Re: FIRST records
 

I just wanted to throw it out there that it is a fact that 1114's robot was a simple robot (if you look at how it was built) and their drivers had a lot of practice time with it. Their drivers knew exactly how to drive that great robot perhaps making them a threat at each event they have attended in 2008.

... also someone pointed out earlier that they were dominant through the times when defense was played against them. I remember very well when I was standing right by the field and 330 went against 1114. 330 took 1114's trackball and kept it in a corner by the human player station and also trapped it in their robot with their mechanism. 1114's driver didn't hesitate to come around to suck that ball out of 330's mechanism. Now that's what I called a robot and a drive team that is unstoppable.

Re: FIRST records
 

I think 1114 in 2008 was one of the few teams that could play well through defense. There were several times teams crumbled when their trackballs would be pinned or they'd encounter heavy traffic. 1114 could play through that. The other intangible they had was their confidence. They knew what they were capable of. For example, how often does a team go into an elimination match down 3v2 at the championships and win?

Re: FIRST records
 

503 changed their design to what Simbotics was doing at GLR that season, their intial robot didn't really look like 1114.

As for how dominant 1114 was that season, they were one of the only teams that could run a lap in auto, remove both balls and then score 4-6 balls a match. As strong as I think 254, 233, 330, 67 and 16 were, none of them could do this consistently. Also 1114 beat the following teams on their way to winning the championship: 121, 176, 330, 195, 40, 1717, 254, 968, 233, 60, 67, and 16. Just think about how many good teams that is.

Re: FIRST records
 

If you asked the teams you name if they thought they had a better robot than 1114, I think they'd probably tell you no.

There is no question in my mind that they had the best robot, strategy, and drive team.

Re: FIRST records
 

Ours when it was all working and driving smooth was getting there IMIO, but 1114 was so much simpler and more elegant, which led to robustness and overall smoothness. Meaning they could consistently dominate rather than just mostly dominate

i believe they had the better bot

Re: FIRST records
 

My guess is that 1114 would probably say they weren't the best. I don't really know 1114, but most teams would deny any such proposal.

Re: FIRST records
 

Aren I agree that 1114's design was wonderfully simple and elegent, not to mention geometrically clever. But as far as hitting upon a winning concept and approach to the game, your 2008 bot was identicle in principle. Fast, reliable ball aquisition via inward-spinning rollers, lift the ball efficiently to a launch position, reliable launcher, fast and manuverable drivetrain, re-capture the same ball after each hurdle, play aggressively. Even a similar added-on knock-down flapper. And somehow fitting it all into the starting envelope. They may have had the resources to build a more polished machine, but as far as a clever and winning approach, your 2008 bot was almost an exact match. I think they might have done even better with your excellent swerve drive. Your ability to play the whole match in the same orientation was really effective. Did you ever face them? Who learned more from the other?

Re: FIRST records
 

We faced them 5 times between midwest and IRI, and boy was it nervewracking seeing them over there

Re: FIRST records
 

A lot of the best at X item will point to someone else as the best. Part of being the best is knowing that somebody out there is better.

And I think that 330 shouldn't be listed next to 1114 in 2008--1114 was simply much better.

Why debate whether one robot is better than another in a given season, even after it ends? 2008 is long over; 2009 is gone; we're approaching the 2010 season and a new "best robot", if such a thing is even possible. You've spent about 15-20 posts debating whether 1114 in 2008 was the best robot in that year. Shouldn't you be debating who's the best RCA contender in CT/your choice of regional instead? How about going out and inspiring a few younger students (aka recruiting)?

To get back on topic (and answer Chris's question from before this big discussion), 236 holds 7 RCAs (GSR, 3x New England, 3x CT), going back to the first year of the RCA. I don't think anyone else has gotten that many.

2056 was 5-for-5 on regional wins going into the 2009 Toronto regional--that's every regional they'd entered, they'd won. They are now 5-for-6 on regional wins.

Re: FIRST records
 

This is incorrect. Team 2056 is 6 for 6 in regional competitions, winning the Waterloo and Greater Toronto Regionals in 2007, 2008 and 2009. On top of this, all 6 regionals were won with the same drive team. I've had the pleasure of watching all 6 of these victories in person and I can say with confidence that this is one of the most remarkable streaks in FIRST.

Re: FIRST records
 

For RCAs I believe the second to that record is 842 iirc.

Do 1114 and 2056 have the record for most events won together?

Re: FIRST records
 

I guess somebody needs to tell FIRST that they've got the team info page wrong, then. The team page (where I got my initial information) shows that they only won quality; the event page shows the win. 6 for 6 it is.

That makes it a tough streak to beat: every regional event they've been in, they've won.

The 2056/1114 combination is really tough to beat. 5 straight wins together, and if I recall correctly, each others' first pick every time. The streak-breaker was 1114 not being at Waterloo 2009, so they're still 5 for 5 when they're at the same event. Best way to break that: Seed first and pick the lower-ranked one, or a better team. Odds of doing so: pretty bad so far.

Also note that there are very few teams to pull off the FRC Triple Play award combination (RCA, WFFA, and Regional Champion at the same event). 1114 did it at the 2008 Waterloo Regional; I think that 217 did something similar back around 2005, but can't remember whether or not it was at one event.

Re: FIRST records
 

If you start counting IRI, 1114 and 2056 paired at every event they possibly could until IRI 2009. That's 5 Regionals, 1 Championship division, and 2 IRIs. (I remember thinking at IRI alliance selection that there'd be no way 2056 would be around for 217 to pick 2nd round even if they wanted to...) I don't think either of them were captains, but it just kind of happened that way.

I've joked about wanting to continue that kind of a streak with friendly teams... :)

Wildstang's done it at Midwest before I think (2006), and maybe HOT. (This is my big secret mega goal for 1714 this year but the odds of it happening are nil)

Re: FIRST records
 

217 did the triple crown at the Detroit Regional in 2006: regional win, RCA, and Ron Arscheene won the WFFA.

Just to clarify the Einstein visits for 217, since I have seen a few posts about it. We have made it to Einstein 5 times: 2001, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009. We have been Finalists once (2009) and Champs twice (2006 and 2008). All three years we were not champs, we were eliminated by the eventual champs.

Ever since the Championship divisions were created, we have made it to the Championships elimination rounds every year although we did not deserve to go in 2004.

Re: FIRST records
 

I believe that team 703 has the FIRST record for most wheels in a drive train (at 14) : http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/26312

I would also be surprised if team 25's 2009 robot did not hold the FIRST record for most spur gears.