Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

Agreed. The High Rollers defintely deserve a spot on the list of best robots of '06. When we had seeded first at the LV regional, we chose them as our first pick, they were definitely one of the best bots there. We then chose team 8 as our second pick to have a very formidable alliance, and went undefeated through the elimination matches. The High Rollers had an excellent robot, and were wonderful to work with. :)

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

I thought they were the best robot during Arizona. There are many instences where the best robot isnt the first seed. This is all my opinion as well. I just thought the best functioning robot by itself was High Rollers at Arizona. Im glad they won LV regional, but i think they should have had Arizona. Yet again, i thought my alliance won that controversial match, but its all good, its not about winning. Dont take my opinions in offence, its just my 2cents.

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

This is true. I mean, since your partners in the qualifying matches, you might get put with some teams whose robot maybe doesn't quite match up with yours, or whose robot may have been broken in their last match and isn't really ready to go back out onto the field. But hey, anything can happen in the qualifying matches, and losing one match can make all the difference. As long as other teams recognize your strengths, there's a good chance that you'll be picked for the eliminations.

But I agree with most of the teams people have mentioned. 987, 111, and the Triplets all had really good robots, and our team was lucky enough to be able to face them (well, one of the Triplets).

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

#1: 25
Fast, accurate, deadly. That's pretty much all that needs to be said about the most dominant bot this year. 25 dominated New Jersey, #1 seed, undefeated, champion. 25 dominated Las Vegas, #1 seed, undefeated, champion. 25 dominated Newton, #3 seed, #1 pick (Declined), Champion. 25 dominated PARC, #1 seed, Champion. 25 dominated Monty Madness, #1 pick, Champion. And Championship finalist, after losing the best match of the year, aint so bad is it?

#2: 469
Las Guerillas were amazing yet again. Fastest firing rate of just about any bots. Accurate are range, deadly up close. Ground loading, human loading, turret, defense, etc etc etc. They were #1 seed in Detroit, teamed up with 217, and emerged champions. The combination of 1114 and 1503 managed to stop them in the finals at GLR, but it was impressive none the less. They were the #2 pick in Curie, and made it to the semi-finals.

#3: 254
It is impossible to seperate robots performances from their drive crews. So, I will not lump 254 and 968 together, nor the triplets or Martians. I'm putting 254 ahead of 968 because they proved their dominance at 2 regionals, and, imho, faired slightly better through the Newton qualification matches (and were ranked higher because of it). Champions at PNW. Champions, as they always have been, at SVR. #4 alliance captain, the 2nd pick of team 176 (they, like 25, declined) on Newton, and Newton semi-finalist. Another amazing year and bot for the Poofs!

#4: 968
RAWC rocked. Period. Champion in Los Angeles. Newton Champion. Championship finalist. Wow. Who could forget the "A-Bomb"? Along with 25, and 195, they created one of the best alliances that I have ever seen in FIRST, in any of my years of involvment. Simply brilliant.

#5: 1114
3 Regional Championships in 1 year in the alliance era!?! #1 pick by 1503 at GLR, #1 seed at Waterloo, #1 seed at GTR, Champion at all 3. #1 selection in Curie by 494, and made it to the Curie finals. They could pick up from the ground well, but we even better with the human loader. Accurate on the ramp, from half court, or anywhere in between. Fast firing rate, and nearly impossible to move. The simbots were breathtaking. They are the story of 2006.

#6: 217
The Chickens ruled autonomous. 10 for 10 in the center goal almost every match, regardless of defense. Champions in Detroit, semi-finalists at GTR, and of coure, Champions of FIRST. #1 pick on Archimedes, the all GTR-Alliance managed to beat out super-powers like 233, 25, and defending champion 503 on the way to their first ever Championship.

#7: 1503
Ummm........2 teams had 3 Regional Championships this year!?! TOGETHER!?! 1503 and 1114's identical designs proved to be lethal when combined, winning Great Lakes, Waterloo, and Greater Totonto. They were the #1 seed at GLR, and 1114's (who was the #1 seed at both) first pick at the other two. Members of the amazing #2 alliance on Newton, picked by 987, they played against the 25, 968, 195 alliance as well as anyone, but drew the short end in 3 matches.

#8: 233
Pink's machine was beautiful, as always. Fast, deadly, memorable. Pink definately wasn't afraid to play defense either. The spiraling loading system worked like a charm, the turret was always on target, and they rained in point after point. #1 seed at UCF, made it to the Semi-finals. Champions in Boston. Finalists on Archimedes. They had more wins against the 296, 217, 522 alliance more than the deadly #3 Newton alliance did!

#9: 111
And the bot wasn't even their biggest success this season....Chairman's was.
They won both of their regionals. They were in the #1 Newton alliance. They were Newton finalists. They handed 25 their first loss of the season during the qualification matches on Newton. Deadly in autonomous, deadly on defense. Fast, accurate, and once they added the pnuematic brake, nearly immovable. Wildstang did it again!

#10: 987
They absolutely blew me away. An amazing robot. Accurate, quick, agile, powwerful. #2 seed and Newton semi-finalist. Who knows how far they could have gone had they not run into the brick wall of the #3 Newton alliance? Simply amazing robot.

Other 'bots of note (no particular order):
494, 70, 1680, 121, 1038, 703, 11, 71, 79, 1523, 1902, 322, 195, 296, 1126, 229, 330, 33, 1731, 343, 118, 365, 341, 177, 176, 69, 20, 1625

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

I forgot to mention team 1523. Their catapault design was awe-inspiring. It was so consistent and smooth. During the design process this year, we thought that a catapualt wouldn't be accurate enough to get balls into the goal, this robot proved us wrong!

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

My list of the best robots of 2006 (In no order because as I've said before there is really no way to determine a single best robot)

1114, 1503, 1680; Niagara FIRST not only had very good robots but they had an excellent strategy.

111; Wildstang had a powerhouse bot, they had a great Autonomous mode, couldn't even budge them.

70, 494; Great bots

217; amazing robot

280; great defensive bot

322; great corner goal robot

4; the one day wonder

71; like always an amazing robot

25; great robot and a great showing in the finals

Other great robots:
469, 503, 451, 522, 33

In my opinion 2006 has been one of the best years for robots over all, I was extremely impressed with all the robots I saw this year.

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

I just want to mention that 2006 had some of the most sucessfull ROOKIE bots I've seen. That's something to be very VERY proud of.

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

I liked 375, 75 before their roller system got crushed, 1660 we were unstopable in the corner at least scoring 25 in each match, 1155 and team 11.

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

While they were not the best team 877 after they removed their shooter they did very well as a harvester, picked up very very well had good storage and pretty good speed. Could pick up many at a time and scored them very quickly. Only problem was they tipped, removing the shooter probably shifted their balance because I do not remember them tipping over before they removed their shooter.

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

Yes, 877 was one of the best harvesters/dumpers at the Las Vegas regional. Their rollers were very unique, and they had a large holding capacity. After they got their autonomous mode working, they would score 10 for 10 in the corner goals. As Morgan said, they could expell their balls into the corner goals very rapidly and had no problems with accidental incursion.

My list for the best harvesters/dumper bots of '06 includes 322, 195, 1902, and 877.

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

These are all bots I saw up close (217, 25, 968/254 Sorry)

1)111 This was to me the best robot I saw this year. It was very quick and it scored efficently. We could not have lost to a better team at WIS.

2)1114 I watched them after 494 was knocked out aand we sat with 70 to cheer them on. They seemed like an excellent robot. It was an unbeilivible machine to see in action.

3)85 THey were top dogs at WMR if you ask me (No Offense 322). Their ability to shoot and strong auto made them very powerful.

4)1625 This was one strong robot.

5)322 Best dumper this year. Period.

6)1305 They legitimitly stopped 1114. You don't get much better than that.

7)1504 Quick, agile, strong a very good robot

8)451 These guys are just a good team. Strong ramp shooters and powerful defenders.

9)365 It's MOE they ramp camped it was scary

10)703 Massive ramp camping scary. Auto ramp camp is scarier.

Honorable mention:27, 93, 503, 272, 302, 180, 341, 1126, and 201

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

I have to agree with everyone who has mentioned 322. They were an amazing dumper bot this year. I was in the pits most of the time in Atlanta, but I went to the stands for a little bit during the qualifying matches, and was lucky enough to see them in action. I was in awe at how quickly the could pick up balls. They scored easily 30+ points per match.

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

Agreed. We'd be sitting up in our Scouting Pit watching matches and be like "Holy (@#$ how'd that alliance just get 35 points?!"

They pulled some fast ones quite a few times and are to be commended :)

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

Some robots I got to see that I especially liked:

365: A great shooter and their ball storage was very cool.

375: Great defense and, in my opinion, the best shooter at NYC.

1038: Accurate shooter, and they had a cool way of getting balls to their shooter.

108: Simple but effective shooter, with variable pitch if i remember correctly (we got to play with them on Curie this year...).

180: Great shooter, good defense and a fast robot

(and an honorable mention for 1743 and 1880, who did very well in their rookie year and had good robots)

Re: Best Robots of 2006
 

1501 had the most AMAZING looking shooter. Had an extremely organized electrical system and the shiniest body panels I've ever seen on a robot. See their robot HERE.

Our robot looked good, and shot well, (when it was working :o ) but, well, we're working on the whole little durability thing.... :yikes:

-Q