[cmrnpizzo14]

1.) Have tight, well built bumpers that match the FIRST logo color scheme. Use stencils to paint the numbers on so that they all match. Take time to make sure that said numbers are on straight. Does this necessarily make your robot function better? No. Do I consider this necessary? Yes.

2.) Have at least one "cool", "unique", or "ridiculous" looking component of your robot. Anything that identifies you is automatically going to put you a little higher in people's minds. It seems wrong in principle to think that a RI3D robot with spray painted parts is more likely to get picked than an equally performing RI3D robot without them but its true.

3.) Maintain athleticism in the robot. This is a sport, the robot is an athlete. Try to accomplish tasks smoothly and consistently rather than violently. The best teams this year pulled into the feeder station gracefully and quickly to load as opposed to crashing into the wall coming in and slamming on the joysticks pulling out. Don't make a weak robot, but sometimes more power is not what you need.

4.) Be friendly and talk to other teams. If everyone knows your name, you're doing a good job. Like point 1, does it make your robot perform better? No. Will talking to other teams and learning about their robots and how their team works in general benefit your team more than looking like a buffoon dancing to cotton-eye joe (credit to Karthik on that one)? Yes. If you have no assignments or jobs at a competition, watch some matches, cheer for some other teams, make friends. Create a team presence at the competition.