Who is going and what does your robot do? How many rookies?
647 is going and were assuming our lift will work
There’s been a couple of LSR 2008 threads started.
This is one of the latest ones:
None have asked about rookies or the robots though, those are cool questions.
Also, we don’t have many teams that post in the Lone Star Regional threads that often. Maybe that’s something we can work on for 2009. 
Thanks.This is why I started my own, but I suppose I could have just asked in a post.:]
Well, let’s see what shakes out…
nothing apparently
Team 2468 from Austin Westlake will be there. From what I can gather, there will be nine rookies there this year including us. We are very excited but also a little stressed that we have everything taken care of. We are still working on our giveaways, final travel plans, pit area and tournament responsibilities of the students.
LASA and AusTIN cans have been very helpful to us in getting thru the build season as well as preparing for the Lone Star Regionals.
Our robot will attempt to knock the ball off. We can gather the ball successfully and release it. Our first priority was a bot that was quick and we could handle. We are building a backup bot so our driver can get practice driving.
Team 1480 will be there and for the first time in a couple of years, we crated up a fully functioning robot. We’ll see what comes out of the box though 
We are using a mec drive: great strafe and spins on a dime. Pretty fast too. We have a cable lock ball grabber with pneumatic arm and motor driven wrist. We can hurdle, knock the ball down and set the ball up. Hybrid mode is a little iffy right now because of IR problems. We are ideating some alternative signalling devices that we might prototype during fix-its.
We want to extend a welcome to all the rookies! The Lonestar has always been good for rookie teams. This year a lot of teams will feel a little rookie-like since we are at a new venue. We’ll all be on equal footing as far as familiararity with the site is concerned.
LASA Robotics - the “Purple Haze” of Austin Texas (FRC 418) - will be commanding the robot ZePHyr. ZePHyr is an aluminum forklift base with a pneumatically actuated tilt capability. On its lift is a pneumatically actuated “wrist” that allows the manipulator to pick up and control a trackball from several different lifter heights. The manipulator sports 3 pneumatically-actuated “claws” that grasp and hold the ball.
ZePHyr’s all-aluminum forklift is the fastest forklift team 418 has ever made. On top of that, ZePHyr has the famous Team 418 drivetrain that provides us with DeWalt 2-speed on-the-fly shifting; ample power to move trackballs and power us out of sticky situations, and those who saw us whiz across the field last year in our “disqualification-causing” opening move know we have enough speed to keep the competition honest.
ZePHyr can be seen here.
Looking forward to the fun!
-Danny
For anyone going to Lone Star this year, 2158 has a request to make. If you submitted a chairman’s award and are planning on having a projector/laptop setup of any kind, could our team borrow it for our 10 minute presentation on Friday? The main thing we really need is a projector, we could provide the laptop if necessary.
Thanks!
Richard - I hope someone can help you, but be sure to plan for the contingency, just in case. And just a reminder, your presentation can only be 5 minutes with 5 minutes reserved for questions and answers. And Good Luck!
RICHARD,
We have already presented this year at KC. However we could bring a projector on Friday if you still need one.
What happen to the webcast of the event?
I would like to congratulate:
FRC 2468 for the Rookie All-Star Award.
Now just how cool is that, you guys! Awesome.
Also, FRC 2582, for the Rookie Inspiration Award.
FRC 2587, for the Judges Award and the Website. A lot of work went into earning those!
FRC 1108, Panther Robotics, congratulations on the 2008 Chairman’s. I love you guys. I still remember Oscar and his trash can lid. You guys always do well when you come visit Lone Star. I’m so happy for the recognition you continue to receive for your on-going efforts and outstanding work.
FRC 118, congratulations on the Engineering Inspiration Award.
And, congratulations to Mrs. Laura Rodriguez from FRC 922 on the WFFA. How very special for you and for the team. I can just see your wonderful smile of disbelief when they announced your name.
Well done,
Jane
Team 1429, Thank you so much for offering your projector. When our team arrived Thursday morning, you guys were there with a projector for us. We were actually able to obtain a projector of our own late Wednesday, but it was still a great example of gracious professionalism by team 1429.
Thanks Jane, I’m not sure how many Rookie Teams take the Judges award but our team is very proud of our two awards. But I think there are many teams worth mentioning who did not obtain awards.
Starting with the Rookies
FRC 2583 - Westwood Elite had a fantastic robot and good outreach effort showing off their robot to schools during the build season.
FRC 2585 - Bellaire High School came with very little mentor/money support and had a great working robot.
Veterans
FRC 647 - Great professionalism in helping other teams with parts and code. This team has to deal with many war-time family issues and has shown many strengths of their team.
FRC 704 - Fantastic looking robot , glad to see you guys back at LSR
FRC 1772 - Brazilian teams have a tough trip to the USA but they always show at LSR how a team can fight on through all odds.
FRC 1480 - Good looking robot and great professionalism throughout the competition.
FRC 441 - Great job in hosting the Practice meet and working with other teams for parts and code.
FRC 1484 - Hogg Middle school never fails to amaze me when I remember that they are much younger than everyone else on the field.
I did not personally check the webcast because of the competition, but was anyone able to view the regional. I tried emailing as many people as could about who is in charge of broadcasting. Once I found a link to the feed I would have posted it immediately on txfirst.org. I’m sorry to say I have not seen a link.
I’m really disappointed at this because our team could have easily setup a feed for the regional but the NASA webcast site made the appearance that a feed was already setup.
did anyone actually take a picture of the stadium inside? or maybe the pits?
I got a call from a friend as soon as we got an award congratulating our team, so he was obviously able to see the webcast. I think Kevin from 57 was in charge of organizing it for Lone Star
This year I was in fact in charge of recording the video feed for archiving for the regional committee, uploading to SOAP, and making DVDs for teams. Mike Heidt has been in charge of the actual webcast since LSR was first 'cast. I’ve occasionally provided equipment, technical support, and interfacing between he and the RD, but the majority of the credit for the webcast has always been Mike’s.