[Brian Beatty]

Predictions by Car Knack & Jr. (post #1)

The almighty Car Knack has allowed me to post our predictions on this year's game:

1) This year's championship alliance will be at least two king of the hill machines. Bins will not decide the outcome and stacking machines will be toast. Again, FIRST has biased the game scoring too heavily in one direction.

I would call 111 and 469 ( 25 and 494) KOH Score 1 point

2) Of the division winners, at least one team, probably two teams on each alliance will have a spare machine to tweak their autonomous software during the competition season. Gone are the days of building one machine and hoping to be competitive.

111, 302, 65, anyone else? Score 1 point

3) The autonomous period will be the most fun part of the competition, best ever of FIRST. The last 30 seconds will be battlebots.

How about the last 90 seconds?Score 1 point

4) The person selling concessions near the block long line at the practice/debug field will be one sure winner at the competition.

The one end by the concession tables was a circus Score 1 point

5) The national final's attendance will be the best ever and the media coverage will be outstanding. It will be very loud, and many student drivers will not be prepared. Indoor stadium, what a concept. Moving from Disney was a GOOD move.

Did you see all those people?Score 1 point

6) At least one driver will trip and fall in the race for the controls after the autonomous period. Also, at least one human player, ref, or yes even fan will come in contact with a robot/part during competition. The FIRST guy on the shutdown switch will have the toughest job. Please be safe everyone.

We almost drilled the cameraman with the arm; heard of a few human player injuries, but no driver injuries Score 1/2 point

7) Like last year's prediction, at least 25% of the machines in the finals will experience damage and will not be at full strength or not even answer the bell.

In the final round, 111 was having trouble, 469 limped home, 25 was DOA Score 1 point

8) No rookies in the finals. This thing is just too competitive.

only 3 rookies out of 96 teams, none in the final 12Score 1 point

Car Knack Jr.'s Total Score 7-1/2 out of 8

Sincerely

Car Knack Jr.