[archiver]

Posted by Lora Knepper at 04/28/2001 10:07 AM EST


Other on team #177, Bobcat Robotics - Adoptee, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.


In Reply to: Back to Defense for a minute.
Posted by Andy Grady on 04/27/2001 8:11 PM EST:



Agreed. I remember in 1999 when I was with team 69 scouting out teams for an upcoming match and came across the pit of team 168. For a moment, I thought they were on the field b/c I couldn't find their robot...but then I realized that the little plywood wedge that I had originally thought of as the cart -- was the robot.

My team was offensive, and they immedately blacklisted them as a bot that could do nothing and we hoped we wouldn't be partnered with them. A very dangerous assumption. That little wedge ended up being paired against us...and I have to say that one match was one of the most difficult I have ever driven. The pheonix was fast, and everytime you moved, that wedge was there under your wheels making one wrong move sending you over on your side where you were out for the count. They didn't intend to tip...but it's a hazard of the competition. After that competition, my blood pressure was through the roof, and I walked away with a MUCH higher respect for defensive robots.

After talking to a friend on team 209 this year, the thought was the same. He told me that they made sure to build their bot this year like they would have had the bots of '99 running full speed at them. Built it to take a hit and keep on driving.

Never underestimate a defensive machine. They may not be able to score much, if at all, on their own. But for sure they can also prevent you from doing the same.

~ lora