New Senior Solutions Coaches Manual Arrived today

[Capnrmorgan]

July 31st and the coaches packet arrived! I imagine the field kit is not far behind!! I can't wait !!! It would be epic if the kit arrives on the day Curiosity Lands 8/6/12

[timdavid]

Originally Posted by Capnrmorgan

July 31st and the coaches packet arrived! I imagine the field kit is not far behind!! I can't wait !!! It would be epic if the kit arrives on the day Curiosity Lands 8/6/12

If I heard correctly, kits start shipping soon, so an arrival date of 8/6 may be close.

I skimmed through the Coaches' Handbook for Senior Solutions last night, and it looks like it may have a substantial amount of new material this year. Overall, the information seems better organized than I recall. Or perhaps after 5 years of coaching, some things finally make sense...

There is a section in chapter 5 - The Robot Game, with Ten Robot Game Tips from Scott Evans (the robot game engineer and designer), that I don't recall seeing before. I thought the comments for following tips were especially interesting:

6. Build things at least strong enough that the robot can be knocked off in any direction and not break...Use gray (loose) pins instead of black (friction) pins when possible - believe it or not, they are LESS likely to separate.

8. Build a shroud around your optical (color and light) sensors... While it is possible to calibrate them, it is even better to avoid the need.

9. For consistency in turning, build sliders/casters as close to the drive wheels as you can...

[Dooderdo]

Originally Posted by timdavid

If I heard correctly, kits start shipping soon, so an arrival date of 8/6 may be close.

I skimmed through the Coaches' Handbook for Senior Solutions last night, and it looks like it may have a substantial amount of new material this year. Overall, the information seems better organized than I recall. Or perhaps after 5 years of coaching, some things finally make sense...

There is a section in chapter 5 - The Robot Game, with Ten Robot Game Tips from Scott Evans (the robot game engineer and designer), that I don't recall seeing before. I thought the comments for following tips were especially interesting:

6. Build things at least strong enough that the robot can be knocked off in any direction and not break...Use gray (loose) pins instead of black (friction) pins when possible - believe it or not, they are LESS likely to separate.

8. Build a shroud around your optical (color and light) sensors... While it is possible to calibrate them, it is even better to avoid the need.

9. For consistency in turning, build sliders/casters as close to the drive wheels as you can...

I have recently called FLL on August 3rd, and received information that no field kits have shipped yet. Where on the other hand i have read on websites that the field kits shipped in late July, or very early August.

I am defiantly a fan of them releasing the robot game mission a couple days earlier this year, but i am disappointed that the field kits are arriving weeks later then when i received mine on July 20th last year.