QUESTION - Random Alliance Pairings

[archiver]

Posted by John Larock at 03/10/2001 3:23 PM EST


Other on team #365, Miracle Workerz, from DuPont Engineering Explorer Post and DuPont .



For those of you who experienced this at one of the previous regionals, what was the process by which alliances were chosen for each match? I remember a prior communication which stated that a number (8-12?) teams would be queued and then from that grouping, the four alliance members would be drawn.

Is the process similar to this?

Does this result in there being less time for you to work on your robots in the pits?

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks.

-J-

[archiver]

Posted by Patrick Dingle at 03/10/2001 5:23 PM EST


Coach on team #639, Red B^2, from Ithaca High School and Cornell University.


In Reply to: QUESTION - Random Alliance Pairings
Posted by John Larock on 03/10/2001 3:23 PM EST:



From what I remember at UTC, they called up 12 teams at a time. They later broke up the 12 into groups of four... I'm not sure how they managed how much time each gets to strategorize, especially since the last 4 out of the 12 would have at least 4 extra minutes.

Patrick


: For those of you who experienced this at one of the previous regionals, what was the process by which alliances were chosen for each match? I remember a prior communication which stated that a number (8-12?) teams would be queued and then from that grouping, the four alliance members would be drawn.

: Is the process similar to this?

: Does this result in there being less time for you to work on your robots in the pits?

: Any information would be appreciated.

: Thanks.

: -J-

[archiver]

Posted by Michael "Special K" Krass at 03/11/2001 9:00 AM EST


Other on team #271, Mechanical Marauders, from Bay Shore High School and Verizon.


In Reply to: QUESTION - Random Alliance Pairings
Posted by John Larock on 03/10/2001 3:23 PM EST:



They call out 12 teams at a time for the next three matches. As that match goes on deck, you're called out of the group and you find out who your partners are. If you're in the second or third match of a group, (particularly the third) you have a lot more time to strategize. And, to answer your second question, this does seem to drastically limit your time in the pits. Even though you may have a 4 or 5 match break, the 3 at a time groupings would only allow you about 5 minutes of repair time.

Also, if there's an uneven distribution of teams, you wind up with an unfair final grouping as we did. The four remaining teams knew for the entire competition that they would be working together. I think a better idea would have been for FIRST to include 8 'dummy' teams or something.

~ Michael ~




: For those of you who experienced this at one of the previous regionals, what was the process by which alliances were chosen for each match? I remember a prior communication which stated that a number (8-12?) teams would be queued and then from that grouping, the four alliance members would be drawn.

: Is the process similar to this?

: Does this result in there being less time for you to work on your robots in the pits?

: Any information would be appreciated.

: Thanks.

: -J-