Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

We were just like that this year too. We had some students over at our local week 0 scrimmage, and 1678's bot was so similar to one of our initial plans. There were also ideas to get the 4 containers in auto, but the team opted for maximum simplicity this year.

Great job guys, can't wait to get some matches in with you!

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

It seems that some people aren't realizing that while this may not be hugely important in the qualification rounds, grabbing the RCs from the step as fast as possible will win Einstein. Autonomous is designed with the finals in mind (which I'm sure they will see multiple times this season).

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

We expect as the season goes on teams will improve significantly. And at Champs there will be many more truly competent teams on the field.

The big difference is in the eliminations. In each of the last 2 years, we were able to get robots (862, 1640) that were on our first pick list--the depth of available robot "talent" is so much greater at Champs. There will be plenty of multi-stack robots at Champs in the elims. I expect all of the RCs will be stacked on Einstein.

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

It's actually Pizzeria Pi! (They name their pizza's after California towns.) Tigin's Irish Pub is a close second (for the adult mentors in particular...)

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

Actually, it's the same tiny 9th grader we had in last year's robot (find the reveal video...), but with his quadruplet siblings, all flying tethers jetpacks... :)

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

Sacrifices were made...
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/41439?

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

OK. I'll bite.

1678 is not 'most teams'. The quote I was questioning is that each team will make 2 stacks. I said nothing about 1678.
Top teams don't go? I doubt you've been to suffield then. Week 0 is a good indicator of the 'average' team, not the top tier teams. But the quote I was bringing into question was that each robot will make 2 stacks.
'Most teams' are not Einstein alliances. Simple math shows that if teams have issues making a single stack, then grabbing all the RCs is useless.
In the eliminations things will obviously be different, but elimination teams are again not 'most teams'.
Again, 1678 isn't most teams. I wish they were the 'average' team (as this would raise the level of competition), but they are not.
Personal attacks are not needed here. Please argue your facts.
... and it takes a LOT more than thinking big to get to Einstein. A lot more.
My response was to a post about every team making 2 stacks. I'm not being negative, I'm being realistic.

Every team will not make 2 stacks every match. Especially not during the seeding matches. I doubt you will see many 6 stack matches (2 stacks per team) even in the playoffs.

My prediction: 50 points will win 90% of the week 1 seeding matches.

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

0 points will win 100% of seeding matches.

Thinking about this game within the confines of previous years will limit you.

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

Not commenting on the rest of your post, but remember that out scoring the other alliance on the field doesnt matter until the finals this year, and there is no winning of seeding matches.

Edit: Gregor beat me to it

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

Well, realistically, if you win over the other teams more often than they win over you, you are probably making a lot of points.
Sure, winning doesn't matter if you make points... but that's like every year (scoring points, anyways). Plus, playing for eliminations is wiser than not, depending on your goals. Can denial will be important as long as you can stack decently well.
It's not like anyone is going to design a robot to play hard defense this year... at least I hope not.

EDIT: Team 3310 (Warhawks) have a pretty effective counter to this and any other 4-can grabbers: speed. Any robot that can flip something down fast and drive backwards could screw up 1678 before their tape measures reach the cans.

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

But... THAT WAS MY TAPE MEASURE!!!!

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

973 probably knows a thing or two about what it takes to get to Einstein...

What the average team can do is nearly irrelevant in terms of this strategy. It is entirely designed around eliminations.

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

Agreed. As the number of teams/alliances in the competition decreases the value of the cans on the step increases exponentially, since you are effectively taking away possible points from the opponent. Having a method to take the cans from the middle is an exceptionally valuable asset and something that, even if the team isn't a captain, will almost assuredly get them picked.

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

You are correct. I stand corrected. My point was (if very poorly worded) that in the seeding matches, average scores of 50 or so FOR THE ALLIANCE will get teams into the playoffs.

Taking away point of your opponent is only marginally effective until the finals.

During the seeding matches I believe that taking the RCs from the step will only waste time because unless your alliance can make more than 3 stacks as they score nothing unless part of a stack.

In addition, bringing the RCs on to your side of the field adds to an already cluttered / compressed field. During the playoffs this changes ... and that (if they make it) is where 1678 will shine.

Re: Team 1678's 4 RC Autonomous
 

I wonder if tug-o-war in auto on RC's triggers a Violation on the robot that extends past wall (perhaps the other if there is contention). That might dissuade teams from doing that RC auto grab. Once a robot wins the initial tug (gaining ownership) the other robot would immediately be in violation for touching an object on other side. If it goes back the other way other robot in may be in violation also if not judged initially. Going to be very interesting to see what happens there.