Posted by Andy Baker.
Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 3/31/2000 7:59 AM MST
As many of us head down to the ‘Big Show’ next week, I want to put a few reminders in your head:
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Work Safe. Safety Glasses at all times. If you need them, see our pit, we will have extras. We’re bringing a few hundred.
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Play Safe. One of the big things in this year’s Co-Opertition compeititon is reliability. Be ready to go the distance… we were not quite ready last year.
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Pick Safe. Team 45’s ‘TechnoBeast’ is in top condition. After a second place finish at Great Lakes (thanks to team 65 for the pick) and a first place finish at the Motorola Midwest Regionals (thanks to 111 for the pick), our machine is tweaked for the Nationals. We’re repeatedly beaten ‘fast’ robots to their black balls, and our hoisting mechanism lifts us easily onto the bar. We even can take a black ball out of the goal, if needed. When you make your pick list, remember the ‘safe pick’… the TechnoKats from team 45.
Andy Baker
TechnoKats Robotics Team
2000 Motorola Midwest Regional Champs
2000 Great Lakes Regional Runner-up
1999 National Competition Runner-up
1998 National Champions
Posted by Mike Gusta.
Engineer on team #184, V-Force, from Fordson H.S. and Visteon.
Posted on 3/31/2000 9:43 AM MST
In Reply to: Work Safe, Play Safe, Pick Safe posted by Andy Baker on 3/31/2000 7:59 AM MST:
Andy- Yes, the TechnoKats are certainly a good pick this year with a great offensive 'Bot, but if anyone should recognize the value of a great defensive bot as an alliance partner, it should certainly be the TechnoKats!! (remember the '99 TechnoBeast?) How fast does your lifting mechanism have to lift if you can’t get to the bar? For my money the best alliance play is a marriage of offensive and defensive capabilities- Look to one of the Monkey 'Bots- #25 Bristol, Meyers, Squibb, #69 Gillette, or #184 V-Force to bring defensive balance to your alliance-
And Yes, We have our tweaks ready for the Nationals as well-
Mike Gusta
Chief Orangutan, V-Force #184
2000 Motorola Midwest Regional Runner-Up (with Truck Town Terror and The Bombsquad)
No opposing robots on the bar through all 12 matches at the Midwest Regional.
Posted by Dante.
Student on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 3/31/2000 1:26 PM MST
In Reply to: Work Hard, Play Hard, Pick a Strong Primate posted by Mike Gusta on 3/31/2000 9:43 AM MST:
: Andy- Yes, the TechnoKats are certainly a good pick this year with a great offensive 'Bot, but if anyone should recognize the value of a great defensive bot as an alliance partner, it should certainly be the TechnoKats!! (remember the '99 TechnoBeast?) How fast does your lifting mechanism have to lift if you can’t get to the bar? For my money the best alliance play is a marriage of offensive and defensive capabilities- Look to one of the Monkey 'Bots- #25 Bristol, Meyers, Squibb, #69 Gillette, or #184 V-Force to bring defensive balance to your alliance-
: And Yes, We have our tweaks ready for the Nationals as well-
: Mike Gusta
: Chief Orangutan, V-Force #184
I totally agree with you, Mike! But don’t forget about us! We can also do all those except HANG! We knew there was going to be to much traffic in the middle. While the other teams are hanging we can go and POACH there balls and put them in our goals!
Posted by Mike Gusta.
Engineer on team #184, V-Force, from Fordson H.S. and Visteon.
Posted on 3/31/2000 2:52 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Work Hard, Play Hard, Pick a Strong Primate posted by Dante on 3/31/2000 1:26 PM MST:
Don’t worry about anyone forgetting about you Dante- Nobody will discount ChiefDelphi!!
: : Mike Gusta
: : Chief Orangutan, V-Force #184
Posted by Chris. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.
Posted on 3/31/2000 2:12 PM MST
In Reply to: Work Safe, Play Safe, Pick Safe posted by Andy Baker on 3/31/2000 7:59 AM MST:
Your robot is doing great, Andy. But what teams need in the elimination rounds is a robot that is VERSITILE. You never know who you’ll end up against (hence, what strategy you need). Therefore, teams should pick a robot capable of doing any possible strategy. Teams need a robot like…
TEAM 308!!!
The team 308 robot has:
- good offense (won a match 26 - 11 in which we scored every point)
- good defense (beat team 49 at the GLR using a defensive strategy - this was their only qualification round loss)
- ability to push robots around
- speed (we have a picture of our robot about 4 feet from the opposing black ball with the game clock showing 1:55 on the big screen)
- ability to hang on the bar needing only about 5 inches of bar space.
- ability to pull up no matter who is above us (our winch lifts 400 lbs.)
Chris Hibner
Team 308 - TRW AE / Walled Lake Schools
2000 Great Lakes Regional Semi-Finalist
2000 Midwest Regional 8th seed
2000 Midwest Regional Honeywell Leadership in Control Award
Posted by Nate Smith.
Other on team #66, GM Powertrain/Willow Run HS, from Eastern Michigan University and GM Powertrain.
Posted on 3/31/2000 5:59 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Work Safe, Play Safe, Pick VERSITLIE posted by Chris on 3/31/2000 2:12 PM MST:
: - ability to pull up no matter who is above us (our winch lifts 400 lbs.)
I’m just curious what motor(s) you are using to drive your winch…we’ve got two van door motors on ours, and haven’t specifically weight-tested it yet, but it’s a strong one…
Nate
Posted by Adam Krajewski.
Student on team #68, Truck Town Terror, from Walled Lake Central High School and General Motors Truck Group.
Posted on 3/31/2000 8:09 PM MST
In Reply to: 400lb winch? posted by Nate Smith on 3/31/2000 5:59 PM MST:
: : - ability to pull up no matter who is above us (our winch lifts 400 lbs.)
: I’m just curious what motor(s) you are using to drive your winch…we’ve got two van door motors on ours, and haven’t specifically weight-tested it yet, but it’s a strong one…
Twin globe motors.
And they had enough power to winch themselves up AND knock us (130.0#) off the bar in the elims…
Adam, T3
Posted by Patrick Seeney.
Student on team #469, Las Guerrillas, from Oakland Robotics and Lawrence Technological University and Magna Seating Systems, Nachi and Kuka Robotics.
Posted on 4/1/2000 10:58 AM MST
In Reply to: Re: Work Safe, Play Safe, Pick VERSITLIE posted by Chris on 3/31/2000 2:12 PM MST:
This is also very good, the qualifying round is all about scoring, and defense. that is why in the qualifying rounds cornelius turns into the defense beast he is known to be.
-in normal rounds he can dump all 8 human balls
-get under the bar,
-push anyone and EVERYONE ANYWHERE
-in the qualifying is hwere he shines, with the ability to keep bar hangers and ramp climbers at bay.
-or if need be, keep oppsing ball scores from reaching their basket, with a very powerful 4.5:1 gear ratio in low onthe drills, with phenomenal grip.
Keep LAS GUERRILLAS IN MIND, we weren’t rookie all stars at great lakes, and were at one time in 2nd place for no reason.
Pat
Posted by Erin. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Student on team #1, The Juggernauts, from Oakland Technical Center-Northeast Campus and 3-Dimensional Services.
Posted on 4/2/2000 8:48 PM MST
In Reply to: Work Safe, Play Safe, Pick Safe posted by Andy Baker on 3/31/2000 7:59 AM MST:
Andy,
Congrats to the TechnoKats for convincing team 1 of your outstanding safety. Our awards are really hard to receive because you have some tough people to convince- however, you were a ‘shoe-in’! (Much like ChiefDelphi for ‘Most challenging Opponent’.)
We are also based on safety, and at all times (even when just watching TV) our kids are wearing their safety glasses. As a girl, I must they they are the COOLEST new trend. I always tell my friends in the pit, my FREAK ACCIDENT scenarios. As the stickers in Mr. McIntyre’s classroom state:
WARNING - this could be that LAST thing you ever read. WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!!
Team One is prud to wear their safety glasses, and as my good friends from 188 know- we are happy to share. And one more thing, ‘Keep It Safe Silly!’
-erin