I'm dead serious when I say, if it doesn't say 71 on the side, it probably shouldn't even be considered. Hammond's '97, '01, and '02 bots all come to mind as some of the most dominant ever. They haven't been to the national/championship semi-finals SIX times, FOUR times winning the event, by fluke. I'll break it down year-by-year for the past few just out of mercy for the others though.
While it may be too early to assess 2007 (IRI hasn't happened yet after all
), I think 330 put out the best machine this year. The Beachbot was as dominant as any team could be this year. Big useful ramps, powerful drive (with exceptional drivers), maneuverable, quick, could score through defense as well as anyone, lethal when left alone, semi-accurate autonomous (not bad for not using any sensors). And the results showed it, winning LA, San Diego, and Curie.
Raider Robotix in 2006 was dominant, but I personally like the 469 Aim High machine even more. Las Guerillas had the fastest rate of fire of any team, would hit a few in auto every round, an accurate turret, powerful drive, maneuverable with the drop-casters, ground loading, huge human loading hopper, and could score at will. They have a justifiable complaint that they should have AT LEAST been in the Curie finals if it weren't for a mistake by the refs (not counting an off-sides penalty against their opponents), and I personally believe they would have advanced to Einstein.
Triple Play is tough. So many teams put out great robots, with very few truly emerging from the crowd. I think the Pink machine barely edges out as the best from 2005 (sorry 217, 67, 254, 71, 118, etc.). 233 won Florida and Colorado (and IRI), and was absolutely spectacular. They could score as quickly and efficiently as anyone, had a killer autonomous that would load twice from the auto loader, could score very high, evade defense, and was just plain good.
So many good bots have graced the field over the years. The Killer Bees in 2004, the Poofs every year, the 2006 Triplets, Wildstang in 2002, Delphi in 2000, etc.
It's almost impossible to pick the best every, but if I had to, I'd say Beatty in 2002. That beast was just that, a BEAST. Team Hammond doesn't rack up the wins for nothing.