My only complaint
 

Archimedies was fun, with lots of good scorers, my team went out to prove that simplicity can be successful. My only complaint was people actually dissed our robot, or asked us if it was our cart, or they would snicker at it. We wanted something simple to be succesful. I have a lot of respect for the powerhouse teams, but its always fun to be the guy who sneaks it up to the top, we seeded 8th in Archimedes, our record was 6-1, our bot had no ramp, and we didnt score one ringer. We focused on Defense, and the ability to climb ramps. I saw a lot of class by far, but I urge people not to judge robots on their appearance. BTW big thanks to 1458 who were willing to run batteries for us in the finals, we are a six person team, and their extra help was much appreciated!

Re: My only complaint
 

This is very dissapointing, especially at at FIRST competition. Building a working robot is not an easy thing, but being able to not only to seed 3rd (and win) SVR with a 4 person team, and seed 8th on Archimedes is no small feat. Be proud of that robot, it has served you well!

Re: My only complaint
 

Your team should be nothing but proud of your bot and your season. When someone during the playoffs standing next to me made a "that's just a box on wheels" comment, I mentioned to them that 1516 is no fluke - they won the SVR (as the alliance captain) and seeded in the top 8 in the championship.

People are foolish to underestimate teams or robots just because of a "simple" appearance or design - I'll take a simple design or "box on wheels" that is well built, reliable, well coached and well driven over a more complex design or fancy looking robot that malfunctions a lot or doesn't have a solid plan on the field anyday.

Your team had a great season. When you have consistent success, obvioulsy you are doing something right. in 3 short years your team has won the rookie all-star, highest rookie seed, an offseason competition, a regional, and made the top 8 in a Championship division. Doesn't matter what the bot looks like, your team and your results speak for themselves.

Congrats on a great season and on building a great team & program!

Re: My only complaint
 

that isn't very first like and i wished we could have played agianst you becuase our team deeply respects simple machines just look at our 2005 robot for that you guys were one of the best teams out there in my eyes and i wish you guys luck for next year and if you need some recruitment help just email me or send me a private messege i will see what my team can do for you.

Re: My only complaint
 

Sometimes, the best machine comes from the simplest of concepts. Truthfully, they could be your worst nightmare. I have much respect for you guys, and not to mention how well you guys did. I am glad to have had you as an alliance. And as for what people have to say to diss you, ignore it. The worst thing I could ever see is a team getting so upset and disheartened because of a person thinking porrley of them. Don't let it get to you, otherwise, you will regret it. Enjoy the fact that you showed them up and made it to the finals. Good Job again, and thank you guys very much.
Cookie:Operator:D

Re: My only complaint
 

I hate to tell you this but your 2005 robot was NO simple machine! We loved the drivetrain setup with pneumatic wheels and would accept your CADD files anytime.......hehehe......:D

Re: My only complaint
 

i'm sorry about your experience... those people who dissed your robot have no right to call themselves FIRSTers. They should know better, and they should be ashamed of themselves. clearly they missed Woodie and Dean's speech about making your GREAT grandmother proud... -sighs- oh well. your robot performed wonderfully at its job. you made it to the championship event AND you were ranked 8th! without having a ramp or scoring ringers! you should be SO proud of yourselves! i know i would be.


ok maybe the machine itself wasnt simple (designing everything in pro-e beforehand is NOT easy.. i helped out a little my freshman year and totally didnt have the patience for that kind of perfectionism), but our idea for the design was pretty straightforward, especially the design for the hooks. it took a lot of prototypes, but the final design was simple, therefore it worked effectively. :)

remember KISS: Keep It Simple, S____! the last S is always different.. but the idea remains the same. Simplicity always works best, especially in engineering. the less moving parts you have, the less chance you have for something to go wrong, and the less you have to worry about needing to fix anything if it does go wrong, and the easier it is to fix, which is always a plus. :)

Re: My only complaint
 

I will have to say this. While team 1516 has no scoring mechanism, nor a ramp, it is still a very good robot and a great team. The team plays great defense and is able to climb any ramp you can throw at it.

I can safely say that without them on our alliance at SVR, we would not have won that regional.

Re: My only complaint
 

The people who dissed your robot did not know what they were talking about. You had a great robot and your team's record stands for itself. Your capable defense was essential to the win at SVR and all of those "better" robots did not place eighth in Archimedies, did they? I would have been proud to run batteries for you. I wish you many successful seasons in the future.

Eugene

Re: My only complaint
 

Just always remember to keep your head up, no matter what people have to say. Never let them get the better of you.

Cookie:1501 2007's Operator

Re: My only complaint
 

Whoever dissed your bot should come talk to team 114, we'll all talk about how much of a pleasure it was to lose to you guys at SVR. Remember, a simple bot may not get awards, but it sure can win regionals...

Re: My only complaint
 

Thanks everyone, In all reality it was a small minority but it did tick me off. Most FIRST teams show a tremendous amount of class, its the few that don't that stick out in our minds. I'm all for being competitive, but Gracious Professionalism should always win out. Thanks to everyone who made it fun!

Re: My only complaint
 

Look at the poofs robot and how simple it was! Yet very effective. I am sure you saw it at SVR.
Use criticism as motivation to come back bigger and better and congratulations on your successful season.

Re: My only complaint
 

That also happened to our team last year. We are a small team and were rookies last year with a wooden robot. A few mentors from another school that helped us said we had a nice prototype but it was actually the bot! We had a very simple and very effective bot with an amazing driver. At our regional and the champs other teams didn't feel that we were any good. But in our first ever match we scored so many balls that the refs couldn't count them!:ahh: But at the champs we were disqualified twice (where our alliance won) which put us way down in the standings and no team considered us (we should have been 6th seed with a 6-1-0 as a rookie at champs).
This thread has a pic of our bot.

But anyway, sorry to hear about what happened. Some people really overlook simple and effective machines. But I feel it would be better to have a simple and effective bot with a good driver than a complicated bot that can't be controlled any day!

Good luck to your team in future seasons.

Re: My only complaint
 

The pic isn't working for the '06 in that thread.

Any other pics available? It sounds very interesting. A wooden robot earning 8th seed isn't something that happens everyday (not insulting).