2013 SVR
 

I'm happy to see teams 148 RoboWranglers and 118 Robonauts are coming to play in San Jose. This will be a week 6 barn buster competition. Get your seats early for this one.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Week 6 I believe this year. Wow both 148 and 118, isn't this going to be fun.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

It should get even better once some of the withheld slots are released.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Does anyone know if those withheld spots will be open to second regional registration or are they reserved for rookie teams?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

They are generally for rookies. Not sure at what point they get relinquished to wait list teams.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

SVR is gonna be amazing this year. 148, 118, the usual 254 and 971...those elims matches are gonna be amazing. Just hope we'll be in them. ;)

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Don't forget about the Holy Cows, Space Cookies, GRT, Funky Monkey's, WarriorBorgs, WildHats and many other great teams.

Once California shifts over to District's we won't get this crazy level of competition anymore :(

Re: 2013 SVR
 

1538 isn't registered for SVR this year.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Have been wanting our team to go to SVR just for this reason. It's quite a drive though especially with regionals much closer to us. On the bright side CA CMP is going to be fun.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Picked the right year to come back to SVR, not if we're trying to qualify for champs though... :rolleyes:

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Well, this looks to be a pretty interesting SVR! Last time we competed with 118 and 148 . . . http://www.thebluealliance.com/match/2007tx_qf1m2

Maybe we'll get to do it again? I can't wait!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

You're totally right. At an already crazy regional, were going to get even more crazy play. There's even a chance that 254 might not win!

I wonder if any of the middle level teams (for SVR anyway) that we "shouldn't forget" will go for a defensive strategy to try to get with a winning alliance. SVR tends to be very offensive, and I'm interested to see if and how having so many powerhouse teams will change qualifications and eliminations play.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

One thing I've noticed is that people seem to forget that there are a good number of teams which consistently produce quality offensive robots, but get overlooked because they're not making waves on the national level. I really don't like categorizing teams into tiers like this, but for the sake of discussion, we're talking about teams like 1868, 1280*, 192, 604, 846, etc. Just because they haven't been on the winning alliance in a while doesn't mean they haven't come close. They're still title contenders every year, and at every event they attend, and I doubt any of them would go defense just because a few more national powerhouses are joining the fray:

1) Trying to get on the winning alliance as a defensive robot for these teams is going to be a bigger gamble than just trying to build the best robot they can. They build quality robots, drive well and have good game sense, they would get snatched up before they make it back around. We're assuming that without their solid offensive play in qualifiers, the powerhouses will easily get to the top of the rankings. This also leaves the entire offensive field shallower, which means that the top few alliances will have all the offense, and leave the lower half picking up as much defense as possible...and they'll take these guys first.

2) With the addition of at least 118 and 148, things get a little tougher to guarantee in the rankings. Like a stacked Championship division, the top contenders often beat each other up in qualifiers. That opens up a lot of possibilities for the 1868's, 192's and others that are consistently reaching the 2nd-5th seeds to leapfrog over a few. Maybe one of them gets a chance to pick up 118 or 148...or 254. Now it's a whole new ballgame. But they probably don't get that chance if they go defensive

3) Most of these teams attend multiple events, and they're usually considered favorites for the medal at those, because they are quite good. Would you sacrifice your chances at your other events to try and get on the winning alliance at SVR as defense?

4) Let's say, hypothetically, one or more of the teams in question does choose to go defensive, and manages to sneak by and get themselves on the winning alliance. They make it to champs...and then what? Very few purely defensive robots ever make CMP eliminations. The defensive robots we see at champs are almost always** robots that have some offensive capability and are just really well driven with good drivetrains. These teams build good drivetrains every year, and drive it well every year, so they're only more likely to get picked at champs if they design a healthy amount of offense in.

*1280 is not currently signed up for SVR, but hopefully they get in via waitlist...

**Yes, of course there are exceptions, or robots which are specialized in a part of the game that's not considered primary offense, but they are few and far between. There's upwards of 350 teams at champs, the odds are not in their favor.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Seems like it's going to be amazing as always. The Fembots will see you all there!
> insert advertisement for the Sacramento regional here <

Re: 2013 SVR
 

It's a shame Vegas and SVR wound up week 6:( The High Rollers were originally planning on returning to one of our favorite regionals and we were bummed when we learned SVR was moved to week 6. We can only imagine what it would have been like if we could have joined in the fun:D

Re: 2013 SVR
 

I think "defensive" is a somewhat poor term - I like "utility" a lot better as it covers more strategies and robot designs. Utility robots are often "defensive" but limiting yourself to that title really cuts back on your options.

It's also totally possible to build a utility robot that seeds high enough to be an alliance captain, either via new seeding rules or by smart strategy. The trick is to add just enough functionality to either win outright or enable easy wins - even if you can't yourself put up triple digit scores.

I think a lot of the teams that have been mentioned are of a caliber where they can produce great offensive or hybrid threats, but more utility robots at a regional are never a bad thing.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

There's always the "chance that 254 might not win", we play hard and have fun doing so! And I'm sure that no one comes to SVR with the attitude of letting anyone walk out of the building with any sort of award without earning it.

That aside all of poofs are really excited to have some of our friends from Texas coming out to play!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

All I have to say is, the Robowranglers are beyond excited to be heading out West for such a great event. The level of competition is going to be insane, and I think SVR is going to be the highlight of Week 6, and probably the whole regional season! Whoever comes out on top will certainly have run the gauntlet and earned it. I can't wait to get out there and see some old friends and some new faces!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Talk about a rumble the Pink Team and the Greybots are joining in the week six fun. Is this going to be fun?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Fun for the viewers! I'm really excited to watch SVR.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

LVR might be worth switching back and forth with :D

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Agreed.

Maybe in the SVR pits we should have the LVR webcasts.... and vice verca :D

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Wow. Can you say "stacked?" SVR will easily be four times as competitive as it was last year.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

I love tough regionals. I'm extremely happy that 148 will be in one of the toughest shoot-outs of the year. It will be great to see some of my oldest FIRST friends, and get the chance to hopefully make some new ones.

It is awesome to see so many "Einstein" teams from the past few years in once place. Maybe this is finally the event to give MSC a run for their money?

-John

Re: 2013 SVR
 

One can dream :D

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Maybe 68 should come out.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

The fact that SVR is our one and only regional this year makes this all the more daunting... :eek:

Good to have so many great teams joining us though. It's going to be a great show for sure! :D

Re: 2013 SVR
 

I really like watching these types of events with lots of great teams from all over coming into one place. It's a great opportunity for those teams that don't get to experience Championships often to meet a better variety of teams. I hope FIRST keeps something in place so we can still have events like this in the future as everyone in the US moves to Districts/Regions over the next few years. Maybe just keep a couple 'open' events in large cities near the borders of regions that normally don't get to play together?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Nuttyman,

It's time to give everyone a run down of the teams that are competing. Any favorites to run the gauntlet or will the defense be so tight that it will be a scheduling Gods decision?

The kids on 4543 are going big with a shooter and something special for the big guns.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Which is more stacked? SVR or Waterloo?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

SVR has far more top tier teams, Waterloo was much deeper.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

I disagree here. SVR has always had a really strong middle pack, and there are a lot of "unknown" teams that have already done well at previous events.

We've really thoroughly prescouted this event. I watched waterloo, but didn't research the teams. I wager SVR will be similar, or more competitive. We will have less 30 point climbers, but more shooters.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Does anyone know if SVR is going to be webcasted?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Re: 2013 SVR
 

NOOOOO!!! Well, I guess I'll just have to come down on Saturday to watch my favorite teams compete. ;)

Re: 2013 SVR
 

....Well, that sucks. So much for all the hype, we can't even watch it.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

No way...I'd hope with so many top tier teams someone would find a way to stream it.

We weren't going to have a webcast at Hub City until someone from 1986 hosted one. Maybe someone can ask them how they managed it and do it?

Please?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Oh how I wish there was a CheesyCast (only picking out 254 because you know when you deal with them you get high quality stuff, and for a regional of this caliber, there should be only the finest webcast).

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Really hope someone gets a webcast up. Eugene/604 maybe? Usually associate them with webcasts, but not sure if they've set up the entire thing before

Re: 2013 SVR
 

We're looking into what we can do. We have the gear necessary but need to see what the internet situation is.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

I hope someone can record the matches and post the videos on YouTube or whatever. Team 696 did an outstanding job at the Inland Empire Regional.

Their camera FOV framed the field perfectly and I really didn't mind the lack of audio.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

That Facebook posting is in error. There will be a webcast, hosted by Team 604.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

AWESOME! We look forward to cheering on our Texas friends from home!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

That's great news. Thanks for keeping us updated, Cory. SVR should be very exciting to watch.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Yep, I just checked with the team. There will indeed be a webcast (barring any unforeseen issues). Also, the match videos will be posted on YouTube shortly after each match, just like we did at the Sacramento Regional. They should be somewhere here: http://www.youtube.com/lelandrobotics

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Love the mods for 4543 Roy. 100 and 256 will also be bringing some major redesigns to the competition, which makes the already deep field at SVR even deeper.

I'll leave most of the robot specific talk to Looking Forward, but this is probably the strongest field of teams we've seen here since the early 2000's. Not only are several big guns coming from out of state (and bringing 4 regional wins and a finalist appearance with them), but a number of California's own powerhouses and up-and-comers contribute to a strong top tier. Being such a late regional, many mid-tier and lower tier teams have already competed once and had a chance to tune their machines. This may be the most serious threat to 254's dominance at the regional ever.

I believe Silicon Valley will play out more like a division with a field this deep. The scheduling gods will definitely come in to play, but with so many top teams and great depth, it will be hard for anyone to come out unscathed. 3rd round picks will make or break alliances, and the lower seeds will have opportunities to pull major upsets. All bets are off this year: when it's said and done, whoever emerges victorious will have earned the title.

Most years, the #1 seed alliance includes the perennial powerhouse Poofs, and anyone who has to face them in the bracket is woeful of their position. Making it to the finals at SVR, win or lose, is a bragging right. Both of these sentiments remain true this year, but for different reasons: with so many wildcards potentially in play from top teams, making it to the finals is likely a ticket punched to the big dance in St. Louis. If any 3 teams in the finals can open wildcard slots, all 6 teams get to go. There are no guarantees, but I'm hard-pressed to see this play out in a way that at least the captains of both finalist alliances don't get invitations to championships.

The 2013 Silicon Valley Regional is going to be a hard-fought, high-octane battle from start to finish. Bragging rights and wildcards in Week 6. Will the title stay in California, or will our guests from Texas and Florida grab a piece of the gold? Get your popcorn ready and keep your eyes glued to the webcast folks, there's a storm brewing in San Jose.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

WAY too good to settle for watching the webcast!
I'm going to be there for the elims.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Oh, I so wish that I could be there for this one, but unfortunately I have to defend my MS thesis the following Tuesday. No way I can fly out there. My consolation is that this way I also get to watch Las Vegas....

Re: 2013 SVR
 

After seeing the practice day at SVR today, I really do believe that this is flat out the most talented and deepest field that I have ever seen at any regional- ever.

If you are in driving distance, do it!

Really looking forward to some serious playoff madness!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

#svr #dat254climb #dontmesswithtexasrobots #majorupgrade #coolmentors #1662sevencycleteleop #powdercoat #supadeepregional

Today in hash tags.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Matches up.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

99 matches!

Hot matches:

Match 24: 118 v. 254
Match 31: 118 + 254
Match 61: 254 v. 118
Match 87: 254 + 233

to name just a few.

846 appears to have a favorable schedule.

Can anyone add to this list to optimize this two day time vampire?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Match 7: 118 v 1662
Match 18: 233 v 148
Match 12: 971 + 118
Match 30: 192 + 1662 v 973
Match 31: 254 + 118 v 971
Match 37: 148 v 973
Match 46: 148 + 192
Match 54: 148 v 1662
Match 57: 973+118
Match 61 is 148 v 254, not 118 v 254
Match 75: 118 v 233+973
Match 82: 973 v 971
Match 92: 1662+254

These are a few that stick out to me.
Good luck to everyone. Not sure who I'll be rooting for come elims, but it will sure be a fun one up in SVR.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

The FIRST thing I did as I got home was flipped on the SVR stream, and the match that was on was 254 + 118 vs 971. The eliminations are gonna be intense, I have no idea who's gonna take this one. (Kinda inclined to root for Texas ^_^)

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Field is so deep this year, it's hard to look at the match schedule and determine the outcome for a game.

So far things haven't gone as we'd like on the field. But we've been improving quite a bit - we've got our autonomous tuned down just right now, and have been hitting 3 each time. Hopefully we'll have a good showing tomorrow. We've been shooting really well on the practice field, and hopefully that will translate to matches.

Tomorrow should be pretty exciting.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Here are my predictions for pre-alliance selection seedings:

1) 254 (9-1)
2) 971 (8-2)
3) 118 (8-2)
4) 1662 (8-2)
5) 233 (8-2)
6) 192 (8-2)
7) 973 (7-3)
8) 670 (7-3)

Based on OPR. Conclude what you may about eliminations...

Re: 2013 SVR
 

I got the same thing, but you're missing 1868 seeded 2nd at 9-1, as well as a number of 7-3 teams that would seed higher than 973 or 670.

Tiebreakers based on average AP thus far.

Note that this is basically guaranteed to be wrong, but all teams should be within a match or two.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Rank Team
1 233
2 254
3 1662
4 973
5 192
6 971
7 118
8 2144
9 114
10 670
11 2915
12 649
13 841
14 1868
15 766
16 115
17 840
18 4159
19 846
20 2854
21 295
22 100
23 1388
24 1072
25 852
26 3256
27 4186
28 2135
29 2489
30 3501
31 2643
32 8
33 3598
34 3933
35 2035
36 4765
37 2085
38 675
39 2813
40 4047
41 3995
42 4543
43 581
44 692
45 148
46 2761
47 2367
48 256
49 751
50 1700
51 1967
52 604
53 3482
54 668
55 2473
56 4171
57 3022
58 4255
59 1351

Pink/Grey against Robo-Monkeys in Match 75 = Hot
Pinky Poofs in Match 87.

Pinky Poofs could take it all, but with whom?
Monkeys played awesome defense in Boston, will be picked before, but by whom?

The first alliance picks will be incestuous. Good scouting, the second pick, and a well executed elimination strategy will make the difference and portend the divisional play and Einstein in STL.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Pink is projected to lose their last match against a certain orange and black team, which will lose them first seed. I doubt that 254 would pick Pink first; I believe 118 is a fundamentally more consistent and beter robot with an opr to prove it.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

You're right, they should seed 2nd (!!!). I missed the fact that they were playing 4 matches today. This will really turn the regional back into anyone's game, they haven't been playing very well (inaccurate shooting) and could be eliminated fairly early even if paired with a team like Pink.

While the regional winners will almost certainly be 254-118, this opens up the finals (and most likely two championship slots).

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Part of our inaccurate shooting is that our driver uses the first shot to line up if we're shooting from the corner, as we have at best a camera to help with lining up; no targeting code. (I'm not actually there, so I can't tell you if there is a camera, I just know it's an option.) The rest is just the kind of error that makes me shrug and go, "I have no clue why that happened."

I agree that we are not quite on the level of many of the really strong teams at SVR this year. I saw the lists of who was coming and thought that we might not even get to elims at all this year, except as maybe 3rd team on an alliance, despite having been finalists the last 4 years. We always play the best we can, and I guess that and a handful of luck paid off (so far. *knocks on wood*)

P.S. We could lose match 91, we're playing 973. However, my match predicting method consists of, "Is this team one I know & was scary last time I saw their bot? Yes: Might lose. No: Could win." and is therefore pretty inaccurate.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Haha +1. While many people make predictions like this for quals matches, it doesn't work too well at this event because of the depth/strength of the field. The 2nd/3rd tiers of robots behind the superstars will make allllll the difference in elims, as they've already been impacting quals a great deal. Really curious to see how FCS/defense will play out in elims alongside the high-powered bots.

This will be intense, hope everyone's ready for a wild ride!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Almost certainly?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

reverse camera angles in the web feed? yikes.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Obviously not our scouting for real. :p I'm just making my own predictions from 9 time zones away, so that I can figure out which matches to bite my nails over. (Figuratively.)

Wheeeee! I'm ready for a wild ride!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

You were right about the match, but you will now wear Pink. :)

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Great second pick for the 5th alliance.
You are now the FunkyPinkHats.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Alliances:

Predictions:

1d8
2d7
3d6
5d4

1d5
3d2

1d3

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Is the webcast down for everyone else?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Down here.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

604 said that their computer blue-screened.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

No match updates either..

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Yeah, Im only seeing a 604 Quixilver logo now. Anyone know an alternate stream?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

It's back!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Burger King. :confused:

Re: 2013 SVR
 

I love this game announcer. He's fantastic (at least, from the bit I've heard so far).

And the MC is pretty great too; she's not too loud and jumpy, but she has just enough to sound like a real MC that knows what FIRST is about.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Feed is down again....

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Aaand its back (but very choppy).

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Congrats to 254 for another SVR win!
Congrats to 118 for representing Texas with another win!
Congrats to 1967 for winning their first regional ever!

And congrats to all the finalists, all of whom are going to Championships!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Any news on the awards? The FIRST site isn't working

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Probably still going on. Most events will only update the awards list at the end of each session (though some of the western events either forgot yesterday or had all their awards given out today).

Re: 2013 SVR
 

I know at least Waterloo was live updating, because I had to leave early and was frantically refreshing every two minutes. Every few times another award winner appeared.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

As a Fantasy FIRST player, I refresh almost every event (that's going on) every few minutes, whether it's on matches or awards. Waterloo was the exception, rather than the rule (I can't remember another event this season that's done it, and only a few over the last couple years).

Re: 2013 SVR
 

4543 - RAS
233 - EI
604 - RCA

Re: 2013 SVR
 

They're all up now.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Yes.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

haha, it's easier to say after the fact. His prediction was made before 254 had even secured #1 seed.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

Thank you so much to 971 for picking us, and to 604 for being our partner. We are very sorry our shooter failed when we most needed it, but your valiant efforts are really what kept our matches from being a disaster. You guys are awesome, and I hope we can play together (with working robots) again!

Congratulations to the winning alliance. Your robots were superb scoring machines.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

The scortch didn't help either.

Re: 2013 SVR
 

First of all, congrats to the winners. 254 and 118 both made it look easy, and as always: dat 254 climb...

We had a truly awesome regional. As some of you know, we used our 30lb allowance to put on a completely new shooter assembly with a pneumatic ten point hanger. As far as I know, it was the largest change to a robot between regionals in FRC history. After the change, it shot straight as a laser with two direct driven wheels off a CIM. We went some matches where we were 80-90% accurate, which is just huge, and got 3-4 scoring cycles on a regular basis. If we'd performed just a little bit better in our first match, we could have been picking.

And yes, beating Pink was super cool in our last qualifying match. My personal favorite was match 50 where we beat 971 106-68, scoring 76 points on our own. (Thanks to 766 for shutting down 971, literally, with their awesome defense.)

Getting selected by 233, a NASA team, as first pick (!!!) was super cool. I couldn't believe that such an awesome team valued us enough to pick us first. Had Pinks hopper not jammed in the first match and had they been able to block 148's full court shots, we would have probably been able to go on to semis. But losing to the powerhouse 148 and to 1662's sick little robot made me proud that we'd been able to compete against such a awesome alliance. (Michael Corsetto, I can't wait to play against you again!)

Thanks for such an awesome regional! A special shout out to 1662 and 973 for being such awesome competitors and cool people.

Oh, and I got to ask my girlfriend to prom! How much better could it get?

Re: 2013 SVR
 

And at 1:00 in the morning!

Re: 2013 SVR
 

That's because the Scorekeeper at Waterloo clicked the "Upload Awards" button in FMS after entering each one, instead of waiting until the end. :)

Re: 2013 SVR
 

A couple of stories have appeared in major media from SVR:

USA Today: March Machine Madness

Time TECH: FIRST Robotics Competition

SVR was a great competition - it's even more cool to see such media attention!

Thanks for the articles! Always cool to see coverage, especially if they get good pictures.