FIRST Robotics Report 1.1 - Monkey Bars

Special robotics team meeting on Saturday.  And not just because we had to coexist with a couple of hundred middle school girls basketball players milling about.  I put up a sign at the door to help people steer to the proper location:

The day was significant because it was the world wide announcement of the FIRST "game" for the year.  Oddly it involves something rather like basketballs.  Here, take a look.

 

Hmmm.  I have to confess the Mock Challenge I made up for the team last month did not look much like this.  In fact, this year's game has a considerable resemblance to the 2020 game.  This is probably intentional.  Only about half the teams got to "play" in 2020 and nobody could in 2021.  This looks like way to help teams utilize some of the time and effort that went to waste as Covid descended on the land.   

Watching the reveal in our Build HQ.  We had a quick lunch then broke the team up into three groups each tasked with evaluating the scoring events for priority level then moving on to what drive train and manipulators might be needed.  This part went faster than expected.

One thing we have taken to doing in this situation is trying to establish a team consensus....then convening The Council of Heretics.  Pick, or get volunteers, the four most contrary kids on the team.  Kids who come up with goofy ideas that are 90% nonsense (and 10% gold). The Heretics met and were supposed to come back and tell us how we were Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!  But instead they admitted that our basic approach seemed valid.

We went home tired but ready to ponder the question further until Monday night session.  Then it will likely be full speed ahead on building the beast.  A robot that can shoot basketballs and swing from bar to bar like a monkey.  Well that should be fun.

Special thanks to The Heretics.  We need them around to keep us from getting complacent.