[FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Hey everyone!

Just a couple days removed from Premiere Night, Mike and I will be back tomorrow night(2/25) at 9PM EST to continue our 4th season of FRC Top 25. You can find the webcast at http://www.frctop25.com/watch/

This will probably be a shorter show but you can count on an hour or so depending on the amount of topics sent in by you! Since there won't be a Top 25 this week, we're counting on you give us some talking points and you can do that a number of ways....

Email:
mikeandjustinitm@gmail.com (better for longer or in depth topics)

Twitter:
@FRCTop25

You can also post in this thread or just ask in the live chat during the show!

We'll be talking about all Week 1 events, how we expect the game to be played and highlight some of the great teams you can catch this week and more!

We hope to see you then!

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Some topics I think would be great to cover:

Common strats you think will do great in quals
Having a "supercoach" for an alliance in quals and elims
Teams you think we should watch out for at each regional and district this week.
General thoughts of what week 1 competition will be like this year.
Your predictions for average quals score, elims score.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

2 topics to discuss:

1.) autonomous blockers - a number of teams have shown they have a 2 (or more) ball autonomous, meaning not all 3 robots need to be in the white zone for all 3 balls to be scored in auto. Will blockers become an important strategy for auto?

2.) optimal cycle - alliances have a number of different ways to complete a cycle, each worth a different amount of points and taking a different amount of time. is there some sort of optimal cycle? one that gives the most amount of points for the shortest amount of time, maximizing a typical alliance's scoring potential? truss shot, 2 assists, high goal. 3 assists, no truss shot, high goal. 1 assist, truss shot, high goal... etc.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Establish a betting line for the number of user pflynn will ban during the show.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Great topics guys, thanks a lot!

We banned over 30 on Premiere Night. I'll set the Over/Under at 6. Any takers?

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

My guess is 17.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Wait... is this spam or just people being mean?

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I would say that 99% of those were people being mean/ nonGP. They have a similar trend of making rude FIRST comments directed at teams.

I would also like to apologize to anyone that I accidentally banned in the process of getting to someone that deserved to be banned. If you are still banned tonight and believe you shouldn't be send an email to us with your username and we will look into removing your ban. At our discretion.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Effectiveness of multi-ball autonomous modes
Complementary robot styles
Drivetrains: Gear low or high?
Most stacked regional/district events

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

As long as it's not me again! :ahh:

Very excited to watch FRCtop25. You guys have been a really awesome facet of the FIRST community for years. Thanks, for all you do.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

You could discuss the top 5 or so robots in your opinion based on all those who have shown their robot (premiere night or not)

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I'd like to hear a topic discussing that the 8th alliance might turn out stronger than the number 1 alliance at a lot of regionals. There just may not be 24 robots that can pass efficiently but there might be 17.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I'm going to miss the live action tonight. I'd still like to see some discussion about the two new districts and the district points award system being implemented this year.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I'm thinking 21.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

some of us just got banned for saying "hi" to a team. Just sayin'

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

This is definitely the year of the lower seed advantage I think. I'd like to hear some discussion on that though.

It's also a year for scouting and strategy. The more I look at this game, the more interesting it becomes. Good engineering is only part of the game.

Looking forward to the show.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Could be worse, like getting banned for no reason and not even knowing.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

will there be an archive of the show somewhere for anyone who may not be able to tune in live?

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I actually think this is going to vary quite a bit by regional. One very big advantage a top seeded team could have is being able to start out with that perfect 75 point autonomous score (or very close to it) taken care of mostly between the two high ranked robots alone. That's something that may or may not be easily duplicated at the lower seeds depending on shooting capability and hot goal recognition. Again, this discrepancy will vary wildly by regional, I think.

After autonomous, there is quite a bit of variance on how things could play out depending on that third robot's capability to synergize well with the other high seed robots in just one facet of the game. That could be shooting, outlet passing, defense, etc. This will require the other two robots to be very versatile in their skill sets in order to accomodate the vast array of possibilities for that third alliance partner capability. If the top robots are too one dimensional or too hesitant to adjust their playstyle based on their partners, I think that's the recipe for top seeds getting upset.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Except Multi-ball auto isn't rare like multi-disk auto was last year.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I'm thinking that while you've seen quite a few 2 ball autonomous modes in videos this year, you're not going to see very many regionals where that's an advantage the upper seeded teams won't have. For example, even if 2 ball is a skill that 8 to 10 teams could have at a regional, most of those teams would likely get paired up with each other. That still only covers teams seeded 1-4 or 5. Then, you also have to factor in hot goal recognition. I'm not thinking that's a skill you assume teams that make it down the pick list on the back end of the snake will have either.

I agree that 2 ball is not as rare as multi disc auto was last year...but that doesn't mean you can assume to see 1/3 of a regional roster to have that ability either.

It's too early to lay claims like this down. You underestimate the attitude of teams on the field, robot issues, and autonomous alignment issues. Yes, multi ball autos may be more common than last year's multidisk auto, but I wouldnnt call it a common occurence yet.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

The motions of a multi-ball auto will be more common, however I predict there will be many robots that take 2 shots and only hit 1. I predict that at maximum there will 4 robots at a regional with consistent 2 ball autonomous modes, and MAYBE 2 that have consistent 3 ball autonomous modes.

A lot of these reveal videos only show you the times it made it, not the failed attempts before and/or after.

However, I would say it would be a good idea for ALL teams to come up with an autonomous mode that will do nothing for about 7-9 seconds (depending on how fast you can get to the forward zone) and then drive forward, in order to be able to better take advantage of these multi-ball autonomous modes. Even if you think your robot is too good to not shoot it's own ball, mechanical failures happen. If you find your shooter broken going into the match and your alliance partner can cover for it in autonomous, you will be glad you were prepared.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I think the hot goal is being overvalued. While a the hot goal is a nice thing to have to maximize your points, at the end of the day 15 points (max) is a fairly small margin to make up. One missed catch, truss, shot, or assist almost makes up for it.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Even less than 15. Robots scoring in autonomous with no "hot zone" recognition will still incidentally score hot points on average half the time. Still, the "percentage points" (to your win probability) add up enough to make it worth it.

(yes I know that the math is different if you assume 2 robots on the same alliance shooting "dumb" into separate goals)

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Yes there will be!


This is also a great time to mention that we have moved one more final time. You can catch tonight's show at new.livestream.com/FRCTop25.

Can't wait to see you all tonight!

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I agree multi-ball auto is featured in quite a few reveals. However, who is programming an auto mode that is "leave the ball and go for the colored zone?" I mean balls have to touch a robot and very few videos have shown that. They simply start with two balls in the vicinity of their machine.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Some topics I'm shocked haven't been brought up yet:

1) How powerful can a dedicated 'goalie' robot really be?

2) Which is more important - good robots, or a good strategy?

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I understand what you're saying about a 15 point swing not being drastic or insurmountable, but there's something to be said about knowing that you'll have a consistent score after autnonomous that doesn't leave any wasted points on the table. That's one less deficit to try and overcome in any given match and one less variable to remove from the equation when planning an optimum strategy for scoring.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Balls do not have to touch robots.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

They do if you want the 5 mobility points.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

If a team is running a 2-ball autonomous mode, that likely means one robot on the alliance is not capable of scoring the ball themselves. If they can't score the ball, they will probably still get the mobility points, which the easiest way to accomplish is to just drive forward into your zone. So why not just have a corner of their bot touching the ball and then they can drive forward off to the side?

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Actually, Eric, you may want to double check the wording of G5...



"G5



For ROBOTS starting in the white ZONE, the TEAM may preload one (1) of their ALLIANCE’s BALLS such that the BALL is touching their ROBOT.

For ROBOTS starting in their GOALIE ZONE the TEAM may decide if the BALL is: staged between the TRUSS and the ZONE LINE and not contacting an ALLIANCE partner, or removed from the FIELD for the MATCH.

If a ROBOT does not report to a MATCH, its ALLIANCE may decide if the BALL is: staged between the TRUSS and the ZONE LINE and not contacting an ALLIANCE partner, or removed from the FIELD for the MATCH.

Violation: If the situation is not corrected before the start of the MATCH, TECHNICAL FOUL per BALL improperly staged."


I've interpretted that as in order for a ball to be placed on the field in autonomous, it must be touching a robot to be considered 'loaded'. Exception, of course, is if you place that robot in the goalie zone.

That means, if you've already loaded your robot with a ball, you have to place a robot you may be 2 balling with such that it is in contact with that ball and you are not. Again, unless the robot that ball 'belongs' to is positioned in the goalie zone.

At least that how I've interpretted it. Did I interpret that wrong? If you were only referring to the goalie zone instance, then feel free to kick me when you see me in Milwaukee. lol ;)

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

You're correct, and I'm aware of that rule. It is the one in which I was referring to. I'm not going to just give people answers, I'm going to make them think about what I said and look into the rule book, that way they remember.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

lol. well then feel free to kick me at Wisconsin then. :D

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Or, if he referring to telling non-broken alliances partners to sit out a match so the autonomous ball doesn't need to be touching a robot. But, I think you are right. :cool:

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I doubt that would go over well with the team you're telling to sit out. Telling a team to put the ball next to their robot and then play defense is sometimes a bit hard to negotiate as is. Telling a team that that you think their potential output for that match is less than 1 autonomous high goal shot is a great way to get dirty looks from everyone on that team for the remainder of the event.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

We're going live in just under an hour! Help us spread the word!

https://new.livestream.com/accounts/...events/2796478

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Please, please point me to the rule that says I MUST load a ball for Mobility points.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

You're misinterpreting what they meant when they said that. Their point was that goalies can't score Mobility points.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

A topic I'd like to hear about is maybe your top 5 unusual design features you found interesting during premier night.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for tuning in and provided topics for discussion. This was one of the best, and most fun shows Justin and I have ever done!

To catch the archive from tonight's show, head on over to our channel at https://www.new.livestream.com/FRCTop25, and scroll down to "Archived Events" and click on "Week 1 Preview"! Don't forget to vote this week, and we'll see you all next Tuesday!

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

I know. I was 100% joking.


I couldn't make the live show, but hope to watch it in the next day or so.

Re: [FRCTop25.com] Week 1 Preview Show!
 

Phew, I though there was something that I was missing and was loosing my mind. Of course snow men don't have mind anyway.

And for sure goalies can't score Mobility points.