Posted by Jason Flanagan at 03/13/2001 4:43 PM EST
Student on team #250, Dynamos, from Shenendehowa HSE and General Electric, Verizon, .
Ok well I’ve been reading around the board and I found the beginnings of a discussion on stretchers in one of the replies so I’m gonna start up my own discussion where its noticed. I would like to know has there been any team other then us, team #250 who has taken a stretcher across the bridge and into the endzone? We did it once at the LI regional and I haven’t seen or heard of anyone else doing it so if you’ve seen anyone whos done it besides us at the LI regional please respond
thanks,
Jay
Posted by Jason Rudolph at 03/13/2001 5:31 PM EST
Coach on team #459, Rampage, from University of Florida/Eastside High School and Adaptive Equipment.
In Reply to: Stretchers
Posted by Jason Flanagan on 03/13/2001 4:43 PM EST:
It’s funny you say this, because I thought we were the only ones to accomplish this. We successfully dragged a stretcher with a robot in it into the endzone at KSC in match #8 of the qualification rounds.
Jason
Posted by Bill Beatty at 03/13/2001 7:16 PM EST
Other on team #71, Team Hammond, from Team Hammond.
In Reply to: Re: Stretchers
Posted by Jason Rudolph on 03/13/2001 5:31 PM EST:
Stretchers will not get much use as long as there are easier points around to be had. If the stretcher use does not pick up, look for a rule change concerning stretchers for Florida.
Mr Bill
Posted by Joe Johnson at 03/13/2001 9:12 PM EST
Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
In Reply to: Re: Stretchers
Posted by Bill Beatty on 03/13/2001 7:16 PM EST:
Mr. Bill,
Did a birdie ask you what you thought about increasing
the value of the stretcher to 20 points?
Usually reliable sources say that FIRST is considering
that very thing.
Your hints and suggestions are “confirmation” of these
rumors.
While 10 points extra points for the stretcher may be
something a team may pass up, 20 points would be very
hard to leave on the field untouched.
Tough choice for FIRST. Tougher choice for FIRST teams.
Joe J.
Posted by Deej- T190 at 03/13/2001 9:26 PM EST
Engineer on team #190, Gompeii, from Mass Academy and WPI.
In Reply to: hmmm…
Posted by Joe Johnson on 03/13/2001 9:12 PM EST:
Wish they would make the stretcher a little more valuable, cause as some people know, team 190 has a 18.5 pound stretcher bot that allows any team that can pull a goal to tow a stretcher for the extra points. It satisfies all requirements stated in rules update number 2. Basically if we end up as a stretcher bot, we can have this alternate bot ready in thirty seconds. It is a removable control board on our bot, attached by two thumb screws and plugs into the battery much like a computer pci board plugs in. Check it out at nationals…
Posted by Patrick Dingle at 03/13/2001 10:53 PM EST
Coach on team #639, Red B^2, from Ithaca High School and Cornell University.
In Reply to: hmmm…
Posted by Joe Johnson on 03/13/2001 9:12 PM EST:
The scary thing is, this isn’t the rumor mill. Do you know something we don’t?
Patrick
: Mr. Bill,
: Did a birdie ask you what you thought about increasing
: the value of the stretcher to 20 points?
: Usually reliable sources say that FIRST is considering
: that very thing.
: Your hints and suggestions are “confirmation” of these
: rumors.
: While 10 points extra points for the stretcher may be
: something a team may pass up, 20 points would be very
: hard to leave on the field untouched.
: Tough choice for FIRST. Tougher choice for FIRST teams.
: Joe J.
Posted by Bill Beatty at 03/13/2001 11:42 PM EST
Other on team #71, Team Hammond, from Team Hammond.
In Reply to: hmmm…
Posted by Joe Johnson on 03/13/2001 9:12 PM EST:
Rather than changing the stretcher to twenty, I wouldn’t be surprised if they leave the empty stretcher 10 points but allow the “wounded” bot to tow its own and then participate.
Mr Bill
Posted by Tim Gates at 03/14/2001 8:15 AM EST
Engineer on team #288, RoboDawgs, from Grandville High School and X-Rite/Delphi.
In Reply to: hmmm…
Posted by Joe Johnson on 03/13/2001 9:12 PM EST:
What if the stretcher could be placed on the field in place of the wounded robot and towed empty to the end zone and worth 20 points. That would put a new twist in everyones strategy.
Posted by Chris Hibner at 03/14/2001 9:13 AM EST
Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.
In Reply to: hmmm…
Posted by Joe Johnson on 03/13/2001 9:12 PM EST:
The rule change 2 years ago in which they allowed a 3rd partner in an alliance was fine - it didn’t affect the scoring; but changing scoring rules in the middle of the season (after robots have already been designed) is a little shady.
In our brainstorming sessions, we made a conscious decision that the stretcher (at 10 pts.) is not worth the bother of designing our robot to tow it. If they change the point value in the middle of the competition, teams like ours who made hard decisions based on the rules would be hurt.
Teams make a lot of hard decisions. If the rules were different, teams might have made different decisions. I feel that any rule that influences how robots are designed should not be changed after the robots have been designed. Otherwise, some hard decisions that a team makes might be invalidated.
If FIRST wants to make this rule change, how about another one: a match ending with two goals balanced and 4 robots in the endzone get a bonus 20% score. We would love this rule. (Just kidding, this is just an example to illustrate how a rule change in the middle of the competition would make a bunch of people want to go back to the drawing board.)
Posted by Doyle Capps at 03/14/2001 8:47 AM EST
Other on team #343, Metal in Motion, from Hamilton Career Center.
In Reply to: Re: Stretchers
Posted by Jason Rudolph on 03/13/2001 5:31 PM EST:
: It’s funny you say this, because I thought we were the only ones to accomplish this. We successfully dragged a stretcher with a robot in it into the endzone at KSC in match #8 of the qualification rounds.
: Jason
Although I agree the stretcher is a good idea it is not usually very practical, most robots really can’t manuver the stretcher very well.
At VCU our alliance did use the stretcher in one of the final matches where we moved the stretcher, a robot on the stretcher, a robot pushing the stretcher, and our robot over the bridge all at one time. That was a little risky but thank goodness it worked.
As for the rumor about the points value change for the stretcher, I hope they don’t change anything at this late date. If they do, the stretcher value should only be increased if it makes it to the end zone with a robot on it.
Posted by Chris Hardman at 03/13/2001 5:32 PM EST
Student on team #111, WILDSTANG, from Rolling Meadows and Wheeling High schools and motorola.
In Reply to: Stretchers
Posted by Jason Flanagan on 03/13/2001 4:43 PM EST:
: Ok well I’ve been reading around the board and I found the beginnings of a discussion on stretchers in one of the replies so I’m gonna start up my own discussion where its noticed. I would like to know has there been any team other then us, team #250 who has taken a stretcher across the bridge and into the endzone? We did it once at the LI regional and I haven’t seen or heard of anyone else doing it so if you’ve seen anyone whos done it besides us at the LI regional please respond
: thanks,
: Jay
They were tried once or twice at WMR but never succeeded to get into the endzone
chris
Posted by P.J. Baker at 03/13/2001 5:33 PM EST
Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.
In Reply to: Stretchers
Posted by Jason Flanagan on 03/13/2001 4:43 PM EST:
151 did it at UTC
Posted by Allen Smith at 03/13/2001 10:57 PM EST
Engineer on team #7, Knights, from Parkville High School and Black & Decker/AAI/Raytheon.
In Reply to: Stretchers
Posted by Jason Flanagan on 03/13/2001 4:43 PM EST:
Team 448, a second year team, has a very nice robot that pulled a robot on a stretcher into the end zone very easily 3 out of the 4 times they tried at VCU
Posted by Tim Gates at 03/14/2001 8:09 AM EST
Engineer on team #288, RoboDawgs, from Grandville High School and X-Rite/Delphi.
In Reply to: Stretchers
Posted by Jason Flanagan on 03/13/2001 4:43 PM EST:
We can pull or push a loaded stretcher across the ramp with ease, but the opportunity to do so that would enhance the score just never came up at our competition. Our regional yielded a high score of 620 points. With this happening in under 60 seconds, you would really be blocking the ramp during crucial seconds to do this. Since we can pass quickly under the barrier, the time multiplier is worth more than the extra 20 points.
Posted by Carolyn Duncan at 03/14/2001 3:52 PM EST
Student on team #495, The Pack, from Jamestown High School and VBEP/Raytheon/Saic.
In Reply to: Stretchers
Posted by Jason Flanagan on 03/13/2001 4:43 PM EST:
The team from Brazil, 383 I think, pulled a stretcher and robot without any problems at VCU.