Hovercraft B/C

[MattChina]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

Yeah thats really weird that the ES would do that. I would reccommend getting better batteries as other people have suggested.

[Birdmusic]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

Were you at the Bay area regionals on Saturday? Same thing happened to me. We appealed, did the paperwork, but program director just said they were very sorry. That ES was a total ^*&*(^*. I mean this same ES let hovercraft that had no propeller shielding run..

Anyway, can you go and compete in some other competition too, or do you have to qualify at regional before you go to some other one like state?

[Edit]. Ok, just saw top 4 teams go on to state. So congrats for being in the top four despite being screwed in this event!

Yep, that was one strange event supervisor.

[Birdmusic]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

I'd just invest in a set of higher capacity batteries. That way you would still have enough energy to do all your runs. I'd recommend at least 3000mAh, preferably 5000 if you have very power hungry fans like I do. These should easily give you 30 minutes of high power. This way, you won't have to worry about an admittedly very strange ES.

Thank you! I will definitely look for batteries with higher mAh, I think our current one has only 200.

[Lazerchix]

can the students talk to each other during the written test?

[Froggie]

can the students talk to each other during the written test?

Yes, if they are partners.

[mattruff]

Do we have to submit graphs?

[UTF-8 U+6211 U+662F]

Do we have to submit graphs?

No, but they're extra points (ten out of one hundred!)

[MattChina]

Do we have to submit graphs?

definitely submit graphs. Theyre not required but like theyre 10 ez points.

[chalker]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

If you have an issue with how an event supervisor ran things or in your case, interpreted the rules, you can always try to get your coach to help you arbitrate.

You should also always be prepared to point to the General Rules, General Rule #1 in particular: https://www.soinc.org/code-ethics-general-rules

[Birdmusic]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

If you have an issue with how an event supervisor ran things or in your case, interpreted the rules, you can always try to get your coach to help you arbitrate.

You should also always be prepared to point to the General Rules, General Rule #1 in particular: https://www.soinc.org/code-ethics-general-rules

Thank you! I will print out a copy of the general rules as well as the hovercraft rules for state since we have the same ES for state.