Re: STATISTICALLY WINNING STRATEGY
 

Yeah, I gotta see that!

Re: STATISTICALLY WINNING STRATEGY
 

This happened to us at GSR. Team 40 blocked us from returning to our home zone (excellent job, too). Rampbots have to watch the clock and ensure they have an 'escape route' back to the home zone.

Timing is everything for the rampbots. We found it took us about 5-7 seconds to clear a section for the ramp. We made a point to clear each and everytime we went back to the home zone (after our 1st match where we deployed on a tube and Buzz had to clear it for us. That cost us the second robot up).

I'm surprised that more teams dont do that, especially against the forward (field facing) ramps, since you could defend and still stay outside the homezone. Our ramp faces sidewards which helps keep the defenders away but also requires teams to turn and line up before ramping.

I'd be very interested in seeing this video as well. This sounds like an awsome match.

Re: Statistically Winning Strategy
 

After what I saw in NJ, I agree completely with Wayne. The biggest problems with ramps there were: 1) they deployed accidentally on the playing field or, while positioning themselves, moved outside of their end zone and drew penalties, and 2) they were too hard to climb. More often than not, the climbing robot ended up falling off the side of the ramp or just couldn't get up it. The most effective ones either lifted their partner or had very solid, long and broad ramps.

A rather effective defense against a ramp, that I saw used against 522, was to wait for them to deploy and then push them over to the side rail so their ramp was against it, preventing any access.

That said, unless they're playing against an alliance of good scoring machines, a good ramp with savvy alliance partners should win the majority of their matches and earn better than average QPs.

Re: Statistically Winning Strategy
 

I complete agree with the need for ramps for a winning alliance. At PNW a ramp, or winged robot was a nessity to secure a win. There were many matches where neither sides had a lifting bot and in this case scoring became important. I was one match in which two bots on the same side were lifted for 60 point, and in the final second an opposing bot completed a row of 7 for 128 points. Getting up to early and leving the rack open is killer, but not getting up is also a problem

-Dave McLaughlin 1983, Driver

Re: Statistically Winning Strategy
 

This link will lead you to a slightly different ramp than you have probably seen anywhere else. Other than having to climb a 22-23 degree ramp (less than last years 30 degree ramp), most of the defensive strategies used against ramps can be overcome. Take A Look! Unless you can push a wedge, this one should stay in place and how could you defend #### of ramps?


http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=55336

Re: Statistically Winning Strategy
 

Remember that a ramp is only good if the alliance partners can get on it. At VCU I saw a lot of fancy wheels that had great difficulty with ramps! As this plays out will we see teams switching back to the more traditional style wheels?

Re: Statistically Winning Strategy
 

depending only on ramps is not a very reliable sorce. at the st. louis regional. there was only a small portion of robots that were actually able to ramp out of the amount that tried to. and if you leave 2 ok tube scoring robots from the opposing alliance open with 30-45 seconds left. they can put up 3-5 tubes which can be very deadly.