You can see the “Ball Drive” (Patent Pending) and the 2003 Mighty Auk.
I just want to say there was alot of work involved in making 2 robots. Andy and Mark put alot of time into the research and development and manufacturing of both the robots. I personally want to a say it was a job will done and a awesome step for FIRST.
I wish our team had the money and the manpower.
*Originally posted by Spikey *
**I wish our team had the money and the manpower. **
I wish our team had Mark Koors, and/or Andy Baker. (we’re not picky! ;))
They’ve raised the bar for everyone… again…
I guess it’s time for us young engineering students to step it up!
What’s next, a single ball that changes it’s CG such that it rolls around the field in a controled manner?
*Originally posted by JVN *
**
What’s next, a single ball that changes it’s CG such that it rolls around the field in a controled manner? **
As mentioned in a previous thread, this was actually something that I was throwing around in my head early on this season… maybe it was before (or during) the kickoff, I dont really remember, but I know it was briefly tossed around between a few 190 folks.
First off I was at a friends computer along with a a few other team mates and we just looked in ahhh for sometime, at this beauty, while we should be studying and trying to fix our grades after the almost 7 weeks. I mean just wow, 45 congrats on creating something that is new to all of us. Where in the world has anybody seen a drive like this.
Second WernerNYK instead of taking away from what another team has done why can’t you appreciate it. I was on 190 before and I was there for wonder wheels, translating, and CTVs and I know what its like to come out with that. Its great hearing complements from other team, but to have 1 person to come out and say “Yeah we thought of that but we didn’t think it was that good”. Something like this negates all the praise that you get for that devise.
*Originally posted by WernerNYK *
**As mentioned in a previous thread, this was actually something that I was throwing around in my head early on this season… maybe it was before (or during) the kickoff, I dont really remember, but I know it was briefly tossed around between a few 190 folks. **
Great!
Glad you guys thought of it!
Along with half the other teams in FIRST.
My post wasn’t about who THOUGHT of it, but who actually DOES it…
Were you one of those people who said “I thought of Beatty’s design during kickoff, but we didn’t use it”?
WOW, I think I spent 15 minutes just looking at the design. I wish we were going to nats so we could see this in person. power, agility, manuverability. It looks like it has it all. FIRST has really brought out the best here. I just have to ask, what are the balls made of? Are they solid or hollow? Did i mention, WOW. Nice work guys, Now I really want to see what Beatty & Wild Stang come up with. You’ve really raised the bar.
sigh
John simply stated a “what’s next…” question; I in turn commented on that stating that that was actually something we thought about implementing, even before this game was announced. It had nothing to do with the 'Kats driveline – a little off-topic, yes.
In no way was I trying to “downplay” the innovation created. I have actually praised their design… I have said that I definitely want to take a closer look at it in person, even though I may have some doubts about it. I never said “we thought of that design but decided it was no good,” because that never happened. I said that we thought of a DIFFERENT design (which John just happened to bring up) that didn’t even have anything to do with this year’s game… so you can’t even compare it to saying we thought of something and didnt use it, like Beatty last year.
…Anyway, back on topic. I love how the “backup bot” is mounted on the wall of the crate 
umm, … WOW. Amzaing job to team 45. Once again the bar has been raised, not only by your ball drive design, but the fac tat you built 2 totally different robots. And once again, find a new, innovative, “I wish i had thought of it” design tht will certainly turn heads. Unbelievable.
But, I haven’t read the rules all to thorughly, and I dont recall this happening before. Is it legal to construct 2 totally different robots and use both at the same competition?
Once again nice job.
It just goes to show you how designs for things that could become part of future technology start in FIRST
Again 45 never ceases to amaze any of us. Not only do they come out with a quality robot every year, but more importantly, there is a great group of people behind every one. I can’t wait to see them in action at Nationals.
And Nickma and John upon your comments… of course there is a drastic difference between those that do and those that just think about doing. And for someone to say “we thought of that, but we couldn’t get it to work (or maybe didn’t think it was worth it)” doesn’t negate any praise that anyone has ever given. In several ways, it is kind of praise in itself. Every year a team comes up with a design and then says “that’s impossible”, or “we can’t do that”, or even the infamous “that will never work.” And every year, without fail, there will be a robot out there with that device. They will have made your impossible possible… and many teams just stand back and say “wow, so that’s how you do it.”
Nickma, you know as well as many others that T190 has been there for our far share of innovative and untested designs as we have been for the "that will never work"s. So you should know just as well as anyone how the table turns both ways… sometimes you get to make the cool designs, and sometimes you just get to sit and gawk.
Commenting or questioning a design isn’t negative. It’s a curiosity. Saying “hey we thought of that too” doesn’t take away anything from the quality of design or the time and effort that anyone on any team put in. You have wings. We say “hey, we thought of that.” Does that mean that we negate any good thing ever said about your team’s design? I think not.
And in the end, many of us do not look back and say “I wish I had thought of that” about the winning robot, cause chances are almost every team thought of that idea at some point. They can make it a winner because it is a combination of a whole lot more things than just a good design, and it takes that right mix to build a champion. You wouldn’t necessarily say that the team that won thought of the right answer… that would mean there was a right answer and only one.
Great designs are great designs. Great teams are great teams. Great execution is great execution. And stating any similarities with those great things doesn’t lessen them at all.
But, I haven’t read the rules all to thorughly, and I dont recall this happening before. Is it legal to construct 2 totally different robots and use both at the same competition?
Technically, we didn’t build two entirely different robots. We like to think of it as a ‘modular’ robot. Some teams have modular arms, we just have modular drive bases. As we have them built now, we would more than likely, not use both at one competition, because we didn’t have the time to implement total effeciancy in our modular approach. Andy Baker said in another post that it would take 2-4 hrs to swap all of the components neccessary to make it legal (motors, controller, rotating beacon, etc.) However, if we did take the time to do all of that, it would be perfectly legal. 
WernerNYK and Colleen, when someone comes out and “ONLY” says yeah we thought of that too, I think it implies one of two things.
Either we thought of it and and it wasn’t a good idea
Or they are just giving them self a shameless plug.
WernerNYK if you had given your second post first then I would have thought nothing of it. Just think if a team look at what you did and said “Yeah we thought about it” and said nothing else. What would you think then?
Don’t take this personal I and just giving my thoughts.
Again 45 what a job with two spectacular robots.
Look forward to competing with you in Houston.
*Originally posted by WernerNYK *
**sighJohn simply stated a “what’s next…” question; I in turn commented on that stating that that was actually something we thought about implementing, even before this game was announced. It had nothing to do with the 'Kats driveline – a little off-topic, yes.
In no way was I trying to “downplay” the innovation created. I have actually praised their design… I have said that I definitely want to take a closer look at it in person, even though I may have some doubts about it. I never said “we thought of that design but decided it was no good,” because that never happened. I said that we thought of a DIFFERENT design (which John just happened to bring up) that didn’t even have anything to do with this year’s game… so you can’t even compare it to saying we thought of something and didnt use it, like Beatty last year.
**
What I meant by my initial post, was that the Technokats took and idea that everyone jokes about, but never actually does, and made it work. I then posted about another idea, that I’m quite confident almost everyone jokes about, and suggested it be the next thing that would be developed.
When Werner posted, I was just annoyed that he seemed to be taking credit for thinking of an idea that (I think) almost everyone has bounced around in their head at one time or another.
Reading over what Colleen and Werner posted later, I guess I misinterpreted Werner’s meaning.
I apologize… I did not mean any offense to the WPI team, or any of it’s members. I have the utmost respect for you guys, and the things you have done within the FIRST community.
I respect the innovation your team has pioneered within the FIRST world, and look forward to seeing your new take on the crab drive at BAE this weekend.
I’m proud to have a former member of your well-renowned team on 229. I have friends ON your team, some of which I have worked closely with in the past, and I hope our two teams (woot! for North-Eastern college FIRST) have more positive interactions in the future.
I’m also curious to see how your Crab-goat would fare against our Burnout… perhaps in the offseason, if not in Houston?
So again, please accept the apologies of myself, and of team 229.
Thanks,
