2011 Events.

[lllazar]

With respect to Car of Tomorrow, Sumobots, and other new tech events.

One of the considerations is always the amount of money required to get the supplies so the school can compete. While I'm sure that many schools build their Sumobots from scratch (at minimal cost) others do not have the experience and end up with a kit. The kits can get expensive. Car of Tomorrow is the same, buying a maglev track so you can practice.

I'm hoping that the Natl people continue to pay careful attention to the cost of the "new" events so they keep SO within reach of the schools that may be financially burdened.

Other than that, I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to event styles. I would rather see the build events be task based and not head to head (sorry Sumobots). I would be more interested in seeing a robot ramble style event that uses a remote camera for guidance (similar to the Mars Rovers or the military drone aircraft). Allow everyone except the participants to se their robot operate and make the teams run their robots via closed circut TV (or webcam, TV behind a screen, etc)

just my thoughts....

Ya, my sci oly friends and i being freshies were actually thinking of fundraising over the summer for sci oly build its...and by that i mean sumo bots. Its so freaking expensive when u think about it, even if you build it from scratch, which is wat we plan to do anyway, it takes over a hundred dollars.

It honestly probably wont be an event just cause most schools aren't that rich...id like to see some new build it that involves a robot having to get through an obstacle course...like if it sense something ahead, it turns and keeps going down said path, shortest time wins? I dunno, id just really like a robotics event...

[paleonaps]

Maybe we need a new robot event, something never done before. Like a speed course.

[maggymay]

With respect to Car of Tomorrow, Sumobots, and other new tech events.

One of the considerations is always the amount of money required to get the supplies so the school can compete. While I'm sure that many schools build their Sumobots from scratch (at minimal cost) others do not have the experience and end up with a kit. The kits can get expensive. Car of Tomorrow is the same, buying a maglev track so you can practice.

I'm hoping that the Natl people continue to pay careful attention to the cost of the "new" events so they keep SO within reach of the schools that may be financially burdened. ...

Ya, my sci oly friends and i being freshies were actually thinking of fundraising over the summer for sci oly build its...and by that i mean sumo bots. Its so freaking expensive when u think about it, even if you build it from scratch, which is wat we plan to do anyway, it takes over a hundred dollars.

It honestly probably wont be an event just cause most schools aren't that rich...id like to see some new build it that involves a robot having to get through an obstacle course...like if it sense something ahead, it turns and keeps going down said path, shortest time wins? I dunno, id just really like a robotics event...

Yeah, for Car of Tomorrow if you don't have a track it costs somewhere around $140 or so and then you have the expense of the cars to test...for schools in my area that would be a lot of money (especially for div B). I don't even want to think about Sumo Bots $$$$. I guess whatever happens, happens...we'll all just have to wait around for at least the tentative list to come out after the National Coaches' Conference (Juky?) and then the Official Rules in September.

Some kid of fundraising is not a bad idea, even if you just designate it for the Building Events. Car Washes always do well around here. lllazar, you might even want to see if your SO Coach would maybe volunteer to sponsor or supervise any fundraising you do, in case people have questions.

[blue cobra]

I don't see how Sumo Bots could be much more expensive than any of the other robotics events they've had in the past.

[Jocool]

that's true. it isn't actually that bad. same for car of tomorrow.

[new horizon]

most building events have a large price tag to them, you have to be aware of that.

The VEX wheel kit is already 30 dollars, and robotics parts are pretty expensive.

We spent at least 100 on our buggy, mostly because I wanted to make some major modifications to the one i built over the summer.

[taylormmh]

So is astronomy expected to make the events list next year?

[amerikestrel]

Would optics have a building portion (like PSL) or would it just be study/lab?

[Sir_L_Jenkins]

I don't see how Sumo Bots could be much more expensive than any of the other robotics events they've had in the past.

Quite honestly, it could potentially be far cheaper. I could see a piece of metal formed into a wedge duct-taped onto a fast RC car beating a vex made robot in a number of instances

[amerikestrel]

What's this?

http://www.marylandscienceolympiad.com/ ... tTable.pdf