Posted by Adam, Student on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells/ UTC.
Posted on 4/13/99 8:56 PM MST
Since partnerships are such a big part of this competition, we put together a web page about our robot and what it can do. We feel the best way to have a successful partnership is for our allies to know our machine well. It has some close up photos, and descriptions detailing our systems. Come see the robot now and in Florida.
Posted by Andy Baker, Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 4/13/99 11:57 PM MST
In Reply to: The Bobcat, Team 177 posted by Adam on 4/13/99 8:56 PM MST:
Very nicely done, 177.
It is refreshing to see so many teams such as 177 so open with their
robot designs this year. During past years, teams sometimes felt that
they shouldn’t tell other teams about all of their robot’s features,
thinking that they would lose a competitive advantage.
This year, while some are calling it needless marketing, I call it
open communication. This gives everyone on all teams a good chance
to be able to show off their robot, instead of being restricted
from talking with strangers who are obviuosly scouting.
I’d bet that FIRST was hoping for this to happen.
Andy B.
Posted by Jon, Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Mass Academy of Math and Science and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Posted on 4/14/99 7:52 AM MST
In Reply to: Nice site & good example posted by Andy Baker on 4/13/99 11:57 PM MST:
I agree with Andy. Even though it is a form of marketing, it is far from needless. This makes sure that our inner geeks aren’t afraid to talk to other people (and their inner geeks) and share all of these cool ideas.
Teams with cool and interesting designs get noticed and this serves as encouragement to keep coming up with great designs!
Very interesting twist indeed FIRST…
Jon
Posted by colleen, Student on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and Nypro.
Posted on 4/14/99 7:53 AM MST
In Reply to: The Bobcat, Team 177 posted by Adam on 4/13/99 8:56 PM MST:
I’d just like to thank Team 177 for sending us the video of the elimination matches from Connecticut. Our team ran out of tape right before we started our quarterfinal match and we were unable to see any of those matches! after a request on the forum about getting a video so we could check out our matches, they sent us a copy.
thanks so much!
Team #126
Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 4/14/99 8:33 PM MST
In Reply to: The Bobcat, Team 177 posted by Adam on 4/13/99 8:56 PM MST:
Hey, nice job Bobcats.
I have to admit, I am sold. If we are not in the top 16 and you ask us, we’d be honored (and grateful) to be on your team.
If we make it, I am sure that you’d be on the list of teams we’d ask. Trouble is, you may not be around by the time our number comes up 
Really a great job on your site.
By the way, you may want to use some of that content to apply for the Delphi Power To Simplify Award. Some of the features sound like they’d be strong candidates for the award.
Good Luck and continued success.
Joe J.
Posted by Michael Betts, Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.
Posted on 4/15/99 6:33 AM MST
In Reply to: I’m sold… posted by Joe Johnson on 4/14/99 8:33 PM MST:
Joe,
High praise indeed from one of the Elders of the Ozone.
Thanks also to Colleen, Jon and Andy for their accolades. When you stop to think about it, it’s amazing how many class acts there are out there.
Realizing the need to market your product was a lesson learned from the regionals. Understanding that, our team has really tried to step up to the challenge.
I, also, think that Adam (Jake, et al) did a fantastic job. It warms the soul to give the students a task and see a quality product emerge without adult supervision.
See y’all next week
Mike
Posted by Mike McIntyre, Coach on team #47 from Pontiac Central HS.
Posted on 4/17/99 8:40 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: I’m sold… posted by Michael Betts on 4/15/99 6:33 AM MST:
Your students are already doing a great marketing job: Jake and Adam spent about a half hour at the Philly Party convincing me that your robot could team with ours to win the tournament, conquer the Eastern seaboard, and be well under way toward world domination by Easter; however, we were selected by another class team, Black&Decker, and we are a team that just can’t say ‘no’; now, I guess everybody is…
: Joe,
: High praise indeed from one of the Elders of the Ozone.
: Thanks also to Colleen, Jon and Andy for their accolades. When you stop to think about it, it’s amazing how many class acts there are out there.
: Realizing the need to market your product was a lesson learned from the regionals. Understanding that, our team has really tried to step up to the challenge.
: I, also, think that Adam (Jake, et al) did a fantastic job. It warms the soul to give the students a task and see a quality product emerge without adult supervision.
: See y’all next week
: Mike
Posted by Rick Gibbs, Engineer on team #145, T-Rx, from Norwich High School, Sherburne-Earlville High School and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals.
Posted on 4/15/99 8:13 PM MST
In Reply to: The Bobcat, Team 177 posted by Adam on 4/13/99 8:56 PM MST:
Having been chosen as Bobcat’s ally in the Philadelphia Regional I can
vouch for their capabilities - at least when their battery is connected 
Also, Bobcat -
Thanks a bunch for choosing us at Philly. It was a knock-down, drag-out
quarterfinal match that nobody will soon forget. Since then we’ve made
some significant improvements, too - i.e. two ways to reliably get on the
puck. So, keep us in mind for Florida and we’ll do the same.
Rick Gibbs
Team 145