Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

I don't think 254 needs to pray to anyone. I think everyone else better pray that they don't have to face this machine in the qualifying rounds. This machine is an absolute BEAST. Blink... and you are TOAST!!

Good luck Team 254!

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

Considering how they've won SVR almost every year, I think every local team already knows what to expect out of 254. I'll certainly be looking forward to seeing the qualification match schedule once it gets released to check whether or not we're with or against them in a match, the match algorithm has been kind enough to us the last two years that we completely avoided them.

And 971 is indeed a team to watch for this year, anyone who came to the Bay Area scrimmage should be well aware of this by now, 971 should put up a strong showing this week if they can get rid of the few kinks their robot had when I saw them.

All this buzz makes me all the more excited for tomorrow morning, can't wait!

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

Yeah, this is a solid post. i would also look at 2415. they have a similar design with 1771 which is interesting. its the 2nd year haha.

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

Team 766 is honored to be mentioned as a potentially strong robot at Silicon Valley. We hope to be able to live up to those expectations, and look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

Sometimes I wonder... am I the only one who hopes that Looking Forward DOESN'T mention their team? ;)

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

This year, under the radar seems to be the way to go.

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

Keep a look out for Rookie team 2757 at Florida........they might surpise you

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

I'm looking for 1771 + Flash or + Burning Magnetos to take home the Peachtree regional. 1771 has another outstanding robot this year that'll surprise a lot of people.

Good luck 1771 and 1323 at your regionals. We'll be pullin for you guys.:cool:

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

I diffinatly think that 1319 flash will be a big player at Peachtree. They already proved themselves during week one.

It is an honor to be mentioned by LF. We will try to live up to your prediction. I have been training my replacement driver, so I how her skills are up to par tomorrow.:cool:

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

I was hoping :(

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

:(
No Israeli prediction...

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

Don,
I think that is precisely it. Looking forward is everywhere. If i had to guess, Looking Forward is more of a networked entity than any one person. Looking forward is the conversation you have with your friend from team ###. Looking Forward is the advice you ask of team XYZ when you want to do a drivetrain similar to theirs. Looking Forward is your Post on CD asking for some help with some code. I personally think of Looking Forward as a cross between the CIA, NSA, and a public watch group. Please keep doign what you are doing. This is quite fun and informative.
****************************************
One thing I would like to note is this year is a little crazier than in years past. LF seems to have a key fix on the robots, but Payload Specialists are such a critical component of this game. For the record, the average specialist at Kettering scored about 40% of their shots. This equates to 5 moon rocks or 10 points, or 30 points of an alliances score ON AVERAGE. Go back and check the scores and you will see this was a major factor. Some of the best at Kettering were shooting 70% or at least 9/13. This is 18 points of moon rocks, and these guys/gals would frequently score a Super Cell. If they averaged 1 Super every 3 matches, this makes that Payload Specialist worth about 23 points on average. Get 2 of those on your team and an Average person and you have a 56 point alliance of Payload Specialists.

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

just because you don't post pictures LF and his/her associates don't know whats going on. Also if a picture is worth 1000 words, I say a video is worth 1000000. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAqhuE6KqIk

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

Thankfully this post was somewhat less negative than some of the other predictions I've read from LF this year, and it is interesting to read about some of the matchups that are going to be happening this year.. I just have one request to LF for the future:
Please remember that everything you say is open to be read by anyone, and have some GP in your posts. Basically, I'm just saying that it would be better if you didn't predict a team to lose in the quarters/semis, or call a regional weak or full of "middle class" teams, or any of the other negative things I've read in your 3 predictions this year. Try to remember that this program is about high school students. Many teams are purely student designed, so for you to call them weak, middle class, etc. can crush a budding designer without you even knowing it.
The predictions are fine, interesting actually, just leave out the negativity.

my $0.02...

Re: Predictions Week 3: One Small Step for [a] Lunacy
 

Quoting Rich Kressly, 2008 Washington DC Regional Woodie Flowers Finalist Award winner (and all-around decent human being):

I'm sorry, but there's being gracious and there's being delusional. Not every team can win the regional. That's not even a numbers game, that's just the reality of an event where there will always be teams who build uncompetitive robots, teams who build better-than-average robots, and teams that build robots that define dominance.

Bear in mind, though, that there's a reason they play the game--the predictions of Looking Forward and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee.

Is it? Funny, I thought it was about changing the culture. (That said, if you can back that argument up with some literature from FIRST itself, I'll gladly eat my words.)

...which is their own self-imposed handicap. Recall Dave Lavery's comments at Kickoff this year and from 2008. In this age of AIM, email, Twitter, and box.net, there's no reason a team can't get in touch with an engineering mentor, even if that mentor is three states away.

It's not always the designer that determines the effectiveness of a team. Look at 254 and 968, who have built identical robots from 2006 onward. Which one made Einstein twice in that time span? What makes them different? Luck will factor in, granted, but so will driving, the effectiveness of the pit crew, and the human player factor. It takes a whole team to win.

I'm not Looking Forward, but I'll defend Looking Forward's right to post its analysis.