Jonathan’s Universe

Archive for the ‘FIRST Robotics’ Category

I have been apart of FIRST robotics since I was in the eleventh grade. During my twelfth grade year, I was asked to help as an emergency volunteer at the New Orleans Regional. They were extremely understaffed and it was their inaugeral regional. I found that volunteering was very interesting. I was part of the field reset/repair crew. Whenever a match was over, we’d quickly reset all the game pieces for the next match. This was great, not only did I get to help (and get free lunch!) but we got to be up close & personal with game field – best seats in the house.

Well since then I’ve volunteered at any regional I can. I was volunteer staff at New Orleans ‘07, Philadelphia ‘07, Atlanta ‘07, Philadelphia ‘08, Atlanta ‘08. This year I will be volunteering at the Washington DC and Philadelphia regionals. I will not be able to attend the Atlanta championship.

Starting with Philadelphia last year, I was a scorekeeper. This means that I am responsible for the commission of the scores to the database at the end of every match. I don’t do anything during the match, I just start the match when all robots are placed and everyone is ready. There’s only one point of authority too. As a scorekeeper, you only take directives (in relation to the final score) from the head ref – no one else. You don’t even answer to any one about the internal score, that’s the head ref’s job – easy peasy.

Unfortunately, at Washington D.C. there was already a person lined up for scorekeeping. Instead, I am being placed as an official scorer, which is considered to be an officiating position. Yay. This involves keeping track of the game as it is happening. I take tally of every point scored in real time. The score I input is placed on the screen for the audience. It’s an intense and high pressure position. Yikes. Luckily at Philadelphia, I’ll go back to being scorekeeper.

I will be leaving Wednesday the 25th. We’ll be staying at a hotel in Virgina and have a 20 minute-or-so drive to DC every morning. We’ll be returning that Saturday night.

The organization I participate in is called FIRST Robotics. And no, it’s not like battlebots.

Oh man.

Most people are excited for spring. I usually am to. I kind of am this year, but I got a LOT to do before spring sets in.

Because I work in a school, I get off on all student breaks (except summer), so I am off from work (unpaid sadly) from March 15 until March 23. So, I am going to South Carolina for this entire week to see my grandparents and my brother. I haven’t seen them for awhile and I figure now it is a good time. Except, I have to take the train that costs $164. Oi.

But that’s not all! March 26th-29th I have a regional competition in Philadelphia for FIRST Robotics where I’m a scorekeeper. So I’m going to be really busy during that time. No real money loss here except if you count “money not earned” as a loss, since I’ll have to take off of work for two days.

But there’s more! April 17th-19th there’s the robotics championship where I am also a scorekeeper. Oi. I’ll be flying in to Orlando, Florida briefly where I will meet an ol’ high school friend. We’ll be driving up to Atlanta. When I come home, I’ll be flying directly from Atlanta. The plane flight cost was $300 give or take a few dollars… and I’m still waiting for the cost of the hotel. Greaaatttt

So basically, I got all this stuff I gotta do for my IRC network before all these extended computerless times happen. Because my laptop is dead and I doubt I’ll get the time to have it looked at and fixed before at least South Carolina.

Oh boi.
(I did that to be annoying)