Stack Attack Myths at National Elims
 

Myth #1: The alliance who knocks the bins over first wins.
That may have been true in many regional matches but once you get to the Elims in Houston it won't matter much. It's too easy for good robots to push bins back across the field or descore on your opponent's side.

Myth #2: The best robots to pick are the ones with the best autonomous mode operation.
This is a consequence of Myth #1. Having a good autonomous mode helps but, with only one real match to play in elims, the teams that advance will be the ones that make sure they don't get damaged, hung up or flipped over. You can't win the match on your back. That happens alot during autonomous mode for some robots. Also expect human players to be much more adept at interfering with autonomous mode operation.

Myth #3a: Teams that did well at Regionals will do well at Nationals.
Myth #3b: Teams that did poorly at Regionals will do poorly at Nationals.
Don't believe it. We all know of some teams out there that have not placed as highly as they should have. All you have to do is look back at previous competitions to know that there is a different level of play at Nationals than many Regionals. Many teams that advanced at Regional competitions will not make it past the first elimination rounds. Pick your partners based on what you see they can do, not what they have done.


James
Engineer/Coach
Team 180 SPAM

Myth #4: King of Hill Wins It

Not really. Many times people have won if there were one bot plus two from the other alliance because of bins.

But gee, dosn't all these kinda knock down our teams robot.

i agree and disagree with you at the same time....now it is true that some teams have the ability to move boxes back in to their zone or "clear the field" it is not the majority, and there will still be quite a few box bots which will not discount the importance of getting to the ramp first.



I understand where you are coming from but autonomous mode can do more things other then go over the ramp. thinks like knock boxes and go reverse into traversing arm bots....even though I do agree that alot more bots will be on their backs


this all depends on how much time teams put in in the pits. I have seen that teams that go to nationals use regionals to get their bots in shape now most bots will far greater then they were at the regional level which will make the game more exciting but also will change the way the game is played so I agree that scouting should use data from nationals but at the same time look at what teams did at regionals for full functionality at nationals.

MYTH 5: stacking won't mean anything as far as the outcome of the game: at the national level where most bots are going to be as functional as they ever were and as there are a large number of pusher/ KOTH bots the difference in points will be the stack....basicly don't discount stackin yet




I can;t wait to see you all there and good luck to all teams

Yah i totaly agree with Myth 5. Most of the regionals people were just worrying about getting their bot working and getting qualified for nationals... I mean lets look at this, alot of teams have never used their functions other then their KOH and pushing power. Did technokats even use their suction cups yet?
How many teams have stackers and did one of the "Yah we used it once at *insert regional name* but we didn't think it was a viable option, wooo go autonomous mode that kills the wall" But now just about every robot can kill the wall in autonomous in some form or another....and ever robot can obviously knock over stacks, but not many can still build them efectively and efficently, those teams that have been doing it at all their regionals consistently i feel will finaly stand out at nationals and get some recognition.
<EDIT> I forgot under the bar. TRaveling under the bar though sometimes dificult after the zones have been clean can be very useful!</edit>
Atleast thats my hope and my opinion...
As i see it the best aliance for the finals is 2 KOH robots and 1 robot that can stack and has the ability to get under another robot on the ramp and that can play defense or offense when the situation dictates.

But we'll see... only time will tell!

Gee, that description sounds familiar. Especially the part about getting under another robot on the ramp. (Ask Kingman)

Now if we could only get our drivers to USE our stacker....

461 wouldn't happen to be in Newton by any chance? If so we should talk.

I disagree with Myth #5. I think that in the elims, a stacker may be a crucial part of an alliance, but not because of their stacking capabilities. I predict we will see maybe one match where a robot-built stack swings the tide of the match, but on the whole, stackers will be much more useful because of other elements of their robot.

Nope sorry were on Galileo :)

I really do feel that that is the best strategy i mean honestly, who would build a robot that they didn't think was going to win? What is the point? I mean yes i have seen flaws in our origional strategy but i have also found things that we had never planned on, like our ability to get underneath another robot.

Galileo Rules!


Myth 1 is absolutely correct with one exception. During the finals of midwest, our autonomous mode went off and hit the wall on the far side of the ramp and 292 was a little slow compared to the Huskies and most of the bins ended up on their side. BBS lost their radio signal and was out. so us and 292 toppled their stacks and sent a few bins over. 292 went for the ramp and the Huskies locked down with their suction cups. If they would have been able to hold of 292 and a little push from us they would have won.

If a team can knock down the totes first and then the KOH play ramp mediator, the match is basically over.

:D
I can't wait to see how this competition actually plays out.
The best part is, it should be possible to watch all 4 fields at once from the stands!

Yeah, if you've got a good pair of binoculars...

So soon...can't wait
 

Welllll, I don't know about all of the other teams out there, but we are leaving in just a few more hours. I can't wait to see all of the matches...I think all of these myths hold a good deal of truth, and I think that it will be interesting to see how everyone does considering that almost all of the aut. programs are to go and knock the bins down. I don' tknow about you all, but I would like to see something different--I think that would gain notice from a lot of teams.