Rookie Design
 

Which rookie had the best robot in terms of design and performance?

I say team 1732. They had an amazing shooter and an archimedes screw hopper that had a center piece that had zip ties on it spin and move the balls to the top. They collected off the ground and could score about 30 points a match.

Re: Rookie Design
 

It's not really an archimedes spiral, but we know what you mean.

In an archimedes spiral, the spiral itself rotates not the cylinder in the middle.

A bunch of teams used that. 233, 1058, to name a few.

Is it me or are the rookie teams getting better and better each year?

Re: Rookie Design
 

having the CD forum for research sure helped our team!

Re: Rookie Design
 

I really like 1759! They can only dump in the low goals but i would say they averaged 25+ pointers per match! Thier design was simple... It was a small square bot that had a 'Quikrete' (yes, the concrete company) roller that picked up the balls and also 'shot' them. They were also very well at defense! because of thier size they were able to get on the ramp and defend against the bots that needed to be under the goal to shoot accuratly! Two Thumbs UP Guys and Gals!

Re: Rookie Design
 

The rookie teams are definitely getting better each year. A rookie team made an awesome showing the NYC regional. 1880 won three or four awards. I think this is in a large part due to two things:

a) Chiefdelphi! Rookies often come here asking for help and look at old designs. The information that is on here is constnatly growing and thus it has become more and more useful to both rookies and veterans alike.

b) The main reason is however linked to the growth of two things. A better kit makes it much easier for new teams to hop in. The second is the growth of FIRST robotics products. Items like very nice custom wheels, two speed shifting gearboxes and lightweight sprockets are all easily available now. Many teams worked through years of generations to create really nice omni-wheels. Now any team can just buy one that is probably nicer than most team's produced.

The growth of easy to use and buy drivetrain parts is probaly good, but it is creating a big divide in rookie teams. I see some rookie teams with their sets of shiny $330 andymark gearboxes and 6 $40 IFI wheels and I see others who cobbeled together parts from the kit chassis and what they could scrounge from their lab to make their robot. FIRST isn't fair, but teams with money seem to be gaining a nice advantage from this. I know my team is strongly considering next year just "buying" our drivetrain because this year showed that it is pretty close to impossible to create your own superior drivetrain and its definitely not worth the headache during the 6 short weeks.

Thats it for my rant.

Re: Rookie Design
 

Team 1834 was right by our side in finals in Silicon Valley regional. Very good, legal-limit sized boxbot that was best at offensive because once it was in front of you it didn't move for anything. They also had a very effective corner goal shooter that helped put points on to the final tally. A good example of how rookie teams that build very basic yet effective robots end up doing very well. They also won the Rookie Engineering Inspiration Award. Great team, can't wait till next year.

Re: Rookie Design
 

Re: Rookie Design
 

Definately true... helped us a lot, along with AMAZING mentors Rich Kressly and Mike Williams who both new a lot about previous years robots and what did and didn't work. With that helped us build a robot that got us highest rookie seed in Philly and we were the First alternate robot for finals after finishing with a rank of 17th...not bad for the rookies, eh?

Re: Rookie Design
 

I would say 1876 did very well in palmetto. they were in the finals but were out in the semis I beleive. they had a double barrel shooter and a turret that looked like it could go 360 degrees. it was very impressive