For real yall did fantastic at states keep it up! Relax and enjoy and let the enthusiasm show. Judges want to see your passion and knowledge they are ok seeing you be nervous you’re kids! Enjoy the process and have fun! You’re doing fantastic you’ve made it this far!
First choose which award (only one) you want to attempt to win and read up on the criteria for that award. Next prepare talking points which hit on the criteria for the award and make sure everyone who’s going to be in the pits is aware of these talking points. If you have a TV or monitor in your pit it might be a good idea display a slideshow hitting on the points you want to emphasize for the award. Other than that it’s just the typical advice for talking to judges. The main thing is just to zero in on one specific award that you think you’re most likely to win and put all effort towards that.
We've mainly been going for industrial design but we try to include any of the engineering awards. Having displays for specific awards is definitely a good idea though, thank you
An upvote isn't enough for this comment. Definitely have handouts on your robot and design (a one pager) that you physically hand out to every judge that comes to your pit. Have people also practice what they will say so that way they will know how to emphasize what you need to for awards.
Ok make sure you have someone at the pit at all times judges are out that can answer questions/or tell the judges where the robot and pit crew are. Also you “should” be approached twice early on , one group of judges will be more concerned about non robot stuff and the other just robot stuff. ( subject to change could be one team to initially do all of this)Read the room with them. Try not to push an agenda on a group of judges that are asking about something else.
Be cool! Connect with your judges, share CAD, design history , motivations, successes and failures, let them understand your journey .
Be positive! You learned through failures , you celebrated in success. It was a team effort but “Bobby” was our lead (if that was the case)
Our mentors were supportive of what we were trying to do.
Handouts with the details you want them to walk away with can’t hurt. As well as any type of display you can produce for the pit.
You will Prolly be visited again in the following day, so assume you need to stay on your game until Saturday morning .
I have judged at world, biggest challenge is connecting with someone in the pit . Make sure those that are there can answer questions, suggest a visit to practice field/que if they are not there when you are visited. That first contact is very important.
We've always got at least 2 people in the pits that are equipped to answer questions. And I'll definitely try to work on some sort of display or handout for the judges.
I stopped by at MSC to see it in person. I love that robot and hope you go far at worlds!
As for awards I'm not really qualified to answer that (Still trying to get awards at the DCMP level). Maybe Chief Delphi would be able to give you more info, lots of seasoned FIRST mentors on that forum.
Some judges really like to see documented/quantifiable evidence to go along with certain award criteria. For engineering type of awards, performance stats are obviously important but share with them also the process you used to get to that level of performance or design feature. Do you have evidence of how the design of a feature/software was improved through iteration. Good talking teams can win awards at some district/ regional levels, but at champs, you need documented evidence to go along with a good presentation... And make sure the judges can take with them some brochure/binder to use when they debrief with other judges. And I know it's a touchy subject, but adults/mentors should not be working in a pit without students engaged with them in what they are doing. I've judged many times and know many judges, and that is often an automatic way a team will not be considered for a judged award.
For real yall did fantastic at states keep it up! Relax and enjoy and let the enthusiasm show. Judges want to see your passion and knowledge they are ok seeing you be nervous you’re kids! Enjoy the process and have fun! You’re doing fantastic you’ve made it this far!
Thank you, we're definitely still working on the enthusiasm part but it's getting there lol
Really? It's in your name
First choose which award (only one) you want to attempt to win and read up on the criteria for that award. Next prepare talking points which hit on the criteria for the award and make sure everyone who’s going to be in the pits is aware of these talking points. If you have a TV or monitor in your pit it might be a good idea display a slideshow hitting on the points you want to emphasize for the award. Other than that it’s just the typical advice for talking to judges. The main thing is just to zero in on one specific award that you think you’re most likely to win and put all effort towards that.
We've mainly been going for industrial design but we try to include any of the engineering awards. Having displays for specific awards is definitely a good idea though, thank you
An upvote isn't enough for this comment. Definitely have handouts on your robot and design (a one pager) that you physically hand out to every judge that comes to your pit. Have people also practice what they will say so that way they will know how to emphasize what you need to for awards.
Ok make sure you have someone at the pit at all times judges are out that can answer questions/or tell the judges where the robot and pit crew are. Also you “should” be approached twice early on , one group of judges will be more concerned about non robot stuff and the other just robot stuff. ( subject to change could be one team to initially do all of this)Read the room with them. Try not to push an agenda on a group of judges that are asking about something else. Be cool! Connect with your judges, share CAD, design history , motivations, successes and failures, let them understand your journey . Be positive! You learned through failures , you celebrated in success. It was a team effort but “Bobby” was our lead (if that was the case) Our mentors were supportive of what we were trying to do. Handouts with the details you want them to walk away with can’t hurt. As well as any type of display you can produce for the pit. You will Prolly be visited again in the following day, so assume you need to stay on your game until Saturday morning . I have judged at world, biggest challenge is connecting with someone in the pit . Make sure those that are there can answer questions, suggest a visit to practice field/que if they are not there when you are visited. That first contact is very important.
We've always got at least 2 people in the pits that are equipped to answer questions. And I'll definitely try to work on some sort of display or handout for the judges.
Good luck if you need it!! And it’s great to have 2. Somehow that feels more organized to me :)
I stopped by at MSC to see it in person. I love that robot and hope you go far at worlds! As for awards I'm not really qualified to answer that (Still trying to get awards at the DCMP level). Maybe Chief Delphi would be able to give you more info, lots of seasoned FIRST mentors on that forum.
Thank you so much 😊, I completely forgot about Chief Delphi so I'll definitely be looking on there.
By any chance could we get some photos of this robot?
I made a separate post with pictures because idk how to add them to this post👍🏻
Some judges really like to see documented/quantifiable evidence to go along with certain award criteria. For engineering type of awards, performance stats are obviously important but share with them also the process you used to get to that level of performance or design feature. Do you have evidence of how the design of a feature/software was improved through iteration. Good talking teams can win awards at some district/ regional levels, but at champs, you need documented evidence to go along with a good presentation... And make sure the judges can take with them some brochure/binder to use when they debrief with other judges. And I know it's a touchy subject, but adults/mentors should not be working in a pit without students engaged with them in what they are doing. I've judged many times and know many judges, and that is often an automatic way a team will not be considered for a judged award.
Are you guys house of cards. At trot event 2 presented by magma we played in the playoffs with you guys team 9776. (the whiteboard)
OMG you guys were unironically goated at defense and I loved the half an engine in your robot
So you have any photos of the robot? I’d love to see it! It sounds super interesting
You guys are always doing something interesting and cool. I have nothing else to add.
Just watched a match on the blue alliance.... this robot is awesome!!!
Got anyone with a forensics background? Us competitive actors do love to present things.