[AcesJames]

I got to walk around quite a bit today in the Shakedown pits. I noticed quite a few robots with the capability of hanging, but only GaelHawks got to put that ability to use. Our team had the ability to hang, and it was actually our only reliable mechanism. But, in both rounds that we made it to the field, we lost 2 chains on our articulating drivetrain, which isn't completely ironed out. Our kicker still needs fine tuning and didn't get much use at all.

Overall, MOST of the teams had very very short robots, with 4 mecanum wheels and flappers of some kind for a kicking mechanism. There were also quite a few teams that had a some sort of omni wheels, or swerve drive. I did see a few of the final matches, and there was a LOT of pushing, and usually all 6 robots would end up in the middle and 1 of the 2 end zones. I did not see robots in all 3 zones very often. Pushing and blocking, as well as quick movement were KEY to success for a lot of teams.

I'd say that during most of the matches, 4 out of the 6 teams on the field were low robots, with mecanum, swerve, or omni drive, and NO elevating capability. Almost every robot had a kicker though, and it seemed that the key to success in scoring balls was to having a possessing mechanism, as well as knowing the capabilities and strengths of your kicker. For example, Team 178 had a kicker that was best at herding a ball up to a goal, and then just whacking it in. Then there were teams like 230 who would shoot from the far zone in autonomous, and they were pretty accurate with getting their shots in or near the goal on the other side of the field. A team must know their robot's abilities, and adjust their strategy accordingly.