Logistics Team

Oh the places we go! Each year we go to six competition events. Two regional events held in March and April, two off season events held in May and June and two in the fall October and November.

We also go to a number of demonstration events where we do show and tell.

This means lots of movement of the robot and the roboteers. The robot not only is a pain to move (it's heavy at 120 lbs. and bulky) but comes with a 1/2 ton (no really, 1000 lbs.) of spare parts, tools, batteries, media material, etc. It's not like the VRC robots that can fit in the back of a PT Cruiser on a moments notice. There is a lot of planning and coordination that needs to take place.

Regional Competitions

We try to go to two competitions each year, one in Philadelphia and another one farther away. The robot gets shipped in it's container. We need to take any spare parts and our needed tool set. In addition we take any updated components.

For one of the events we stay in a hotel and eat out. So there is additional logistics of setting up reservations, car pools to get there and working out dinner plans.

Off Season Events

We go to four off season events, to these we take the robot in addition to the spare parts and tools. So there are more things to transport.

Demonstration Events

For demonstrations we take the robot, the control panel and a battery. In some cases we also take along sheets of plywood to be able to drive the robot in grassy areas. We do 12 demonstrations a year.

VEX Robot Challenge

Downingtown Area Robotics also is the host for the Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Competition It's held in Febrary of each year.