Posted by Brian Beatty.
Coach on team #71, Team Hammond, from Hammond Schools.
Posted on 3/25/2000 5:55 PM MST
Since I am probably the first one home, I get to be the first to post and congratulate Chief Delphi and Wilstang on an awesome display at the Midwest Regional. For those who have not heard, Wildstang consistantly gets 8(yes 8) from the floor, 8 from the human, and the pipe if needed. Chief Delphi can get 6 from the human or floor, but their forte is removing balls from their opponent’s goal and depositing them in their own(if they play defense against another team, it’s lights out). To sum it up in one word, magnificent.
As always, it can be anybody’s game at the nationals. While Joe and Raul get the sleep they deserve, the rest of us will have to toss and turn trying to figure out the equation. But to be bold, if Chief Delphi and Wilstang should get the opportunity to alliance, the long search for the Holy Grail for these two great teams will be over.
Brian Beatty
Posted by mike aubry. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Engineer on team #47, Chiefs, from Pontiac Central.
Posted on 3/26/2000 8:42 AM MST
In Reply to: Domination: Alliance #47 and #111 posted by Brian Beatty on 3/25/2000 5:55 PM MST:
Thankyou for the compliments! As you know, we’ve gotten close before and walked away without a trophy. But, we always tell the students that no matter what happens we will live to play another day. The holy grail of FIRST robotics has already been won by every team that has taken on the challenge, recognized the opportunity, and participated in this wonderful learning event. We all know there’s only one trophy, but there’s many, many winners! That is the single most important thing that every team should always remember, for if this ever becomes such that the prize is more important than the experience, then it’s lost it purpose. This is something that every team should do a sense check against, to be sure that they haven’t been blinded by the brillance of the limelight that often goes along with the trophy! It’s important to remember the purpose, and I was glad to see those postings last week. Ever since I’ve been part of this team, our first and most important goal every year is to 'Do all we can to INSPIRE the students to pursue a career in the field of science, math and technology. This includes Engineering, Design, Electronics, Computer Sciences, and any other related field. If along the way we are recognized for our efforts in nomination or winning awards - that’s all just extra. Like everyone else it makes us all feel good about what we are doing and what we have accomplished. The robot design, build and competition part of the FIRST experience is a point of pride to the devoted Engineers, Designers, Teachers and Students that make up our team - so when we ‘get it right’ or can field a machine that is capable of playing the game the way we had intentioned, we are even more thankful. I was not able to attend the MidWest regional, due to a previous scheduled event (a promise to my lovely wife to stay home 1 weekend in March) so it pleases me even more when others recognize the enormous effort that our team put forth. I understand that your machine is the usual awesome machine that we have come to expect from your also very talented and devoted team. Sorry I missed it, but I’ll check it out in a couple of weeks. Good Luck to you and the team, in Florida I’ll be there! (taking the wife along and then taking the next week for a vacation) This is called strategic planning!
Posted by Dan Green.
Engineer on team #111, WildStang, from Rolling Meadows and Wheeling High Schools and Motorola.
Posted on 3/27/2000 4:35 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Thanks posted by mike aubry on 3/26/2000 8:42 AM MST:
‘Do all we can to INSPIRE the students to pursue a career in the field of science, math and technology. This includes Engineering, Design, Electronics, Computer Sciences, and any other related field. If along the way we are recognized for our efforts in nomination or winning awards - that’s all just extra.’
Mike,
I echo your sentiments. It’s important to remember the real reason we’re doing this. It’s easy to get carried away with our competitive desires, but it’s important to remind ourselves - especially when we get into the heat of competition - that those that inspire with examples of teamwork and the sharing of knowledge are the true winners.
We missed you in Chicago, but look forward to seeing you in Florida.
Posted by Mike Kulibaba. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Student on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional and Johnson and Johnson.
Posted on 3/26/2000 5:04 PM MST
In Reply to: Domination: Alliance #47 and #111 posted by Brian Beatty on 3/25/2000 5:55 PM MST:
Ive seen the Chief at two regionals and I was out in Michigan and saw Wildstang. Wildstang had some mechanical problems in Michigan but you could just tell that they had a great robot, they always do. I can’t even imagine these two great teams teaming up. I don’t see a way to beat them. And if they do get to team up in Florida(which is definately possible cause I definately could see either of them as a the top seed)I think everyone esle might be playing for second place. Oh and if you guys need a 3rd alliance partner TJ² wouldn’t mind being it. Good luck to everyone in Florida and to everyone going to New England or the Comp in San Jose.
Kuli Team 88 TJ²
Posted by Frank Toussaint. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Wheeling and Rolling Meadows and Motorola .
Posted on 3/27/2000 3:55 PM MST
In Reply to: Domination: Alliance #47 and #111 posted by Brian Beatty on 3/25/2000 5:55 PM MST:
At the Great Lakes Regional (our first regional) our robot performed about as well as #71 did at the Midwest Regional (#71’s first regional). I expect #71 to make as much improvement in the next two weeks as we made in the previous two weeks. By 5:00 P.M. Tuesday they will have made new parts to install on their 'bot at the Nationals and we will see a whole new level of performance.
Posted by Joe Johnson. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 3/27/2000 7:44 PM MST
In Reply to: 71 a sleeper posted by Frank Toussaint on 3/27/2000 3:55 PM MST:
By no means should folks think that Hammond is out of the running.
They had no drive time to speak of prior to shipping. Their drivers were getting better and better right before our eyes in Chicago.
Their machine was terriffic.
They lost round 1 because of a blown fuse early in the match by their partner. Who knows what would have happened if the match had been 2 on 2 rather than 2 on 1?
In the second match it took 3-Dimensional Systems lifting team #201 off the bar plus a ball delivery system failure that just would not deliver that last ball into their goal to beat them.
Very tough breaks.
Trust me, Team Hammond will not fade away at the Nationals.
Joe J.
Posted by Mike McIntyre. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Coach on team #1, Juggernaut, from Oakland Technical Center Northeast and 3 Dimensional Services.
Posted on 4/2/2000 5:34 AM MST
In Reply to: Blown fuse and thrown drive away… posted by Joe Johnson on 3/27/2000 7:44 PM MST:
‘Very tough breaks’ Indeed! We all know that Beatty-Hammond is a great team but must you constantly denigrate the performance of Team #1? You make our victory (we allied with Teams #74 and #49) sound like a complete fluke! Didn’t you notice that, in match #1 we went ONE-ON-ONE against Hammond and completely shut them out? (True, our ally #74 did all the scoring but we could have easily broken off the defense and raced for the ramp had it been necessary those last few seconds) Do you know how hard it is to shut out a team like Beatty-Hammond? And the match #2 where their partner got ‘lifted off the bar’ well, you neglected to say that Team #1 was knocked down, laying on their side when they picked themselves up, knocked Team #201 off the bar, and hoisted themselves up in the final seconds only to loose power and droop before they could complete their hang; either way you look at it HAMMOND WON THAT MATCH: IT CAN’T BE CITED AS ONE OF THE QUIRKS OF FATE THAT LED TO THEIR DEMISE! And in the final, decisive, match we hit the ramp’s side rail and tipped ourselves over (leaving a two-on-one situation against our alliance) yet still managed to win.Trust ME, Team Hammond did not fade away at Chicago: they had a great alliance partner in Team #201 but still went down swinging in three hard-fought matches.
Posted by Jason Panila.
Student on team #102, Dexterious Gearheads, from Somerville High School, Somerville, New Jersey.
Posted on 3/27/2000 9:06 PM MST
In Reply to: Domination: Alliance #47 and #111 posted by Brian Beatty on 3/25/2000 5:55 PM MST:
don’t forget us, we can get 8 balls from the human player, 11 balls from the ground(8 unloaded at a time). PLus we have a arm to steal. We also are building a new motor to cut the hanging time in half. DOn’t mind me, I just use every possible opportunity to sell our robot. If we have luck like last competition we’ll need it(4Xno teamate,2X flipped teamate,1Xrobot problem,only 1 or two fair matches) Hehe, see you boys and girls in florida. Watch out for the teacups, they’re a killer. haha. Oh, remember why you’re there, robotics first, space mountain second.
#102 dexterous gearheads
Posted by Mike Kulibaba. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Student on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional and Johnson and Johnson.
Posted on 3/28/2000 10:41 AM MST
In Reply to: don’t forget 102! posted by Jason Panila on 3/27/2000 9:06 PM MST:
I know I can’t forget Team 102. In the quarter finals in New Jersey team 102 pulled a black ball from our goal and put it into their goal and moved on to the Semi finals. I hope we get the chance to alliance with you in Florida cause I sure don’t want to have to face you again. And believe me your team is high on my list as a possible alliance partner. Good luck to everyone and see you all in Florida.
Kuli Team 88 TJ²
Posted by Jason Panila.
Student on team #102, Dexterious Gearheads, from Somerville High School, Somerville, New Jersey.
Posted on 3/28/2000 8:23 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: don’t forget 102! posted by Mike Kulibaba on 3/28/2000 10:41 AM MST:
: I know I can’t forget Team 102. In the quarter finals in New Jersey team 102 pulled a black ball from our goal and put it into their goal and moved on to the Semi finals. I hope we get the chance to alliance with you in Florida cause I sure don’t want to have to face you again. And believe me your team is high on my list as a possible alliance partner. Good luck to everyone and see you all in Florida.
: Kuli Team 88 TJ²
oh yeah, I’m the driver, I remember that one well. That was by far my favorite round. I remember panicking with 10 seconds left, I backed her in, my buddy drew(controller) did his magic, and with 5 seconds left, I hauled over there and dropped the ball with about 2 seconds left. I never realized it was that close of a match, I was thinking about just hanging, but I decided to drop the ball off first for some reason. we ended up winning by 1 pt, whew.