A proposal for FL, please comment

FIRST General Forum
1

Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.

Posted on 3/19/99 9:49 PM MST

The following is a plan that basically came out of the brain of Mike Aubry from our team during a conversation about what to do about so few Qualifying Matches in FL:

Start very early (6am say) on and then take a break in the heat of the day (11:30 to 4:30 say) then resume and go late into the night (10pm say). Sat. wouldn’t have the break or go late.

I think that FIRST would have to have basically two crews of folks to make these long days work, but there is still time. If FIRST put out the word that in order to have more qualifying rounds, teams would have to come up with volunteers to help at the nationals, I think between 200 teams they would be able to get 50 or more people to help out. That should be enough I think.

Qualifying rounds could begin on Thurs. night. This would give 3 sessions of qualifying rounds, not including Sat. morning. If the teams were randomly broken up into 3 groups (e.g. A, B, C). Then at each of the 3 sessions, only 2/3 need attend (e.g. A&B on Thu. PM, B&C on Fri. AM, A&C on Fri. PM). This would give every team a solid block of time to go to the park if they wished (I have no interest the parks, but I am told that others find them interesting – For me, compared to a FIRST competition, they are no draw at all). Sat. AM would have all teams attending as usual.

If, during these smaller sessions, we could sqeeze in 3 rounds per attending team and if on Sat. every team would get 2 rounds, then every team could 8 rounds. Not too shabby. Practice rounds are still an issue, but perhaps a combination of reduced number of practices, a shorter Thu. break and starting the practices ASAP on Thu. could make it work.

Benefits:

More qualifying matches.
A block of time for teams to go to the parks.
Out of the sun when the sun is hottest (a non trivial benefit)
Time to fix your robot if you are broken! (I guess no park for you!)

Obviously, we haven’t got all the bugs out yet. Any further ideas?

Joe J.

2

Posted by Nate Smith, Student on team #74, Holland FIRST Robotics, from Holland High School and Haworth, Inc…

Posted on 3/20/99 6:19 AM MST

In Reply to: A proposal for FL, please comment posted by Joe Johnson on 3/19/99 9:49 PM MST:

: I think that FIRST would have to have basically two crews of folks to make these long days work, but there is still time. If FIRST put out the word that in order to have more qualifying rounds, teams would have to come up with volunteers to help at the nationals, I think between 200 teams they would be able to get 50 or more people to help out. That should be enough I think.
Sign me up! After being in Chicago, I know the advantages of having more qualification rounds…so if they need more help to pull it off, i’ll be there…

: If, during these smaller sessions, we could sqeeze in 3 rounds per attending team and if on Sat. every team would get 2 rounds, then every team could 8 rounds. Not too shabby. Practice rounds are still an issue, but perhaps a combination of reduced number of practices, a shorter Thu. break and starting the practices ASAP on Thu. could make it work.

3

Posted by Mike McIntyre, Coach on team #47 from Pontiac Central HS.

Posted on 3/20/99 7:06 AM MST

In Reply to: Sign Me Up! posted by Nate Smith on 3/20/99 6:19 AM MST:

Speaking from the team’s perspective, I love it too; from FIRST’s position, it sounds like a monumental headache: they would have to mobilize a small army of people and completely rework a schedule that I’m sure they spent a lot of time on, all the while struggling to get through the normal,frantic, demands of this hectic regional season; it would be a wonderful gift to all teams if they could do it, but I don’t think that we can realistically expect them to. I’m willing to work a shift when my team’s not competing, if they decide to try it, though!

: : I think that FIRST would have to have basically two crews of folks to make these long days work, but there is still time. If FIRST put out the word that in order to have more qualifying rounds, teams would have to come up with volunteers to help at the nationals, I think between 200 teams they would be able to get 50 or more people to help out. That should be enough I think.
: Sign me up! After being in Chicago, I know the advantages of having more qualification rounds…so if they need more help to pull it off, i’ll be there…

: : If, during these smaller sessions, we could sqeeze in 3 rounds per attending team and if on Sat. every team would get 2 rounds, then every team could 8 rounds. Not too shabby. Practice rounds are still an issue, but perhaps a combination of reduced number of practices, a shorter Thu. break and starting the practices ASAP on Thu. could make it work.

4

Posted by Greg Mills, Engineer on team #16, Baxter Bomb Squad, from Mountain Home and Baxter Healthcare.

Posted on 3/20/99 7:15 AM MST

In Reply to: Sign Me Up! posted by Nate Smith on 3/20/99 6:19 AM MST:

:
I agree with any plan that allows for more qualifying rounds. We have all seen the effects of one round (good or bad) on an average score. We all also know that the FIRST competition has always depended on the luck of the draw and I think that it is a viable part of the entire experience. I would however agree with reducing the impact of the pairings. I am still pleased with the format this year, it addressed some other problems from last year. The Regionals with a large number of rounds was just about perfect.

   Greg
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Posted by Jeff Burch, Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Delco Electronics Systems.

Posted on 3/22/99 10:20 AM MST

In Reply to: Sign Me Up! posted by Nate Smith on 3/20/99 6:19 AM MST:

I’m in too. Anything that can increase the number of qualifying rounds is a benifit to all teams.

I still think FIRST could whip up a tent with another couple of playing fields for practice and qualifying matches that would be cheaper than a whole grandstand. The combination of more hours and more fields would make a big difference.

Jeff Burch
Team 45

6

Posted by “MOE”, Coach on team #88, TJ2, from Bridgewater-Raynham Reg. High School and Johnson & Johnson .

Posted on 3/25/99 7:25 PM MST

In Reply to: Sign Me Up! posted by Nate Smith on 3/20/99 6:19 AM MST:

HELLOOOOO
This is a good thought, 8 rounds sounds great for all
(we had 10 in NJ) I could work when #88 TJ2 is not
competing. I think this could work with a little help
from all the different teams lets all give this some
thought. The more rounds for all the better, thanks
Mike A. and Joe J.
TEAM #88 TJ2 MOE

. : : I think that FIRST would have to have basically two crews of folks to make these long days work, but there is still time. If FIRST put out the word that in order to have more qualifying rounds, teams would have to come up with volunteers to help at the nationals, I think between 200 teams they would be able to get 50 or more people to help out. That should be enough I think.
: Sign me up! After being in Chicago, I know the advantages of having more qualification rounds…so if they need more help to pull it off, i’ll be there…

: : If, during these smaller sessions, we could sqeeze in 3 rounds per attending team and if on Sat. every team would get 2 rounds, then every team could 8 rounds. Not too shabby. Practice rounds are still an issue, but perhaps a combination of reduced number of practices, a shorter Thu. break and starting the practices ASAP on Thu. could make it work.

7

Posted by David Kelso, Coach on team #131, CHAOS-, from Central High School and OSRAM SYLVANIA/ Fleet Bank.

Posted on 3/21/99 8:19 AM MST

In Reply to: A proposal for FL, please comment posted by Joe Johnson on 3/19/99 9:49 PM MST:

: After participating in the N.E. Comp. I am still convinced
that lots of time is lost due to the method used in scoring.
How about one small team of refs that just calculates the scores.
A match is played, the refs then go to the other field and that match
is played. Meanwhile the scoring team is calculating the score of the
previous match. Of course the next bottle neck comes from the time needed to
untangle the machines, set up the next ones and do power checks. Perhaps
someone who has video of the whole process could sit down and calculate
the time savings.
The following is a plan that basically came out of the brain of Mike Aubry from our team during a conversation about what to do about so few Qualifying Matches in FL:

: Start very early (6am say) on and then take a break in the heat of the day (11:30 to 4:30 say) then resume and go late into the night (10pm say). Sat. wouldn’t have the break or go late.

: I think that FIRST would have to have basically two crews of folks to make these long days work, but there is still time. If FIRST put out the word that in order to have more qualifying rounds, teams would have to come up with volunteers to help at the nationals, I think between 200 teams they would be able to get 50 or more people to help out. That should be enough I think.

: Qualifying rounds could begin on Thurs. night. This would give 3 sessions of qualifying rounds, not including Sat. morning. If the teams were randomly broken up into 3 groups (e.g. A, B, C). Then at each of the 3 sessions, only 2/3 need attend (e.g. A&B on Thu. PM, B&C on Fri. AM, A&C on Fri. PM). This would give every team a solid block of time to go to the park if they wished (I have no interest the parks, but I am told that others find them interesting – For me, compared to a FIRST competition, they are no draw at all). Sat. AM would have all teams attending as usual.

: If, during these smaller sessions, we could sqeeze in 3 rounds per attending team and if on Sat. every team would get 2 rounds, then every team could 8 rounds. Not too shabby. Practice rounds are still an issue, but perhaps a combination of reduced number of practices, a shorter Thu. break and starting the practices ASAP on Thu. could make it work.

: Benefits:

: More qualifying matches.
: A block of time for teams to go to the parks.
: Out of the sun when the sun is hottest (a non trivial benefit)
: Time to fix your robot if you are broken! (I guess no park for you!)

: Obviously, we haven’t got all the bugs out yet. Any further ideas?

: Joe J.

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