unless the inside rails are shorter than 1.5")

Ramps and Autonomous: Ask me Friday morning.

[Dan Petrovic]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

Who's gearing up for New England's first regional of the season? I'll be coaching for 1276.

Did anyone take a camera to BAE's robot revealing deal? Or are those teams trying to keep their robots a secret? Last year BAE hosted pictures of it on their site, but this year there is no such gallery.

I'm assuming you're talking about Unveiling.

I don't know about pictures from BAE, but we have a mentor who takes pictures non-stop so I'll post some of the team's pictures here. I don't see a reason to keep robots a secret. If anyone has any serious problems, then just PM me or something and I can get rid of the picture.

131
More of 131

I'm assuming this is 134.

151

40

166's Magnificent Robot

238

241

811

1073

1277

1519 (there's another ramp that was deployed earlier)

1721

That's what I've got. Sorry about the lack of chassis pictures, but our photographer was sitting close to the stage.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

I will be there on Friday and Saturday getting footage for The Blue Alliance. Can't wait!

[amos229]

Chickenman from 229 is coming friday and possiblt saturday, I cant wait, it was my rookie year competition so it should be cool to return to the venue again as my last year on 229

[kaszeta]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

On the subject of those doing scouting before the regional, if you're interested...

1276

4 ft
120 lbs

6wd (all of which are tread covered)
3 speeds (4fps, 10fps, 15fps)

Tube scoring on all levels
Spoiler removal on all levels

Pickup from the floor only

Capable of climbing steep ramps, providing you don't have have high guide rails on the inside edge

EG
We can climb a ramp like this |_____ _____|
But not like this |______| |_____| (unless the inside rails are shorter than 1.5")

Ramps and Autonomous: Ask me Friday morning.

This is almost exactly Team 95's robot (except that two of the six wheels are treaded, the four corner wheels are omni wheels so we can pivot).

We have concepts for making our ramp interferences less of a problem.

[akshar]

is BAE being webcasted? if so where is the link?

[Jonathan Norris]

Originally Posted by akshar

is BAE being webcasted? if so where is the link?

I don't believe it is being web-casted... but I am recording the regional and will be uploading it all to the SOAP archives early next week. I may be wrong, but I don't remember it being on the webcast schedule.

My team, team 610, will be traveling down to BAE for the first time, joining 296 as the Canadian contingent down there. I think you'll be seeing alot of the Canadian flag this weekend . Here are some specs on our robot:
- 6 wheel drive
- 2 speed AndyMark Gearbox's
- Turreted arm
- Two joints on the arm, main joint and manipulator joint
- The upper portion of the arm also extends out
- here is a pic:
http://img47.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0035ch6.jpg

[Ian Curtis]

So after a day of watching this game, here are a couple of observations:

With defense, it becomes very difficult to score, and if a robot of the opposing alliance is between you and the end zone, you aren't getting home. While today seemed promising that high scores would happen (there were several instances of a row of 8), I don't see that happening tommorow.

Also, there needs to be a ramp graveyard. Several teams removed them. Also, although ramps are few and far between, they are a match swinger, assuming you get robots up them.

No Bumpers?!?! In our row of the pits, which is about 1/3 of the 46 teams at the regional, there are about 3 robots with full bumpers.

Just plain double ramp bots will be at a premium.

This game is all about teamwork. You must work with your alliance partners, and follow your strategy to the end. We scored much better in our practice matches when we had a plan then when all just tried to score as much as possible.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

I am surprised no one has made a thread for this regional yet (correct me if i am wrong), seeing that it is a first week regional. This will be the first year that 610 has traveled to the New Hampshire regional, and it looks like our Canadian counterparts and 2006 Champions team 296 will be joining us as the two international teams. I remember that there was some controversy last year with the general first week regional blues, hopefully it will be smoother this year. What's the regional like? How is the venue? Who are the teams to look out for?

I'd like to take the time to welcome all those that will be traveling to New Hampshire this coming weekend, and to wish you all the best of luck (except against us ) at the BAE GSR.

The BAE GSR has one of the best venues in FIRST (IMHO). Theres not a bad seat in the house. Seating is very close, excellent access to the pits, close to many resturants (if you dont want to pay the consession prices) and close to the hotels. Parking is close by (but a bit expensive). There is a full machine shop available and the machinists there are very good. There is a 1/2 size practice field (sign up early!!!) and a practice driving area.

You will find few regionals with a higher level of play. Most of the powerhouse teams of the northeast will be here (as well as a number of them from around the country), this is a bit offset by the fact that it's an early regional, so many teams have not been able to work out all the bugs yet.

The weather is generally cold outside (10-20 F) and the wind can blow quite hard (Thursday morning standing in front of the Verizon Wireless Arena gets rather chilly).

Again, Good luck to all.