Re: GLR Update 2004
 

Correction for alliance 2...we were
66
279
322

Re: GLR Update 2004
 

Team 85 is Built on Brains. We were defeated in the Quarter finals by an alliance including our neighbors Team 141 the Wobots. Sorry, I don't have more details. Some very good work by all teams.

Re: GLR Update 2004
 

Alliance 1: 111, 27, 461
Alliance 2: 66, 279, 322 (Congrats!)
Alliance 3: 292, 302, 141
Alliance 4: 1241, 451, 830
Alliance 5: 280, 494,503
Alliance 6: 85, 67, 1188
Alliance 7: 45, 1250, 57
Alliance 8: 894, 240, 1023

Beating the Basket-bot
 

The Canadian team 1241's "Basket-bot" started out as an amazing piece of work. All it did was station itself under the overhead bin and open up the top to capture all the falling balls, then drive over and open the side to release them into the ball chute. A small arm could move the multiplier balls to cap the large goal. It was consistent. It was elegant.

It was vulnerable.

It took other teams a day or so to decide on a good strategy to counter it. Blocking the ball chutes was very effective against a robot lacking the ability to pull them away. But I think one of the best plays of the competition was when an opposing team capped 1241's robot before the balls dropped. Everyone near me seemed to respond with a mixture of admiration and sympathy.

I guess the lesson is that doing one thing, and doing it well, isn't going to work forever.

Re: Beating the Basket-bot
 

Is that against the rules? I don't remember hearing anything about capping robots, but I could be wrong... :)

Re: Beating the Basket-bot
 

Nope. Not against any rule. You show me the rule that says you're not allowed to cap robots. ;)
The team even came up to Ron Webb (head ref) on Friday and he told them that they could. [Thus I was probably 1 out of the dozen people who weren't surprised when it happened].

Re: Beating the Basket-bot
 

I guess I'd just like to make a few things clear. While there's a couple of posts that are running around here talking about some disheartening things that occured at the Great Lakes Regional, I'd like to make a few other much more important comments.

The main comment is that this was a FANTASTIC event!! I can't emphasize enough that this was one of the fiercest regional events that I've ever attended, but nevertheless, the people were really friendly and helpful when needed. The annoucing and play-by-play calling by Dave and Paul brought a ton of energy and fun into the competition.

The quality of the teams was simply immense. Tons of teams with Woodie Flowers Award winners were present. Many previous national champions were present and performing as their reputation would imply. I was VERY impressed.

If you're at all interested in bringing your team to the "next level" of competition, I'd strongly suggest you come and play at the Great Lakes regional... as has been discussed before, its competitive reputation is among the best in the country, and for good reason. It was really a pleasure to play among so many competitive, helpful, and fun teams!

Thank you!

Matt

Re: Beating the Basket-bot
 

Hey all,

There is only one word to describe how great our first ever regional at ypsilanti was... AMAZING! Our whole rookie team owe our enjoyment and success to all other teams who participated at GLR... All our alliances helped us a lot and all our opposing alliances made us think.

I believe it was team HOT who capped our own robot with the mutliplier ball and that move left us stunned... we never saw that coming and I'd just like to say that it was an amazing move. good job HOT

I'd also like to congratulate the winners of GLR team 66, 279 and 322... you guys were great. I feel proud to know some of the members from those teams.

once again I'd like to thank all the teams at GLR which made our first regional in our rookie year great... our team had and will continue having a wonderful time in the upcoming regionals and championship!

Re: Beating the Basket-bot
 

1241 Capped this is only them driving around with the capped robot. I didnt have my camera rolling when it actually happened.

Re: GLR Update 2004
 

I'm not sure, but I'm checking with one of our kids to see if we have the footage from that match.

Re: GLR Update 2004
 

it was a good move on the part of the other team, but i can't say that i was all to surprised when it happened, it was something that just looked like it was waiting to happen.

Re: Beating the Basket-bot
 

yes thats our robot when it got capped...looks a lot different from your angle...more detail haha. But yea that was a splendid move by team HOT. Our driver tried to bounce the multiplier ball out of the net but unfortunately it was held down by the 5 point balls. Team TNT also blocked our ball chutes with the mobile goals making it impossible for our robot to score in any way. Good job team HOT and TNT.

From where I was sitting...
 

I was a judge at the Great Lakes Regional. My team was not at the competition. In short, I had nothing at stake other than I wanted (and was literally praying for) an exciting competition.

I am telling you right now, I have NEVER been to a more exciting FIRST Elimination tournament. Every round of the tournament was VERY exciting.

It was wonderful.

FIRST has got a winner in this game -- now let's get the media to see it. After many years of wandering in the desert, we finally have a product that will sell itself once they see it.

Bring on the Media, we are ready to start converting the culture wholesale!

Joe J.

Re: From where I was sitting...
 

I was in shock when our robot got capped. for real though. i thought they were gonna cap our thing again... so we cant get any points. but when they capped our bot.. i was in AWE! it was a nice move though

my time at GLR was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo FUN. i loved it so much. i seriously did.. it was amazing

Re: GLR Update 2004
 

Dr. Joe,

I couldn't agree with you more! This game is awesome and easy to explain: Lot of little balls in the goals are good, big yellow ball on top is better, and hanging is great!

I must say that the competiveness of the regional was not like the Great Lakes Regional in the past. I am not in anyway trying to take away from 66, 322, or 279 great victory. But, GLR is normally just an extremely difficult, hard regional with 60+ great teams, past national title winners, chairman award winners and etc. Unfortunately, GLR was the first regional in the Great Lakes Region and lots of teams were still tweaking their bots. As I stated before the season, the Midwest Regional will be the most competitive in the nation. Nonetheless, GLR was still an awesome experience and the competiveness was really high - just not as high as I usually expect. Congrats to 322, 66, and 279 on a great win. Also, 1241 is THE best rookie robot that FIRST has EVER seen in my opinion.... heck they won 3 awards in just one regional! So, congrats to the new Canadian team!

I am looking forward to seeing the competiveness at the Midwest Regional and of course the Beatty factor. Good luck to all this season from Team 302!