Posted by Philip at 2/7/2001 10:03 PM EST
Student on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi .
Don’t think we are going to give out what we do right away, you have to work to figure it out.
Our robot gets so much air over the fence and ramp that we had to register it with the FAA.
Our drive system’s speed and power makes Big Foot seem like a toy.
We are thinking about renaming our robot TechnoTank.
Our robot treats the goals like rag dolls.
Look Mom, I can balance with no hands.
Our robot has topper Michael Jordan in ball handling skills
You can see a picture at www.TechnoKats.org
Posted by Joe Johnson at 2/7/2001 10:27 PM EST
Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
In Reply to: TechnoKat Robot
Posted by Philip on 2/7/2001 10:03 PM EST:
Phillip,
Some unasked for advice:
In a fit of pride and overconfidence, I once made a
“jaws will drop” statement in advance of our robot’s
debut at the Motorola Regional.
When we ran into some problems in Chicago, I had to
endure a lot of knowing looks and “my how the mighty
have fallen” type comments.
Believe me, we saw the movie of your chassis. The
speed with which it popped over that 4X6 did not go
unnoticed. We are already worried. You don’t need to
add fuel to the fire.
Just some advice from an older and (slightly) wiser
fellow FIRSTER.
Joe J.
Posted by Ken Leung at 2/8/2001 6:10 AM EST
Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.
In Reply to: talking that way can get you in a heap of trouble…
Posted by Joe Johnson on 2/7/2001 10:27 PM EST:
As much as ¡§jaws will drop¡¨ statement can do, they are really not useful. Not just they are bad when your robot doesn¡¦t match your words (which I doubt, but accidents do happen), but they are also misleading for other teams. This year it is particularly important that solid facts are shown to other teams rather then what you think about the robot.
Just as suggestions, you might want to tell about what the robot can actually do when time comes, maybe even include data or numbers of your robot. For example those videos are great way to show how your robot works, and they are way stronger than words. (Even though I can¡¦t get them working)
I am not saying you are not truthful when you shout out ¡§jaws will drop¡¨ statements, but those statements tends to seem to be unclear and thoughtlessness. This year everyone should have really clear and concise communication in order to achieve max. efficiency when working with each other.
I know that the TechnoKat will always have a superb quality in the robot. I will never think otherwise. Just the reputation alone is going to tell the people that your robot is going to be best of the best.
Posted by Philip at 2/8/2001 7:50 PM EST
Student on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi .
In Reply to: talking that way can get you in a heap of trouble…
Posted by Joe Johnson on 2/7/2001 10:27 PM EST:
I apologize for the bragging that I seemed to have presented to other teams, and the confusion that is has caused. The way I presented the information was, agreed on by a few other students and I. It was meant to be funny, in a non-boosting way. We saw all the other teams, posting messages about their robot in a more serious form, and wanted to lighter perspective.
Anyway, to clear some things up, we have a well working tread base that is fairly fast. In fact on it’s first test drive; Andy Baker took a little flight off the Bridge, because the bridge didn’t have time to react to its velocity. As anticipated by many teams, we do still have a transmission that allows us to change gear ratios during a match. We can go through the Fence which seems to be now problem, since we have treads and the robot is 11 ¾ inches high. It has two grippers that can grab and handle the goals or the stretcher. We will also have the capability to handle both size balls at the competitions. This is all I have the time to tell you for now, I will be posting more messages at later dates.
Phil
Posted by Philip at 2/8/2001 7:50 PM EST
Student on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi .
In Reply to: talking that way can get you in a heap of trouble…
Posted by Joe Johnson on 2/7/2001 10:27 PM EST:
I apologize for the bragging that I seemed to have presented to other teams, and the confusion that is has caused. The way I presented the information was, agreed on by a few other students and I. It was meant to be funny, in a non-boosting way. We saw all the other teams, posting messages about their robot in a more serious form, and wanted to lighter perspective.
Anyway, to clear some things up, we have a well working tread base that is fairly fast. In fact on it’s first test drive; Andy Baker took a little flight off the Bridge, because the bridge didn’t have time to react to its velocity. As anticipated by many teams, we do still have a transmission that allows us to change gear ratios during a match. We can go through the Fence which seems to be now problem, since we have treads and the robot is 11 ¾ inches high. It has two grippers that can grab and handle the goals or the stretcher. We will also have the capability to handle both size balls at the competitions. This is all I have the time to tell you for now, I will be posting more messages at later dates.
Phil
Posted by Ken Patton at 2/8/2001 8:41 PM EST
Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.
In Reply to: Clarification
Posted by Philip on 2/8/2001 7:50 PM EST:
Dear Technokats,
I strongly advise that you do not let Mr. Baker drive your machine. Number one, he’s too old. Number two, it takes away from your drivers’ stick time. And, number three, he obviously doesn’t know how to use the brakes.
Just my nickel… :))
Ken
PS - sounds like a cool machine!
Posted by Andy Baker at 2/8/2001 10:58 PM EST
Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
In Reply to: you let ANDY drive???
Posted by Ken Patton on 2/8/2001 8:41 PM EST:
Ken,
No kidding! Everyone on my team knows that they do NOT want me driving these contraptions around. I’m about the worst driver on our team.
The only reason why I was driving was that we just opened up the shop (last Saturday), and there were no students around yet… just me and Tim Railey.
It was the first time that I was able to see it running, so I didn’t want to wait. It took off for the bridge, went over the bridge, caught some air, and left the bridge balanced.
Now, don’t be alarmed… no one has repeated this act. We’ve added some weight and lost some speed. (By no means can we catch air now.)
After this suprising feat, the circuit breaker shut off and it took us at least a minute to be able to turn it back on again.
The rest of the team doesn’t believe that this happened, but Tim can vouch for me!
Andy B.
ps… Wapner’s on a 7:00, and K-Mart sucks.
pss… Mr. Baker… geesh! I am getting old.
Posted by Matt Leese at 2/9/2001 12:26 PM EST
Other on team #73, Tigerbolt, from Edison Technical HS and Alstom & Fiber Technologies & RIT.
In Reply to: I’m a very good driver… very good driver…
Posted by Andy Baker on 2/8/2001 10:58 PM EST:
Hrmmmm…you consider THAT bad driving? Last year I almost took out one of our engineers at full speed… Ooops. Luckily he jumped out the way just in time.
Matt who sometimes wonder why they even let him touch the robot
Posted by Joe Ross at 2/9/2001 1:05 PM EST
Engineer on team #330, Beach Bot, from Hope Chapel Academy and NASA/JPL , J&F Machine, and Raytheon.
In Reply to: Re: I’m a very good driver… very good driver…
Posted by Matt Leese on 2/9/2001 12:26 PM EST:
It seems like each year we almost kill someone who decides to walk right in front of the moving robot. And that is when we have our good drivers driving.
remind me to steer clear when you guys are at the controls 
Posted by Matt Leese at 2/9/2001 10:40 PM EST
Other on team #73, Tigerbolt, from Edison Technical HS and Alstom & Fiber Technologies & RIT.
In Reply to: a game of chicken
Posted by Joe Ross on 2/9/2001 1:05 PM EST:
The sad part is he didn’t walk right in front of the robot. The robot was a good bit away and even though it was moving fast, I SHOULD have seen him. I didn’t realize he was there until AFTER he jumped out of the way. That’s the number one reason I’m not allowed to be a driver.
Matt
Posted by Jessica Boucher at 2/10/2001 10:19 AM EST
Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.
In Reply to: Re: a game of chicken
Posted by Matt Leese on 2/9/2001 10:40 PM EST:
Hey, at least the drivers dont chase you down during presentations for the elementary schools…or throw floppies at you…
-Jessica B, #237
Posted by Ken Patton at 2/9/2001 8:17 PM EST
Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.
In Reply to: I’m a very good driver… very good driver…
Posted by Andy Baker on 2/8/2001 10:58 PM EST:
wow, sounds like you and Tim came in early on purpose to drive the machine…
the story sounds very similar to what we did - a while back I posted a message telling people to watch out how they mount the breaker switch. We had an experience similar to yours - lightweight robot zooming off the ramp.
The detachable arm idea sounds like a great one.
Ken
Posted by Travis Covington at 2/8/2001 12:44 AM EST
Student on team #115, MV ROBOTICS, from Monta Vista High School and Hitachi Data Systems - 3com - NASA Ames.
In Reply to: TechnoKat Robot
Posted by Philip on 2/7/2001 10:03 PM EST:
i cant seem to play the video
can u help??
Posted by Joe Ross at 2/8/2001 2:41 AM EST
Engineer on team #330, Beach Bot, from Hope Chapel Academy and NASA/JPL , J&F Machine, and Raytheon.
In Reply to: Re: TechnoKat Robot
Posted by Travis Covington on 2/8/2001 12:44 AM EST:
I tried Windows Media Player 6.4, Real Player 7 Basic, and Quicktime 4. Both WMP and RP said that there was no codec availible to download, and quicktime wouldn’t play it (without giving any error message).
I can’t wait to see the technokat’s robot.
Posted by Patrick Dingle at 2/8/2001 1:59 PM EST
Other on team #639, Red B^2, from Ithaca High School and Cornell University.
In Reply to: I can’t get it either
Posted by Joe Ross on 2/8/2001 2:41 AM EST:
I also tried the latest versions of Media Player, Real, and Quicktime, and I could not play.
Patrick
: I tried Windows Media Player 6.4, Real Player 7 Basic, and Quicktime 4. Both WMP and RP said that there was no codec availible to download, and quicktime wouldn’t play it (without giving any error message).
: I can’t wait to see the technokat’s robot.
Posted by Chris Orimoto at 2/8/2001 2:51 AM EST
Student on team #368, Kika Mana, from McKinley High School and Nasa Ames/Hawaiian Electric/Weinberg Foundation.
In Reply to: Re: TechnoKat Robot
Posted by Travis Covington on 2/8/2001 12:44 AM EST:
I have also experienced some trouble playing the TechnoKats video. I used Windows Media and Quicktime, but neither seem able to play the *.avi file. Any suggestions?
Chris, #368
Posted by Nate Smith at 2/8/2001 11:41 AM EST
Other on team #66, GM Powertrain/Willow Run HS, from Eastern Michigan University and GM Powertrain.
In Reply to: Same here…
Posted by Chris Orimoto on 2/8/2001 2:51 AM EST:
: I have also experienced some trouble playing the TechnoKats video. I used Windows Media and Quicktime, but neither seem able to play the *.avi file. Any suggestions?
: Chris, #368
Posted by Ken Leung at 2/8/2001 12:36 PM EST
Student on team #192, Gunn Robotics Team, from Henry M. Gunn Senior High School.
In Reply to: What Codec is the File??? (EOM)
Posted by Nate Smith on 2/8/2001 11:41 AM EST:
I downloaded the movie files onto my computer, and edit their file type so that they are *.mov files instead of *.avi files. This way, Windows will recognize its QuickTime files and launch the right program instead of trying to use Media player with different codec…
By the way, I never know what EOM stands for.
Posted by Patrick Dingle at 2/8/2001 1:59 PM EST
Other on team #639, Red B^2, from Ithaca High School and Cornell University.
In Reply to: quicktime can play those movie!
Posted by Ken Leung on 2/8/2001 12:36 PM EST:
: I downloaded the movie files onto my computer, and edit their file type so that they are *.mov files instead of *.avi files. This way, Windows will recognize its QuickTime files and launch the right program instead of trying to use Media player with different codec…
: By the way, I never know what EOM stands for.
Posted by Chris Hardman at 2/8/2001 3:06 PM EST
Student on team #111, WILDSTANG, from Rolling Meadows and Wheeling High schools and motorola.
In Reply to: quicktime can play those movie!
Posted by Ken Leung on 2/8/2001 12:36 PM EST:
hmmm quicktime played them as avi, and there were really sweet videos, good job guys
chris hardman