Posted by Jason T…
Student on team #191, X-CATS, from Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School.
Posted on 4/23/2000 3:25 PM MST
I was just wondering how many people thought this might be a good idea. I was thinking as I was watching one of the matches that a pit pass to be on stage with the drivers and coaches might be a good idea. Don’t get me wrong I believe that the coaches, drivers and human players are capable of fixing minor problems, but when pieces of the robot go flying I wish I were up there to collect the pieces and possibly fix the problem. I had prior to matches the drivers handing me tools off stage. I don’t know just a thought, maybe an extra person up there for the ‘just in case’ problems.
Tell me what you think,
Jason Trotter
Posted by S. Krussell.
Coach on team #349, Robahamas, from International Academy and Ford Motor Co…
Posted on 4/23/2000 4:05 PM MST
In Reply to: On Stage Pit Person posted by Jason T. on 4/23/2000 3:25 PM MST:
Hey Jason, I read your comment. I put kids on the field team in the position of coaches who CAN and DO run out there to fix things, and pick up flying parts. I have always thought that was part of the on-field coaches job, and coaches are picked accordingly. They are the ones who did the programming, the wiring and so on. They have to know the machine to be out there.
I, however, wish I could be out there just to watch!!
Posted by Jon.
Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Mass Academy of Math and Science and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Posted on 4/23/2000 7:05 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: On Stage Pit Person posted by S. Krussell on 4/23/2000 4:05 PM MST:
I agree with you. that’s how we currently do it… the scouts brief the coaches and drivers while in the cue for the stage but they can fix issues that come up…
at worst, the least experienced (HP usually) comes out and trades the stage pass with the necessary expert…
jon
: Hey Jason, I read your comment. I put kids on the field team in the position of coaches who CAN and DO run out there to fix things, and pick up flying parts. I have always thought that was part of the on-field coaches job, and coaches are picked accordingly. They are the ones who did the programming, the wiring and so on. They have to know the machine to be out there.
: I, however, wish I could be out there just to watch!!
Posted by Jason T…
Student on team #191, X-CATS, from Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School.
Posted on 4/24/2000 1:54 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: On Stage Pit Person posted by S. Krussell on 4/23/2000 4:05 PM MST:
: Hey Jason, I read your comment. I put kids on the field team in the position of coaches who CAN and DO run out there to fix things, and pick up flying parts. I have always thought that was part of the on-field coaches job, and coaches are picked accordingly. They are the ones who did the programming, the wiring and so on. They have to know the machine to be out there.
: I, however, wish I could be out there just to watch!!
Don’t get me wrong I believe that the coaches/human players/drivers are very capable of fixing problems on the robot. But I think that it would possibly be a little less stressful if say someone were there to get tools and fix problems. It would just be a little less stressful on the people on stage. Our people on stage were capable of fixing things but like I said it would just be one less worry for the drivers. I believe they had a pit person at Rumble '99 and that person(me) helped with the minor problems that occurred.
–Jason Trotter
Posted by Patrick Seeney.
Student on team #469, Las Guerrillas, from Oakland Robotics and Lawrence Technological University and Magna Seating Systems, Nachi and Kuka Robotics.
Posted on 4/24/2000 6:10 AM MST
In Reply to: On Stage Pit Person posted by Jason T. on 4/23/2000 3:25 PM MST:
For example on our team, one of our drivers was responsible for designing the lift, they know it through and through, that driver along with one of the coaches programmed the robot. The other driver along with one of the coaches was responsible for designing the drive. That same driver and that same coach also were responsible for wiring the robot. The Human player knew about alot of the last minute changes, and kept his eye on certain plainly visible problems. Our robot was created by the students of our team, the only reason we would send out another person would be to quickly bring us a tool that we may have left in the pit, or to give us a hand with something that went wrong.
Pat
Posted by Matt Ryan.
Student on team #69, HYPER, from Quincy Public Schools and Gillette.
Posted on 4/24/2000 6:57 PM MST
In Reply to: On Stage Pit Person posted by Jason T. on 4/23/2000 3:25 PM MST:
Its a good idea, if you think you can pick everything up in less than a minute. Also, where are you going to stand? There is very little room. You can’t be in the way of the crowd watching the match. I agree that it would be helpful, but there are some things that need to be worked out so that it would be practical.
-=Matt Ryan=-
Posted by Keith Liadis.
Student on team #131, C.H.A.O.S., from Manchester Central High School and Osram Sylvania and Fleet Bank.
Posted on 4/24/2000 9:21 PM MST
In Reply to: On Stage Pit Person posted by Jason T. on 4/23/2000 3:25 PM MST:
Hey Jason…
I’m not positive, but i think that we WERE allowed a pit person on stage. In fact, in the semifinals of the nationals, we had a problem with our lift, and I told one of our engineers to come up on stage to help us fix it. Well, the people guarding the stage wouldn’t let him up, so I went to the head referee, and that referee said it was ok for him to come up, but by the time I got back to him, he was gone going to get parts because there was nothing else he thought he could do at the time. So, I think it was a rule, but just not spread very well through the FIRST community. I know it would have helped us to have another person up there, it was heartbreaking to see our lift break in the finals when we most needed it. But ah well, that’s how the game goes! Good luck to everyone next year!
Keith, 131
Posted by Lora Knepper.
Student on team #69, HYPER (Helping Youth Pursue Engineering & Robotics), from Quincy Public Schools and The Gillette Company.
Posted on 4/25/2000 8:23 AM MST
In Reply to: On Stage Pit Person posted by Jason T. on 4/23/2000 3:25 PM MST:
As a driver, the one thing I have noticed this year more than years past, is just how fast that FIRST was moving bots on and off the field much much faster. There was barely enough time to tether the bot when needed out on the side of the field. So, while I think having someone with the technical knowledge up there would be great, it’s only really practical in practice rounds and elimination matches. Just my 2 cents…
Lora
Posted by Steve Prairie.
Student on team #173, RAGE, from Rockville High School /East Hartford High School and UTRC.
Posted on 4/26/2000 7:05 PM MST
In Reply to: On Stage Pit Person posted by Jason T. on 4/23/2000 3:25 PM MST:
This is a great idea. Especially for someone like me who knew everything about our robot, knew how to fix any problems, and could do it very fast, but wasn’t able to get onto the field easily. In our semi-finals match, i had to bring charged batteries from the pit. That took long enough, but i had to explain that i was bringing batteries up before they would let me even near the stage. With a ‘pit pass’ i would have a much easier time getting to our robot. You wouldn’t believe how many times I wish I could have been able to help on stage.
Steve Prairie
RAGE #173
P.S. Lucky for us, our drivers and coaches could handle everything perfectly.
Posted by Justin Woodard.
Student on team #105, Minutemen, from Bay Path and NESS ELECTRIC CO./ MORGAN CONST./ SHIPLEY, CO…
Posted on 4/27/2000 4:08 PM MST
In Reply to: On Stage Pit Person posted by Jason T. on 4/23/2000 3:25 PM MST:
I think that is a grate idea. To have a person that’s there to help out and pick up spar parts, I hope that some one can make it happen. I now that this year I wanted to be up there to help but we had a crew for the game. So I think this could be a grate help, good idea. Just my 2 cents.