Posted by Janna at 03/05/2001 3:10 PM EST
Student on team #349, The RoBahamas, from International Academy and Ford Motor Company and Robert Bosch GmbH.
I was reading through all these things and trying to explain the game to someone (again) and then I got to the part about the stretcher and realized I hadn’t heard much about it. Did teams use it often at the last two regionals? Did it work well? Were there teams that were specifically designed to work with or on it?
Janna
Posted by colleen - T190 at 03/05/2001 4:39 PM EST
Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science and WPI.
In Reply to: Stretcher use?
Posted by Janna on 03/05/2001 3:10 PM EST:
We only had one match where someone opted to use the stretcher (their robot didn’t drive)… but it was unable to be pulled over the ramp… In UTC, I think there were very few matches that the stretcher was even involved in or benefitted from…
That sort of brings up a feature of our robot we never had the chance to use… we have our “kid”… it is a removable panel with all that is required for the ‘minimum robot’ and can go on the stretcher… it knocks down a 130lb robot to only 17.5 (13+ of that which is the battery)… We were ready to put it into action noticing that many teams could pull an empty, but not a full stretcher… however, there was never a match that we weren’t needed to in to complete a task really…
Maybe we’ll have the opportunity to use it in Long Island or Nationals… we will see…
Good luck to all… we’ll see you in Long Island if it ever stops snowing!! 
Posted by Matt Ryan at 03/05/2001 4:52 PM EST
Student on team #69, HYPER, from Quincy Public Schools and Gillette.
In Reply to: Not often used-- nor was our ‘stretcher bot’
Posted by colleen - T190 on 03/05/2001 4:39 PM EST:
Yes, that match you refer to was a match Team 69 was in. The stretcher WAS pulled over the ramp and into the endzone for 10 points (if I’m wrong, I’m still suffering from a lack of sleep).
: We only had one match where someone opted to use the stretcher (their robot didn’t drive)… but it was unable to be pulled over the ramp… In UTC, I think there were very few matches that the stretcher was even involved in or benefitted from…
Posted by colleen - T190 at 03/05/2001 6:55 PM EST
Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science and WPI.
In Reply to: Re: Not often used-- nor was our ‘stretcher bot’
Posted by Matt Ryan on 03/05/2001 4:52 PM EST:
Team 69 wasn’t in that match with us… i was referring to our own team’s qualifying matches and there was only one w/ stretcher…
sorry for confusion
Posted by Matt Ryan at 03/05/2001 7:37 PM EST
Student on team #69, HYPER, from Quincy Public Schools and Gillette.
In Reply to: I meant we as in our team
Posted by colleen - T190 on 03/05/2001 6:55 PM EST:
The confusion was probably on my part. A lack of sleep with no access to caffeine is a very bad thing for your memory…
: Team 69 wasn’t in that match with us… i was referring to our own team’s qualifying matches and there was only one w/ stretcher…
: sorry for confusion
Posted by mike oleary at 03/06/2001 2:51 PM EST
Student on team #419, rambots, from bc high and sponsors are overrated…go pocket-change robots!!!.
In Reply to: Re: I meant we as in our team
Posted by Matt Ryan on 03/05/2001 7:37 PM EST:
thats why it helps to be a ninny…youre apt to spend as much money on dew as you do on youre bot…not that we did or anything…
: The confusion was probably on my part. A lack of sleep with no access to caffeine is a very bad thing for your memory…
: : Team 69 wasn’t in that match with us… i was referring to our own team’s qualifying matches and there was only one w/ stretcher…
: : sorry for confusion
Posted by Pamela at 03/06/2001 2:15 PM EST
Student on team #166, Techno Insanity, from Merrimack High School and Texas Instruments.
In Reply to: Re: Not often used-- nor was our ‘stretcher bot’
Posted by Matt Ryan on 03/05/2001 4:52 PM EST:
Nashua was the only team to pull the strecher with a bot on it into the endzone. They sure have one pretty robot this year!
Posted by Hannah at 03/05/2001 10:14 PM EST
Student on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and NYPRO.
In Reply to: Stretcher use?
Posted by Janna on 03/05/2001 3:10 PM EST:
My team discovered that the stretcher was not worth the effort… the points it got u were not worth the amount of time it took to take it across the field. The dimensions of the stretcher make it very difficult to fit across the ramp. Your aim has to be dead on because it just fits. I saw several robots attempt it and waist a good 30 sec. or more only to not succeed and leave it behind. So in short IT’s NOT WORTH IT!
Posted by Ken Leung at 03/05/2001 11:00 PM EST
Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.
In Reply to: Re: Stretcher use?
Posted by Hannah on 03/05/2001 10:14 PM EST:
The stretcher is just another 10 points in the field, even if you don’t get it across to the endzone. It seems like this is a easier way to get 10 pts compare to a robot getting across the field into the end zone. I am not saying it is hard to go into the end zone, just that a robot sitting there is already 10pts.
So, when alliance have a robot that’s just heading toward the other side in the beginning, using the stretcher is just as easy. And, there will be less traffic (not like that’s really helpful).
Posted by bill whitley at 03/05/2001 11:13 PM EST
Student on team #70, Auto City Bandits, from Powers Catholic High School and Kettering University.
In Reply to: stretcher mean 10 pts
Posted by Ken Leung on 03/05/2001 11:00 PM EST:
: The stretcher is just another 10 points in the field, even if you don’t get it across to the endzone. It seems like this is a easier way to get 10 pts compare to a robot getting across the field into the end zone. I am not saying it is hard to go into the end zone, just that a robot sitting there is already 10pts.
: So, when alliance have a robot that’s just heading toward the other side in the beginning, using the stretcher is just as easy. And, there will be less traffic (not like that’s really helpful).
The stretcher is only worth 10 points if you could get it to the end zone Ken.
Bill
Team #70
Posted by Ken Leung at 03/05/2001 11:18 PM EST
Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.
In Reply to: Re: stretcher mean 10 pts…no it doesnt
Posted by bill whitley on 03/05/2001 11:13 PM EST:
I did not know that until now…
Posted by Chris Orimoto at 03/06/2001 2:19 AM EST
Student on team #368, Kika Mana, from McKinley High School and Nasa Ames/Hawaiian Electric/Weinberg Foundation.
In Reply to: Stretcher use?
Posted by Janna on 03/05/2001 3:10 PM EST:
Personally, I think of the stretcher as a free 10 points on the field. You just need a robot that can pull it into the endzone. And, that task in itself is not exactly as difficult as it seems… 
Just my personal thoughts…
Chris, #368
Posted by Ken Leung at 03/06/2001 3:14 AM EST
Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.
In Reply to: Re: Stretcher use?
Posted by Chris Orimoto on 03/06/2001 2:19 AM EST:
Pulling a stretcher into the endzone is a totally different story that just a stretcher sitting there…
There are already problems for robots to even get pass the bridge themselves, much less pulling a goal or stretcher. So, that’s already a lot of teams who can’t do it.
Then, even when the robot have enough power/traction to pull the stretcher over the bridge, it will have to get to the bridge directly to make sure all 4 casters of the stretcher is on the bridge. Looking at the big size of it, that doesn’t seems really easy.
And finally, because of its big size, the stretcher is going to get in the way of other robots easily, and likely to take a long time to get to the endzone. Meanwhile, the area around the bridge needs to be clear for the two robot to get on and through…
So, as other people are saying, it’s just not worth the time, effort, and planning to do it for your own advantage.
Posted by Chris Orimoto at 03/06/2001 12:13 PM EST
Student on team #368, Kika Mana, from McKinley High School and Nasa Ames/Hawaiian Electric/Weinberg Foundation.
In Reply to: not that easy
Posted by Ken Leung on 03/06/2001 3:14 AM EST:
Trust me here,
With enough practice put into pulling the stretcher over the bridge…it can be done pretty effectively for a free 10 pts. Think of it this way too…
You only need one limbo-bot and one bot to control the near goal and the bridge is clear for the stretcher. This ensures that it is NOT in the way of everyone else. If not that, then at least a bot that can grab onto the stretcher and also push the bridge down.
AND…we shall actually have a handfull of limbo-bots participating in the Silicon Valley Regional Competition. Go to my scouting site to check out the details!
I think that the stretcher can be used as a tactical strategy to achieve very high scores.
Just my personal thoughts…
Chris, #368
Posted by Ken Leung at 03/06/2001 7:55 PM EST
Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.
In Reply to: Re: not that easy
Posted by Chris Orimoto on 03/06/2001 12:13 PM EST:
I’ve been looking at the numbers lately, and you are right, getting the stretcher is just another free 10 pts. It’s the same amount of points compare to scoring another big ball or filling the far goals with small balls (that and getting a robot in the end zone, but we are assuming we get all the robots possible over there).
So, it does actually sounds safer to score a stretcher than trying for a second big ball… Because right now I am talking about trade-off’s, and if the robots can get two big ball up there fast, then we don’t have to decide between the stretcher and the big balls.
So, if your robot can get the stretcher safely into the end zone fast and reliably, then, Go ahead. We are looking forward in forming alliance with your robot.
The Ideal alliance with a stretcher will be: a limbo robot that can pick up big balls, another limbo robot on the stretcher because of its weight, a third high traction robot that can score the stretcher and itself, and finally a balancer that can balance two goals.
If everything goes well, one big ball + small balls + stretcher + 3 robot in the end zone will get a 600 within 60 seconds.
But of course if we are aiming for the 700, we will want to do it within 30 seconds or score a second big ball.
Posted by Chris Orimoto at 03/06/2001 9:11 PM EST
Student on team #368, Kika Mana, from McKinley High School and Nasa Ames/Hawaiian Electric/Weinberg Foundation.
In Reply to: for higher score
Posted by Ken Leung on 03/06/2001 7:55 PM EST:
Although it is true that the 10 points from the
stretcher are a tradeoff for a second big ball or
another robot in the endzone, what if you could do ALL
of that in a round. I mean, it would be pretty
difficult to get a good combination of bots in the
qualifying rounds, but in the elimination rounds, I see
the stretcher to be used quite frequently.
Just another thought…what if you had one of those
'bots that could pull the stretcher AND score a big
ball. Then you have another 'bot that can limbo and
score a big ball. Then you have a balancer, and
another 'bot for the stretcher. Then it is possible to
score that 700+ (or even 800+ points).
However, the point to this all is…I think the
stretcher will be used as a tactical strategy to
achieve VERY high scores at some point in the
regionals/nationals.
Just my personal thoughts…
Posted by Matt Ryan at 03/06/2001 2:03 PM EST
Student on team #69, HYPER, from Quincy Public Schools and Gillette.
In Reply to: not that easy
Posted by Ken Leung on 03/06/2001 3:14 AM EST:
A team did it in the first 15-20 seconds of a match. (UTC Regional)
Posted by EddieMcD at 03/06/2001 4:02 PM EST
Student on team #121, Islanders, from Middletown High School and NUWC.
In Reply to: not that easy
Posted by Ken Leung on 03/06/2001 3:14 AM EST:
Well, it also doesn’t help that you are pulling 150lbs. behind you. The stretcher is 20, and the robot is going to be near 130. It helps if the robot is light. Our robot is about 70lbs. Or, you can do that cool (and sneaky) thing that WPI does if needed.
Posted by Joshua Berthiaume at 03/06/2001 3:34 PM EST
Student on team #501, Power Knights, from Manchester West High School and FCI and SME Chapter 327.
In Reply to: Stretcher use?
Posted by Janna on 03/05/2001 3:10 PM EST:
We found a strategic purpose to the stretcher while we were at UTC. Since FISRT had put our team in three consecutive groupings, and wqe broke down in the first of the three we were forced to use the stretcher or not feild a robot.
In our first round using the stretcher, we relized that we could put the stretcher oin the feild without a robot, and still get points. At first the FIRST officals said to us we couldnt but after checking the rules it states if the robot and or the stretcher is in the endzone they are each worth 10 pts. You dont have to use both. In fact it is more worth it to NOT put your machine out there and just the stretcher.
We ended up scoring 2 hundred something and moved alot higher up in the seeding rounds.
So an empty stretcher is something that you might consider using if there is a robot that can drag it.
~Josh
T501
Posted by Rich at 03/06/2001 5:00 PM EST
Engineer on team #334, BTHS Knights, from Brooklyn Tech. HS and Con Ed, SIAC Keyspan.
In Reply to: Re: Stretcher use?
Posted by Joshua Berthiaume on 03/06/2001 3:34 PM EST:
THANKS!
THIS IS GOOD TO KNOW!
T334