I stopped by EPCOT this past weekend while on spring break with my family (you didn’t think that I would actually wait and bring them to the National Competition did you? And have them corrupted by a bunch of insane FIRSTers? No way! 
). Anyway, construction of the arena is well under way, with the stands and several of the larger tents already in place. The basic layout appears to be similar to last year, with the pit tents in the back, the “lower fields” off to the side, and the main stage and arena at the front center (the Einstein stage is not yet under construction). They still have a lot of work to do over the next four weeks before we all descend on Orlando, but things seem to be moving along. I have posted a picture of the current state of the construction in the Championship photo gallery.
But the most curious thing was one special truck spied in the back of the construction area. Parked behind the stands was a 40-foot trailer from a most unusual source (see the second photo here). It may just be a strange coincidence that this particular truck happened to be on site. On the other hand, does anyone wonder if FIRST might have a surprise in store for us at the competiton? Curious minds want to know…
-dave
Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them.
– Albert Einstein
is it just me or does anyone else find it weird that ther are no people in that photo? I only see a guy standing over by the parked car. nobody is working on construction.
Wow - that would be awesome, but I don’t think FIRST is doing it (don’t get me wrong, I love going paintballing and it would be a blast). They would have to take up even more of the parking lot than last year to make an arena for playing (and it sounds like they have their work cut out for them with just the normal tents), or I suppose they could let us roam free in the competition tents :). Also, it seems a bit early. Perhaps they meant it to be so as to avoid people seeing it (like our spy 
), but the paint needs to be kept cool and out of the sun - of course, they could always have it delivered later. I dunno. It would be a faster way to give MOEhawk a paintjob.
*Originally posted by Ogre *
**is it just me or does anyone else find it weird that ther are no people in that photo? I only see a guy standing over by the parked car. nobody is working on construction. **
There were several workers there, who were very busy. But most of them were working inside the pit tent at the time, so they are not visible in the photo. Also, it was a Saturday afternoon, so I would not expect a full compliment of workers on site.
As for the paintball question, the back of the truck was shut and locked, so I could not see what was inside. But one does wonder…
OK, being realistic for a minute, given all the anti-violence messages from Dean and Woodie for the past several years, I would be VERY surprised if it were to be included in the competition - but it does make you think about some intriguing possibilities that could happen by combining FIRST and other activities. Just imagine FIRST robots that also have to dance at the team party! Or FIRST robots that have to play hacky-sack. Or FIRST robots that have to compete, and also eat Krispy Kremes! 
-dave
Hmm dean doesn’t like destruction but he would allow us to shoot each other with guns. I doubt it but I would have a blast:
semi-auto please and 1 full case of paintballs (I have a twitchy trigger finger)
Hmm maybe we can add paintball guns to the robots and give the miltary some ideas (they seem to love robots more than us lately)