Re: Predictions for Championship
 

Ok I forgot something but over all I hate to say but I have seen some of the best drivers loose due to bad luck. Yes skill is a big part but it has to come down to how well lady luck is feeling that day.

Re: Predictions for Championship
 

I think 233 will wind up taking it. I saw them in NY, and they were amazing. Everything seemed to run perfectly. They seemed to do good with any robot they were paired up with. If 522 and 233 align again, it'll be a tough alliance to beat.

Re: Predictions for Championship
 

I think driver skill is also a huga aspect, at the NJ regional our drivers tried the same idea time and time again (trying to hang using the hook and winch idea), but after we decided to take a different course of action (take out the winch) we went on the win 2 out of 3 of the rest of the rounds that day, both by 100 or more points.

As for luck, i think autonomous is the biggest example of luck, especially with dead reckoning, the things that occur during those first few seconds could make of break the whole round.

Re: Predictions for Championship
 

Durability and reliability of the robots should be considered above many of the other factors mentioned here. Remember a National Champion can easily compete in 12-18 matches without pitting this year in the elimination round. A robot that can due everything but is not easy to quickly maintain might not be the best partner.
My $0.02.

Re: Predictions for Championship
 

Hanging in autonomous mode - it is humorous to see how rumors and tall tales get started. We have not shown all our autonomy cards yet, but hanging is not one that we have seriously considered.

Re: Predictions for Championship
 

You do not need a good ball robot to win. If you have two strong robot that one stops the ball robot and two stop the other robot from hanging.


To delay a ball robot can win the match becuase the last 20 seconds of a match is not enough time to score more than a 100 points but is enough time to get any good hanger to hang.


I have seen a good strong robot win over a good ball and a good hanging robot. look at team 386 they will stop you in your tracks. if you can't do what you want to do becuase you are fighting a robot then you will have to depend on your partner to win.. I like those odds. one on one.

Re: Predictions for Championship
 

I agree, my vote is for team 233 for the same reasons. They are very well prepared for nats and should put up a good fight against any opponent though winning won't come easy; the competition is fierce at nats and anything can happen.

Re: Predictions for Championship
 

We can consistantly catch more than half the ball drop, and I know we aren't the only team with a net.

This happened to us once in Philly (there is a picture in the photo gallery). But we can pick up small balls from the floor, one of our engineers claims that if we were to pick up enough, our convery system is strong enough to pop a 2x ball out of our basket.

Just because you're a ball bot, doesn't mean you have a weak drive train. We have a 2-speed shift on the fly drivetrain, so we can choose between speed and power. In the 16 matches we played at Philly, I believe we were only pushed out from under the ball drop once. We also managed to push 272 (the #1 seed) around and keep them from hanging when we faced them in the semi-finals.

Re: Predictions for Championship
 

there are tons and tons of good teams this year....of what ive seen from the 3 regionals ive went to 5, 16, 25, 222, 1405, 303, 237, 56, 716, 449, 1405, 122, 281 and many many others...its really gonna be a really competitive competion....good luck to everyone

Re: Predictions for Championship
 

I would like to know more about your scouting system. I've always wondered what Palm scouting is like :)