Most in-demand robot type?
 

Which robot type do you think will be the most-demanded come time for Championships? OR in other words, which would be the highest on your pick list?

RC Step grabber/capper, RC capper only, landfill-loading stacker, human player-loading stacker, RC Capper and stacker, or all-around?

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

I voted for landfill stacker though I would want them to have the ability to also grab RCs off the step in auto.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

I think this set of robot roles is a little too restrictive.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

Being that most robots are HUGE compared to previous years, consumed field area also makes a major factor. In MAR, 223's robot reaches out 9' ( from the front, then another 42" to the rear. Three of the same style robots on the field may simply not work. I think that 3 different style robots may simply be a field requirement.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

I agree that the "style" of robot will be a major consideration for many alliance selections; a good alliance must complement each other. An alliance of three robots that each do well at every part of this game would be smoked by three specialists that do different things extremely well. An optimum trio would be something like:

• A "chuter" that does a tote stack in auto and scores five stacks of six totes from the cute on the front scoring platform in teleop.
• An RC specialist - pulls two off the step and into the auto zone. In teleop, gets seven RCs littered at the HP station, and scored atop stacks of 6 totes.
• A landfill miner with RC grabber. It just gets two RCs off the step into the auto zone in autonomous. In teleop, it moves the stack of yellow totes to the step then efficiently moves totes from the landfill and step to the back scoring platform.

And, of course, if one of these teams had an HP who could get the three remaining pieces of litter across the field, that would be another 12 point bonus.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

Noted. If I ever do another one of these at some point after this week's competition, I'll expand the set. Until then, if you could put the type of robot that would be highest on your pick list in the comments, that would be awesome.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

1114.
There will be no other robot like it and everybody wants it on their alliance.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

Haha, I think that may be considered all-around. Just way better than most other all-arounds.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

It really doesn't matter whether your alliance composition is optimal or not if you can grab the cans off the step before the other alliance so long as your alliance can make 4 or 5 stacks to win. What a broken game mechanic.

And on the topic of "all around" vs "specialists" - by CMP, the best "all arounds" will be able to make 3 stacks by themselves, they can then pick another team like them. What happens if your dedicated can robot has trouble in a match? Your tote robot? Minor point, but at least the well rounded alliance has insurance.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

Here's what I think about Worlds alliances:

1) One robot doing 3 tote auto stack (plus 3 bin set if they can do it) with the other two robots racing to pull two cans each during auto

2) All three robots can collect and stack totes effectively, with at least one being a landfill specialist and at least one being a human loading specialist

3) Either all of the robots are capable of capping their own stacks, or one of the stacking robots is capable of quickly picking up bins and capping one other teams' stacks.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

The answer will vary by the robot you have. Obviously you pick what you yourself cannot do yet or a well as another partner.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

This.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

Yep. I made this poll to gauge where some teams were strong, and what other teams could do to maximize their chances of working well with a majority of other teams and being selected eventually.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

I suppose I could also see this as a viable alternate Worlds alliance strategy:

One robot races for two green cans, and the other two robots race for one can each, then all three robots make capped stacks.

The alliance leaves the yellow totes behind the alliance wall, opening up a bit of field room while forfeiting those 20 points in favor of winning or tying the green can race more reliably.

Edit: To answer the original question, I think the most in demand robot will be a landfill stacker that also grabs two recycle cans in auto. Essentially I agree with exactly what Eric said above.

Re: Most in-demand robot type?
 

That definitely seems like a viable strategy. We may have to change our bot to pick up from the landfill... Right now, we can only pick up well from the human player, and cap if necessary.