CHS Platter
Central Virginia
The Favorites:
122: Celebrating their first win in 10 years of competition, the NASA Knights have returned to power with a robot to match their heroic reputation. They ran away with the show as the best high goal shooter last week in Portsmouth, but they’ll have to compete a little harder for the spotlight in Doswell.
401: Another powerful high goal shooter, 401 had some issues tipping over in Blacksburg. If they can cross the defenses safely, this recently rebranded Copperhead Robotics team will get another top 10 ranking and come home with some silver or gold hardware.
1086: Blue CHS walked away from their first event with a win and a DCA. With a focus on breaching defenses they will continue to rank high now that their technique is aged to perfection. Although CHS Platter appreciates their fondue-inspired catapult design, these whiz kids will need to get their high goal shooter cooking to score those extra points in the playoff rounds.
5279: The 1st seed at Blacksburg will have some competition in Doswell. Two of the teams they lost to in the semi-finals are also in our favorites this week. The Bionic Eagles will still soar to the top of the rankings with their insanely consistent breaching bot.
Others to watch for:
977: Once thought to be lost for good, this team was just away on a highly elliptical orbit. Last seen in 2010, the “rookie” CometBots made their reappearance in a big way in Blacksburg, seeding 14th and ending their run as the event finalists. In their next pass they’ll be looking for a win.
5546: One of the most consistent scaling robots that we’ve seen, A.R.T. led the #3 alliance to a win last week in Portsmouth with 122 and 5804. They focus on damaging defenses and scaling rather than scoring boulders which could prove detrimental at this event with more high goal shooters.
5804: Torch came out of the gate on fire. How this rookie team was available when the #3 alliance made their 2nd pick is mind boggling. With some work on the shooter D-Day will continue to devastate the competition.