Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

It seems that many people are talking about robots who's primary purpose on an alliance is to take tubes from their LANE to the scoring robots in their ZONE. These have been dubbed "Feeder Robots"

My question is, do they exist? I'm not asking for the hypothetical scenario where a feeder robot would be great. And I'm not looking for reasons why it is a horrible strategy. I just want to see it done (if it is done at all).

So, after Thursday practice rounds, have you seen any feeder robots? If so, what would you say their effectiveness was and why? Do you have any video we could take a look at?

Excited for the real matches to begin tomorrow!

-Mike

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

I think once teams learn they can't score as well as they planned, you will see more feeder bots and defenders.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

I think it remains to be seen.
After watching several practice matches today, it doesnt seem like anyone is strategizing for it at all.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

Yeah, I think this pretty much hits the nail on the head. I'm willing to bet that very few teams designed their robots to be feeders from the beginning, but many who intended to be scorers will find themselves less effective than they predicted and will rededicate themselves to being good feeders instead. This happens pretty much every year with defense; by the time alliance selection rolls around, there are dozens of teams who originally came looking to score now billing themselves as "strong defenders."

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

feeder robot = some rookie team who accidentally direct drove their kit gearboxes to their kit wheels and has a robot that weighs only 60 LBS.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

Off the top of my head, the only one I distinctly remember is 1875. Actually, read about it here and saw the video:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=93052

Of course they aren't a "Traditional Feeder", They essentially launch them across the field to their alliance members, I guess this is feeding :D

I'm sure we'll see a lot of rookie bots helping out other teams doing such, interested to hear more unique approaches which are as outrageously unique and awesome as 1875.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

That is one of the purposes of our Tiger Tail, but it also has the option of scoring. :p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulbMG5fmH-I

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

We played as a feeder in our first match today because we believed that with us feeding and our partners scoring, we could have got three logos. We discovered that feeding isn't very useful when it takes just as long for you to drop the tube off and your partner score as score yourself, or when you have human players that throw almost the entire length of the field. The rest of the day, we did not have any bots with the feeder assignment on our alliance.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

314 is playing pure feeder at Kettering.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

It is overrated in some ways due to the amount of tubes on the field in the middle. We were going to feed tubes but I can't see that happening until elims when the human players rarely through them out. It just becomes mad dash to the rack even with three scoring as long as you organize who scores where.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

There was a number of tubes thrown onto the field at Traverse City usually in the middle if it doesn't curve and go outside of the field. If you can reliably flood-load it effectively eliminates a need for a feeder. My team had a round we played in where we got all our tubes from the middle of the field.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

We have a feeder robot who have on average been able to create a 3-4 tubes within the time period. We're noticing in Traverse City that a majority of robots picking from the floor are struggling to control the tubes.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

Team 2604 played feeder for one or two matches (they still don't let me out of the pit). It is noticeable how much more the alliance is able to score, but most bots still seem to struggle with picking up off the floor. And then you still get beaten by a minibot.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

Yeah if your able to get even one minibot on the tower you are most likely going to win. It is a big bonus.

Re: Feeder Robots: Do They Exist?
 

Maybe we should start calling the tube-scoring a bonus instead, because the mini-bots don't appear to add a small amount extra to the score :yikes:

Pretty much every match I saw with a mini-bot deployed was no-contest. Funny thing is, there is general a correlation between good mini-bots and good tube-scorers. Then the no-contest becomes domination :)

Check 118 and 148 in Alamo, it's ridiculous to watch as they score 6-7 tubes, often they scrap their effective mini-bots. Either way they end up doing well, I really want to see 148 eventually get that second ubertube up in autonomous.