Take an exit with dignity

[SciDKelly134]

2009 Chesapeake regional finals, team 134 ‘s robot runs autonomous, then shuts down with no operator control, match 1, but the alliance wins. A system check is completed between matches and everything is working on the robot. Match 2 is a repeat of match 1, but ends in a loss. Match 3 we change drivers stations and our robot works fine without a hitch and we have a legitimate loss to our strong alliance opponents. Fast forward to the 2010 VCU Virginia Regional semi-finals, match 1, team 134’s robot runs autonomous, then shuts down with no operator control, our alliance has its first loss. A system check is completed between matches and everything is working on the robot. Match 2 is a repeat of match 1 with the exception that in the last 35 seconds of the match the other 2 robots in our alliance lose their operator control and we all set stationary on the field for the remainder of the match. This is a tough way to be eliminated for the season. I suggest to FIRST that if they continue to replay matches at their whim, then in elimination rounds, if a robot fails to move at any point during the match and a system check is completed after the match and everything is working, then the team has the right to request a different driver’s position for the next match. If FIRST does not allow this and the robot fails to move a second time and is eliminated by the field system, then out of the respect for the team’s gracious professionalism that the FTA can not identify any issue, the zone should be cleared and the team allowed to tether their robot and drive it to the gate in dignity. That way at least the audience and fellow alliance partners will know it was not the team’s robot that was the failure. This might take a bit extra time, but it would be little in exchange for the hours teams sat waiting to start matches while the field was reset to accommodate this year’s game adapters. In addition, if enough robots drove off the field fully functional under tether control, perhaps FIRST will have to admit that they have a random, but re-occurring issue with their field control system.

Our congratulations to our opponents in the red alliance of teams 1676, 1418, and 1086, you were a truly an awesome powerhouse and fully deserve to be the VCU Regional Champions. Nonetheless, if the blue alliance of 339, 435, and 134 had been given full operator control for our matches, there is no doubt in my mind the stands would have seen a set of matches they would not have forgotten.

David Kelly, 2009 Chesapeake WFF