[etoleb]

The way I see it, Success = (Driver Skill)*(Robot Functionality)+(Scouting and Strategy)

The ability to move, like always, is a necessity. But your range of abilities, such as stacking, autonomous mode, guarding the ramp, will increase your performance and success in the matches.

However, the ability to utilize your robot is also very important. If you have trouble steering or can't properly operate your mechanisms, a well built robot isn't very helpful. If you can take advantage of your robot's capabilities (drive train, arms, traction devices), have a good sense of field action (score, other robots' actions), and good judgement, you can efficiently make use of the 1:45 of match time to increase your score, and increase/decrease your opponents' score.

Strategy and scouting also play a role, but not as great as the other basic factors. Knowing your opponents' strong and weak points will help plan a basic game strategy, which gives you an advantage over the other alliance. However, preliminary strategys are more of a structure for success, and the execution of the plan has a bigger role than the plan itself. I'm sure all of the drivers out there know that some plans can fly right out the door if something goes wrong.

Since many teams seem to have reduced their robot to pushbots this year, driver skill and strategy seem to be what defines the good from the average. So in answer to the original question, I say driver skill is the most important factor in this year's game.

[Note: I mean success in the sense of performing well, not necessarily winning each match. Winning seems to be a function of success and luck]

This is just my point of view based on my experience as a driver...

Greg