Kickoff in 4 Days: Who Knows What's Coming?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the upcoming kickoff event for a robotics competition, specifically focusing on the rules, experiences, and expectations surrounding the event. Participants share insights about their teams, past competitions, and the nature of the game, which varies each year.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants discuss the variability of the competition rules from year to year, noting that while some basic rules remain constant, many new rules are introduced each season.
  • One participant mentions that their daughter is mentoring a team, indicating personal involvement in the robotics community.
  • There is a question about the existence of competitions similar to 'battlebots', suggesting interest in different formats of robotics competitions.
  • Participants express humor and frustration regarding the use of imperial units in engineering, with some suggesting that metric would be more appropriate.
  • Excitement builds as participants speculate about the upcoming game, with one claiming that it will be unlike any previous game.
  • Several participants share congratulations and good wishes for their respective teams, highlighting community support and camaraderie.
  • One participant recounts their team's success in a pre-season scrimmage, emphasizing their defensive strategy.
  • Another participant shares a story about their daughter's team achieving notable success with an unconventional robot design that had no wheels.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express excitement and support for their teams, but there is no consensus on the specifics of the upcoming game or the appropriateness of the rules. Multiple competing views on the use of measurement units and the complexity of rules are also present.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions touch on the limitations of the rules and the potential for confusion, but no specific resolutions are reached regarding these complexities.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in robotics competitions, team mentoring, and the dynamics of competitive engineering may find this discussion relevant.

Chi Meson
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Who knows what I'm talking about!

aluma%20fett.png
 
Physics news on Phys.org
This is your robotics team Chi?
 
FIRST I've heard of it!
 
Are the rules always the same?
 
Borek said:
Are the rules always the same?
The game is different each year. Some basic rules are recurrent: no more than 4 CIM motors, only certain brands of 12V batteries, 120 lb weight limit, numerals on bumpers must be 4" high, etc. There is also a recurring "this is not battlebots" rule; we are never allowed to deliberately damage another robot. But mostly, new rules every year. That's what is going to make this weekend so long. I mean "fun."
 
I am taking this year off. My daughter however is mentoring for team 955 in Corvallis. So I will be in touch. Might find it hard to stay away. I'll see how the season goes.

Good luck Al Falcons!
 
Do any 'battlebots' competitions exist similar to this one?
 
Chi Meson said:
120 lb weight limit, numerals on bumpers must be 4" high, etc.

You'd think if anything would go metric, it would be this...
 
Vanadium 50 said:
You'd think if anything would go metric, it would be this...
I always smile when I read a paper in a science journal and the size of the test specimen was 25.4mm.

But some US engineers have gone metric. For example Boeing design their airplane fuselages in sections 8 feet 4 inches long. Think about it ...
 
  • #10
AlephZero said:
I always smile when I read a paper in a science journal and the size of the test specimen was 25.4mm.

But some US engineers have gone metric. For example Boeing design their airplane fuselages in sections 8 feet 4 inches long. Think about it ...

You beat me to it! I was going to say that "teams can get aluminum stock for their robot chassis with fastening holes drilled every 1.27 cm"

Aw jeez, it's tomorrow! *hyperventilates*
 
  • #12
Oh jiminy, here we go.

There is chatter out there, and it is suggesting that this game is going to be unlike any prior FRC game.

Somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody who's been assembling the field parts is saying that no one is ready for this year.

Tune into NASA (cable or website) at 10:30 tomorrow AM (EST) to see what the game is.
 
  • #13
Good luck, Chi! Best of luck to your team!
 
  • #14
Vanadium 50 said:
You'd think if anything would go metric, it would be this...

I think we'll be using English units in engineering until the heat death of the universe, unfortunately.
 
  • #15
It's Frisbee!

No one saw this coming!
 
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  • #16
Rules are way too complicated if you ask me.
 
  • #17
Can't wait to see the real game. Good luck Chi! :)
 
  • #18
The robot is in the bag. It's "Stop Build Day" in the FRC world. Last Saturday we won the pre-season scrimmage in Suffield , CT, for the 2nd year. That was without even being able to shoot (we have a beastly defensive driver!).
I'll try to get an image up
 
  • #19
What have I been doing recently?

Winning!

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/581730_10200909442282350_422540557_n.jpg
Winners of the WPI Regional FIRST Robotics Competition

These are all the mentors of our team, the Aluminum Falcons. We led the 6th-seeded alliance through a series of upsets in the quarter- and semi-finals, culminating in a close, 3rd game in the best of 3 final.

Here are the kids on the team (about 10 are missing) :(
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/734149_4686694880578_2030076953_n.jpg
 
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  • #20
Chi Meson said:
What have I been doing recently?

Winning!
Congratulations Chi Meson.
 
  • #21
Congrats Chi!
 
  • #22
WOOT! Aluminum Falcons. :-p
 
  • #23
Congrats Chi & The Al Falcons!

My daughter was mentoring for the Corvallis Hi Spartans, team 997 this year. They went to the semi finals of the Oregon regionals with a robot that had no wheels. They sat it at the bottom of the tower and just climbed. 30 pts every match. Since they did not do a video animation competition this year she headed the team spirit group. They won the Jack Kamen Imagery award. needless to say she came home very happy and a bit hoarse!
 
  • #24
Integral said:
Congrats Chi & The Al Falcons!

My daughter was mentoring for the Corvallis Hi Spartans, team 997 this year. They went to the semi finals of the Oregon regionals with a robot that had no wheels. They sat it at the bottom of the tower and just climbed. 30 pts every match. Since they did not do a video animation competition this year she headed the team spirit group. They won the Jack Kamen Imagery award. needless to say she came home very happy and a bit hoarse!

No wheels! Is that the first time ever?
I got to find a video of that!

Easy search:
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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