How viable is full court Assisting?
 

Last year we had full court shooters, but because of the rules (and ball size) this year full court shooting isn't an option. However, if a team had a strong enough shooter they could get the inbound from the human player and immediately launch it down the field to a teammate who would ideally catch it and score it.

In this scenario each cycle would be worth: 10 truss points, 10 catch points (in the unlikely case that the ball is caught), 10 assist points, and 10 goal points for a total of 40 points.

I feel like this strategy would be a more efficient way of moving the ball down the field and into the goal than a more traditional approach.

What does the CD community think about this? :yikes:

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

In theory sounds logical, but I believe even the most basic robot could make it worthless by either blocking the catcher, or you, there are no safe zones. To me , a robot that could drive and feed well would be way more desired? Maybe I'm wrong, do what you feel like your need, but just remember having a robot that preforms well constantly, is a team player, and again can do what they do reliably! I personally believe that its better for a newer team to just be able to drive great first off, but be able to feed great? then you could cause way more assist points, and stop the opponents points, more than you could score with a decent shooter.

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

I have also thought about this. You would get 2/3 assists and the truss which is essentially one assist short of a full round(excluding truss catch because our team belief is that most won't do it until later) so if you could make up that deficit by being efficient and fast it could be an effective method

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

Put a strong shooter on a good drivetrain and you could get around the defense for shooting. As for the robot that is receiving the pass, it would just need a good ground pickup and omnidirectional drivetrain for avoiding defense. Just ideas, I don't think our team will be pursuing this strategy. However, you never know!

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

You can always adapt!

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

Though this seems really good I wouldent count on having an alliance member catch. To much to go wrong.

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

I agree. The catch points would be bonus!

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

I think this could be a deadly strategy in early regionals for the top seeded alliances. Since the one seed has the best two robots and then the 24th best, depending on the regional the top two may not want the third robot slowing down their cycle times, and if one has a strong shooter this could be a quick 40 point cycle opportunity.

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

If the catching robot gets pushed and misses the catch you will most likely have a bouncing ball that's hard to contain because its bouncing? If you feel like this is what works for you, than please pursue it, but also think it through very well! Being a defensive driver on the field, I would specifically target any full court shooter, or their high goal shooter?

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

Who says the robot will be easily pushed? If you design both robots drivetrains right then they can be pretty solidly mounted to the floor. With vision tracking teams could adjust their shot to the catchers desired posistion. One think i learnt from last year is that if it's possible then it will be done. Look at chessy poofs 30pt climb! That was insane fast and nobody thought it could be done that fast but they pursued their goal and achieved it. I personally think full court assist will be possible this year, but not common

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

This is true, but wouldn't the robot catching have to be able to move well to catch ball? And if say defensive robot had 6 CIMs and driving capabilities I think it might make it hard to catch, again causing a wild ball chase, which is what your opponent wants. But it might work? Who knows anything is possible in FIRST, maybe you could make a braking system to hold you in place?

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

A full court assist meaning say one robot in the blue zone passing all the way to the red zone? I could see that becoming very uncontrolled. If you didn't set up your pass perfectly you could easily lose control of the ball on the other end and waste time. Also this would be very easy to defend.

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

Yes that is what I mean when I say full court assist. A lot of people doubted full court shooting last year as well. If the right two robots get together with this strategy and can do it effectively then I see it being tough to stop. I do however, see your point that it could be a high risk strategy in the sense that a mistake is costly.

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

Keep in mind that some (most?) catching mechanisms were probably designed with a more modest hurdling action in mind, and may react in fun and exciting ways to a hail mary.

Re: How viable is full court Assisting?
 

Nothing like pushing mechanisms to their limits :D