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Originally Posted by Michael Hill
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Yes. This presentation is beautiful, and helps immensely. The section I found most useful for scouting/strategy is about 31:54 - 51:32. However, the whole thing is useful.
Also, some advice I can give:
- "Checking the robot every step of the way to make sure it complies with the rulebook." I certainly don't know how your team operates, but it's probably best if everyone is familiar enough with the rules and regulations enough that this isn't a needed responsibility. Of course, checking again can't hurt, so I suppose this is a partially garbage point.
- General Scouting/Strategy: Get a team and, go over the match scouting sheets with the people that will be scouting with you beforehand, so they can ask questions, like: "If they pick it up, drop it, and pick it up again, do we count that as two intakes?". Also, take some time after kickoff to analyze the rulebook and design strategies before you design a robot to fulfill those strategies.
- Pit Scouting: Do not scout functions. Or rather, do not scout functions with a finality in mind. Simply asking (using this year as an example) if they can shoot, how many points they score in auto, and if they can intake the ball is pointless. Your match data will tell you this. Pit scouting can be used for a variety of other purposes, and is best when filling in gaps that the match data can't. Some I've tried include scouting the drive team (not really successful as I've tried it), scouting strategy (diagrams work wonders), or scouting drive train (a function, but good to know. It's hard to scout this during matches). However, early in the event, it's the best data you have. Try not to exceed one page, there's a lot of teams to talk to.
- Match Scouting: Make a sheet and print it out beforehand. Number them beforehand as well. In fact, print out two copies of each and label them both. The worst possible thing for a scout is to think they have enough sheets printed for each team at the event, and then try desperately to find a printer at the competition while chicken-scratching data for three different robots onto the back of scrap paper (So much gratitude towards 708 right now). It should be one sheet, 12 x whatever-you-think-is-necessary. Be sure to add in attempts as well as successes for functions. Looking at a sheet and seeing that team xxxx shot (n) high goals in one match is good, but looking and realizing they missed (2n) in the same match might shed a new light on that data.