Interaction with other robots
 

How are you guys creating a strategy that incorporates interaction with other robots? In other words, how can you plan what you want to do if you dont know what other robots in your alliance are going to do?

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

You can plan one around you asking them to do something, and expecting them to do it...

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

but what if your alliance member can't do what you want them to do?
...it is random selections

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

then you have multiple strategies to deal with every type of robot that you think there can be, that is something part of your team should do like a threat team, have people do nothing but look at your robot and strategy and how to take it apart and how other robots ur with can hurt you also.

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

For this game, we are planning our robot design as if we are going to be the only robot out there. For the robot that develops from that, we will develop strategies to work with different robots with different ability levels.

You assume that there will be another robot that can cap. Plan what you will do if you have three that can cap. Two that can cap, one that can cap. There are a lot of different combinations and you can't plan for all of them, but you can generalize ahead of time.

I believe that I read this year they will give you a match listing for the day. This list will show what matches you are in and with who. Once you get that, you can go and talk to your alliance partners to figure out what you are going to do. Or, just wait for the 5 minutes while you are in the que to talk about it. Either way, do your homework and plan for the generalized robot combinations.

Wetzel

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

It's every bot for himself out there. If you guys want to join the show, then come along for the ride. Otherwise, get out of our way (or we'll push you out). The only consideration we're giving to our alliance partners through design is to be able to disable or redeploy our autonomous through use of switches in case our program interferes with theirs.
Good Luck, and we'll see you at the competition.

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

That's why it's best to have a simple but flexible robot so you are prepared for what you and your alliance partners of capable of to give yourself the best chance to win. It's hard to win if the robots can only do one thing and that thing is the one thing that isn't going to lead you to victory.

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

Well, with that attitude, you don't stand much chance of competing seriously. If you don't learn to work with your alliance partners, you're not winning any tough matches---this is a game of teamwork, cooperation, and strategy---cocky teams who think that they can do everything themselves while their partners sit in the endzone and wait for the 10 point bonus at the match's end are going to have another thing coming to them...

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

If you have a robot that can do 3 things very well, then most likely your alliance members can support what your robot can't do. :]

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

I was rather disappointed last year to realize that many teams (sometimes it seemed like the majority of teams) seemed to ignore any plans you would make before the match and it was very rare to find a coach you could actually work with in the middle of the match. I saw this across the board of experienced and inexperienced teams and the effect definitley was horrible.

Of course, this is understandable. Teams spend months preparing for a just a few matches of competition and it is kind of hard to change your strategies and possibly lose because of what someone else is saying.

I don't see any reason for the situation to improve this year, but there is definitley reason for it to get worse. With 3 robots, getting 3 drive teams together before matches and talking will be more challenging and with the chaos of a 3 alliance game, you can pretty much forget about in game team work.

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

I don't think you can really plan what you're going to do, sure you can have basic strategy, but it'll have to change somewhat each match depending on your two alliance partners and the opposing alliance.

Usually we meet with our alliance right after the previous match (i.e. we meet with our Match 2 Alliance right after our first match), talk strategy with them, etc. then go prepare our robots and finalize strategy in queue.

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

I think you're taking my post a bit too seriously.
FIRST is supposed to be about a little bit of fun too, you know?
The Dukes lead when it comes to strategizing to get the most out of an alliance.
We're building our robot to score maximum points. I don't think an alliance partner is going to hinder us from acheiving that but they can certainly help us to get more!

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

Max Lobovsky said: I have brought up this question to my team members and they say we have about 24 hours before the match to talk to your alliance members.

Re: Interaction with other robots
 

For last year's competition, we built a strategy tree. One that incorporated every possible scenario. It was HUGE. Then, we could take our robot's design into consideration with our alliance partner's skills. Then we could MUTUALLY figure out a strategy. This worked best and made both teams happy. Unfortunately, this year's strategy tree would be ENORMOUS and almost impossible to make. Therefore, maybe some new ideas are in store...