Most Dominant Robots By Year

[Yipyapper]

Now, I haven't been in FIRST for more than a few years, but a couple robots that come to mind are 1114 being 2008's most dominant bot and 1717 being 2012's most dominant. Could any seasoned veterans shed some light on other years?

[Billfred]

From 2001-2002, the answer was 71.

2006, 25's robot made it through New Jersey, Las Vegas, and almost Saturday morning at Championship without losing once.

2010, 469 had a dominant strategy, and 1114 made it through three regionals undefeated and won all but one qualifying match at Championship. (With the seeding system that year, that "loss" was really how they locked up #1 seed...so you tell me.) They then marched through the Championship eliminations together, not losing a match before being swept in the Einstein finals.

[Joe G.]

2001: 71

2002: 71

2006: 25

2009: 67

2010: 469

[Yipyapper]

Originally Posted by Joe G.

2001: 71

2002: 71

2006: 25

2009: 67

2010: 469

Is 469 the tall one just directing the balls into the corners? Because I could see that give some dominant numbers.

[Akash Rastogi]

2008: 1114 'nuf said. GOAT. Greatest of all time.

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by Yipyapper

Is 469 the tall one just directing the balls into the corners? Because I could see that give some dominant numbers.

Yes it is. It really did, getting the overal high score of 29 that year.


Last year, I would say it's a tossup between 341, 987, and 1717. 987 went undefeated the entire season except for their last qualification match in their division and the two finals matches on Einstein. That's impressive.

I don't know if there's any specific robot that could be considered a dominant robot for 2011...I'm leaning towards 111, 254 or 1114 though. Possibly 1503, considering they totally showed everyone that a robot could be successful WITHOUT picking up off the ground.

[StAxis]

Certainly agree with everyone on here about who has been most dominant, I know we're still competing, but any thoughts on who will be considered dominant (if anyone) this year? I think 1114, 2056, 254, and 1986 are really the ones in the running right now, just up to championship performances at this point.

[Yipyapper]

Originally Posted by DevenStonow

Yes it is. It really did, getting the overal high score of 29 that year.


Last year, I would say it's a tossup between 341, 987, and 1717. 987 went undefeated the entire season except for their last qualification match in their division and the two finals matches on Einstein. That's impressive.

I don't know if there's any specific robot that could be considered a dominant robot for 2011...I'm leaning towards 111, 254 or 1114 though. Possibly 1503, considering they totally showed everyone that a robot could be successful WITHOUT picking up off the ground.

That's a perfect example of using something simple to dominate... That is, if the defense doesn't just get in the way

Loved watching those videos.

[Yipyapper]

Originally Posted by StAxis

Certainly agree with everyone on here about who has been most dominant, I know we're still competing, but any thoughts on who will be considered dominant (if anyone) this year? I think 1114, 2056, 254, and 1986 are really the ones in the running right now, just up to championship performances at this point.

I'd say 254 will probably make the biggest splash at champs; pickup, fastest climber by a good margin and it'll probably have super fast cycles. If only it wasn't climbing in the middle, it could dump for 20 points.

So now...
2001: 71
2002: 71
2008: 1114
2010: 469
2011: 254
2012: 1717

...Seems to be the general consensus, at least.

[dodar]

2001: 71
2002: 71
2006: 25
2007: 233
2008: 1114
2009: 67
2010: 469
2011: 254
2012: 1717

[JosephC]

Originally Posted by Yipyapper

I'd say 254 will probably make the biggest splash at champs; pickup, fastest climber by a good margin and it'll probably have super fast cycles. If only it wasn't climbing in the middle, it could dump for 20 points.

So now...
2001: 71
2002: 71
2008: 1114
2010: 469
2011: 254
2012: 1717

...Seems to be the general consensus, at least.

Putting a robot in 2012 doesn't really make sense, as there was no "most dominant" robot that year. 1717 had a great robot; however there were other great robots just as good. 987 for example was undefeated until Curie; and they ended up being World Finalists. 341 had 4 gold medals and a division silver. 118 had an amazing robot on Newton, they didn't get as much notice because of some sensor issues on Einstein.

I could keep going, but I think it makes more sense just to leave 2012 blank.

[TrevorJ]

Originally Posted by JosephC

Putting a robot in 2012 doesn't really make sense, as there was no "most dominant" robot that year. 1717 had a great robot; however there were other great robots just as good. 987 for example was undefeated until Curie; and they ended up being World Finalists. 341 had 4 gold medals and a division silver. 118 had an amazing robot on Newton, they didn't get as much notice because of some sensor issues on Einstein.

I could keep going, but I think it makes more sense just to leave 2012 blank.

I've got to agree. There wasn't a bot that I would really put head and shoulders above the field last season. 1114, 2056, 67, 469, 987, 548, and about a dozen more could all contend for most dominant. 1717 was a great robot to be sure though and a sight to see when everything was going well.

[cmrnpizzo14]

I was not around from 2004 but I remember from match videos that 67 was quite dominant. The other alliance partners with them (1126 & 340, let's go Rochester!) at CMP were picked only to hang for the entire match while 67 did all of the work with the balls.

They weren't special but I remember them as being quite dominant despite not winning.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by I-DOG

67 was pretty dominant in 2005 if I recall. Then, FRC was like "Nope. Change the rules." 67 changed their robot's base dimensions by shifting their side onto the ground during Hybrid mode. When a robot gets a rule created after it, it's pretty important.

"Flop-bots" existed before, and after, 67 did it in 2005. The most recent that I know of was 16 in 2008. It was a fairly common thing to do in the early 2000s, though. With bumper rules and things like maximum extension dimensions/cylinders, it's no longer a viable design.

[Bdf809]

People seem to be saying that 254 was the most dominant bot in 2011. While 254 was definitely amazing, I'd have to say that 1114 was a better offensive power. 254 seems to be remembered because they won Einstein while 1114 was knocked out in divisional semi-finals due to a less than fortunate seeding and alliance selection (as I recall, they were first pick). So, for recent years, my picks are:

2008 - 1114
2009 - 67
2010 - 469
2011 - 1114
2012 - 1717
2013 (so far) - 1114 or 987 (though 254 is catching up fast)