[Ianworld]

I really hate to just come out and say that a robot is the best in FIRST. Thats a really tough comment to make and I feel some guilt as if I'm discounting other team's and their amazing efforts. That being said...

I think the Triplets are amazing. There is only one mark against them and total dominance and that is their lack of a turret. I watched 25 compete in the NJ regional. The triplets may be nearly impossible to move but 25 seemed impossible to stop. You could bang them, bump them, push them, shove them and it just wouldn't matter. Their turret always nailed the shots. I would say that they took the brunt of defensive plays often being shoved by two or three robots and it just wouldn't matter. That being said 25 is also far from perfect. They can't collect off the ground and they're slightly harder to human load. They're pushing power is however up there with the strongest.

Watching the triplets in the GTR broadcast I realized that maybe a turret doesn't matter. The triplets always seemed to get on target and nobody could dislodge them. If there was interference on the field they'd go on top of the ramp. If somebody was in their way they found an opening and unleashed a hail of balls. Intimidating barely describes the performance they put on. They also collected from the ground and were easy to human load to boot.

Now while their performance was incredible for the matches I saw that isn't enough in my mind to secure their position as the best robots in FIRST. What secures it in my mind is the fact that they have now won three regionals. To win three regionals means that even in the face of the extreme randomness of the qualifying matches, the tough battles of the finals and the repetitive stress of multiple competitions they never faltered. That is truly impressive. That is a type of dominance that I have never seen in my FIRST robotics experience.* That is why I believe that people are correct in calling them the best robots in FIRST.

There is the catch in that since they're three of them their reliability seems higher. For example 1620 broke in the last match of GTR and cost their alliance the match. Of course they lost to its two triplet brothers so it didn't matter. But then again 1114 and 1530 were the same two that won all three regionals.

In nationals I think you'll see them on Einstein. The problem is that they're likely to be split up into different divisions. They won't be able to pair up like they have been. However their reputation has been secured, great teams will choose them and in turn they will be very successful.

*The beast in 2002 probably was as dominant but it wasn't as showy about it. It I feel found the trick to beating the game. It didn't as the triplets have beat everybody at their own game.