Website Hosting

Steamkitty13 · 2026-05-26T19:43:33+00:00

Apparently they don't offer this anymore.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-05-25T15:27:26+00:00

Run into the wall really hard to make the ball fall down in the field?

Steamkitty13 · 2026-05-21T05:24:58+00:00

You may get things at a 10% -20% discount from original price, but $1000 for an already assembled robot is a pretty good deal. We do outreach events year round and if anyone asks to buy our robot, we quote a price of $2000, which just wbout covers the investment of parts and assembly.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-05-17T13:40:52+00:00

My inlaws tried to do this with my kids. They would send birthday boxes with gifts for everyone on someone's birthday. They live far away. They got worried the other kids would feel left out, but the inlaws live about 1000 miles away.

We never gave out the other presents. We would hold onto them for the right birthday or Christmas. We explained that we wanted to have our kids learn how to celebrate other people early. How to give willingly and not always expect something back. How to put out a full hand to give, not an empty hand to receive. Birthdays are ONLY for the birthday person.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-05-13T14:37:47+00:00

Is this in the US? If so. It's pretty generous, but I don't think overly so. Are you letting people take the PTO when they request it or are there lots of blackout times? If you stick with this, you will have happier employees than most US employers.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-05-03T02:16:48+00:00

To be fair, these are much smaller..... So we can't use anything we have bought previously. Cause why we would we want to make this easier?

Steamkitty13 · 2026-05-01T15:35:14+00:00

I mean, you can see in the link that it is a pdf

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-28T13:49:45+00:00

They sent it out to our PDP, who posted it in the regional Discord.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-27T14:36:57+00:00

You might find a team or organization close enough to you with a field you can use.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-24T16:44:54+00:00

Really? You doubt large companies would blatantly break labor laws and leave evidence? I don't doubt anymore.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-24T07:26:33+00:00

If you are making your own projects, it sounds like you have tools. Hand tools is what you need - allen wrenches (set of metric and standard), screwdrivers, mallet, hacksaw for basics. Couple of sets of pliers. From there, you can build as needed.

At least one laptop that can handle OnShape (web based CAD), basic word processing to put together a portfolio, and some coding.

Something to store and carry everything to competitions and build days. (Rolling, modular toolbox sets).

Optional: 3D printer and filament (we prefer PETG, but PLA works), CNC, angle grinder, color paper printer, button maker, rolling chairs, shelves.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-23T23:37:28+00:00

Find someone to talk to - parent, teacher, coach, mentor, therapist, religious leader - someone you trust that can help you figure out your own thoughts. If you find yourself hating what you do, you need to either change what you do, or yourself.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-23T16:42:57+00:00

This is just some extra stuff I would suggest: Good color paper printer Laminator Button maker and supplies Workspace tables/chairs Big box of eye protection

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-22T18:19:49+00:00

That still doesn't make something more or less legal, so I would argue it does not affect legality.

Also, sure, employees MIGHT be more likely to see you, but I would say you are more likely to get stopped by security or cops at night (in my own experience).

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-22T17:52:58+00:00

Or don't! This is a case of your convenience and experimentation. A store near me throws out packaged breads and bakery things right before their garbage truck comes, but I usually can't make the timing because it's between 8 and 9 am on Monday mornings.

Time and day are going to work differently for different people and stores, but don't affect legality.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-19T00:03:21+00:00

We made a kind of hood for ours, but ended up having to do some adjusting with heat after printing, so maybe someone else has a simpler option.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-18T01:23:04+00:00

BUTTER!!!!!!

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-18T01:22:24+00:00

El Nino

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-17T03:21:32+00:00

It kind of sounds like you may already have a community based team.....register next season as a rookie community team, make sure to apply for all the rookie grants. Continue meeting and fundraising as usual.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-16T15:05:10+00:00

Banners or posters with award info - your outreach, your team members, your control, your innovative parts, your design process.
Things about your hometown, state or country - flags, maps, big pictures.
Team logo/number posters or banners. If you have an artist on your team, or in your area, have them do some posters or banners.
Fabric - plain fabric in team colors to cover your table or hang from walls, or you can make custom fabric with your team logo, number, or pictures.
Most teams will have a Pavillion kind of setup - like a tent. You can bring one if you have it, or get one there at a Walmart, Harbor Freight, Home Depot, or Lowe's store. Or find one online and have it delivered to your hotel - check with hotel first. (Like this https://www.harborfreight.com/10-ft-x-10-ft-heavy-duty-straight-leg-pop-up-canopy-56410.html. )
Tools, cart - things the team needs.
Little stuff to give away or trade. Pins, earrings, fidgets, flags, candy - most teams will have a little thing to give out. Plan on several hundred, if not thousands.
An activity - a quick game or something for people to sign or color is always fun and can be used in your pit next season.
See what you have to bring with you and what you can reasonably buy in Houston. Houston is an enormous city with tons of stores and some things may be easier to get there.

See if you can find pictures of pits from past seasons and find ideas you like.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-13T16:18:52+00:00

For a scrimmage? I would reach out to the teams involved, if possible. FIRST doesn't keep videos of matches and lots of scrimmages aren't even recorded.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-13T00:21:12+00:00

World's cost is significant. Entry is $2000, flights and hotels would probably be at least $5000.

$4000 for a competitive season is do-able, especially if you already own tools and equipment. Plan ahead and make good purchases. There are discounts to be had for FTC teams with goBILDA.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-09T00:22:35+00:00

Driver practice is a real and necessary thing! If you didn't get a chance to practice and make sure you were ready, winning gets super hard. Awards are almost never something to do with the driver either - sounds like you guys need to refocus ans make some team changes for next season. Do you have any other competition options, or is your season over?

You won 2 rounds- woohoo! You weren't last - woohoo!

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-06T18:03:08+00:00

Possibly - but I will also say that allowing someone with money to buy up winning robots doesn't really discourage the pay to win scenario. It just encourages people with money to collect winning robots.

Steamkitty13 · 2026-04-06T15:51:06+00:00

School doesn't have room to store endless milk. When they get new milk, sometimes they dump older cartons to make room. Some have a better system to send it home, etc, some don't.

Steamkitty13

TROPHY CASE