Does anyone think that a good compromise would be that robots were direct shipped from regional to regional - but all teams going to Orlando would have 3 days to work on the robot after their last regonal. This way every team at every event would have had basically the exact same amount of robot construction time as all the other teams at the event???
First, I should clarify that I TOTALLY agree with and understand the arguements in favor of getting to keep the robot for 3 days to work on it. Extra driver practice IS a great thing to get more of, getting to work on the robot and make repairs after an event IS a great thing, and so on - all is true. In a few years, when there are local regionals for almost all teams, then it would be fair. But with some 200-300 teams NOT having a local regional (or having their local regionals on consecutive weeks - 4 days between them), this rule just increases the advantage of being able to go to multiple regionals and having more regionals in your area.
This really isn’t a big deal - ideally I agree that the rule should let teams work on the robot after a regional - it just doesn’t seem equitable based on geography and some regionals being 4 days apart while others aren’t. When in doubt on a rule, I just normally seem to agree with whatever is 100% consistent to all teams - not favors some over others. Doesn’t mean it’s right, just how I normally feel.
I admire Bill Gold from 258 for stating that they would just rather not have the advantage out of respect for the teams who can’t work on their robots - he would rather compete with them with the same amount of time to build & drive the robot. Teams going to multiple regionals already get extra practice & robot build time just by being there for 3 days - I just don’t feel they need more if other teams can’t get more.
I don’t think anyone is wrong on this issue - just seems there are different perspectives.
As to teams west of the Mississippi being at a disadvantage, I am not sure what you are saying. Is your point that every geographic region should be equally disadvantaged? Should FIRST limit the density of machine shops to the level available in Hawaii or Alaska?
Nope, not my point at all - I hope it didn’t come across that way. Just a Tomato/TomAto thing. For the most part, I see any rule which is consistant across the board and effects all teams the same as fair. As the rule was last year, I see all the teams NOT being able to take the robot home for 3 days as “disadvantaged”. If all teams shipped directly, I would not see anyone as disadvantaged, because it would be equal for all. One important point - direct shipping in NO WAY “equally disadvantages” any team. It doesn’t impact the 6 week design & build process at all. All teams would still have the same amount of days to work on the robot at home, in their work place.
I don’t really care about the advantage/disadvantage of extra resources or funding. In fact, I look at the teams with more funding or resources than most teams as a good example, or goal, for newer teams to look up to and strive to achieve. These are things teams can work towards year round to try to improve their program. My point was that when it is a rule, dictated by FIRST, TOTALLY out of the hands of teams, which gives an advantage to some teams over others and ADDS work days with the robot to some teams but not others, than I disagree with it. This rule is not a resource or funding issue - it is a geography and time issue .
As to direct ship causing no significant problems, that is just not the case. Yes, teams worked around it, but for the most part it was a hassle.
I guess it’s just a different experience for different teams. The teams at the West Coast Team Forum overwhelmingly support the direct ship rule - at least between regionals - as they have NO WAY to work on it for 3 days after an event, especially since all three west coast regionals were placed on consecutive weekends.
Finally, at least one robot I am aware of broke in the elimination rounds for the simple lack of being able to run it in a quiet room where the stress on the machine would have certainly been heard. I am not asking for sympathy, I am just saying that to so easily dismiss the problems teams had does not match my memory of the events.
You are right that the part which broke “may” have been caught beforehand, but very well may not have - especially since it didn’t break until the 3rd day in Florida after practice and qualifying rounds. It could have been that the part simply broke due to the fatigue and stress of all the matches it participated in during 4 events. (if CD had only entered 3 events in 2000 - I think they would have been National Champs, but needed just a few more matches before the fatigue caught up with that crucial part) I have said this before and will say it again, in my eyes the CD robot from 2000 was the top robot in the country. Much like the TechnoKats in 98 and Beatty in 2001, it is incredible when one robot stands out above all the rest - but CD did in 2000. I normally expect a number of teams to distinguish themselves as being equal “top tier” teams - as I felt happened in 99 - but I was so impressed in 98, 2000 (same could be said about 25 - that arm was AMAZING, and still causes nightmares to us & the GilaMonsters I am sure), and 2001 that those 3 or 4 teams managed to build robots which (again, in my eyes) were head and shoulders above the rest.
About the direct ship or 3 day extension rule, valid points on both sides I think. Glad to have the discussion though - what you (Joe), Mike, Mike, and the rest of the CD team do on an annual basis is remarkable. I (as many do) look forward to seeing what you come up with this year!
Jason
