Aerial Assist Strategy

[thegem811]

Hey Chief Delphi,
Our team is wondering what other teams' strategies are for Aerial Assist. The game this year requires a lot of cooperation, and knowing strategies that can be compatible with others can help teams be more successful in their competitions.

[Justin Shelley]

Three Robots Per Alliance

1) Inbounds from human player and passes to robot 2. Also can play defense if needed.

2) Retrieves from #1 and tosses over truss. Can also high score if needed.

3 Catches ball from #2 and scores into high goal with a large "sweet spot"

In Autonomus

#3 scores 2 balls in auto, their ball and #1 ball
#1 scores 1 ball

Must have great drivetrain!

[Jibri Wright]

One my team was looking at was just to outscore the other alliance in autonomous then just send two robots two defend the other team while one robot just takes the ball and shoot into high goal making cycles solo. I think this strategy could easily win a lot of qualification matches, maybe not elims. We probably won't even attempt this strategy though cause it kinda takes the "assist" out of aerial assist.

[cadandcookies]

Flexibility and control.

We planned our robot's roles with different partners and prioritized based on that. Key was being able to make quick assists and play around our alliance partners' robots-- being able to receive easily from human player, being able to transfer the ball quickly and in a controlled manner.

Overall strategy: Win.

[RyanCahoon]

Originally Posted by Jibri Wright

one robot just takes the ball and shoot into high goal making cycles solo. I think this strategy could easily win a lot of qualification matches

It may win a lot of matches, but may not seed you as high as you like, since the second ranking criterion is cumulative assist points.

[Jibri Wright]

Originally Posted by RyanCahoon

It may win a lot of matches, but may not seed you as high as you like, since the second ranking criterion is cumulative assist points.

There is that, but we considered that less of an issue since you'll win almost all of your matches. Definitely enough to get you in the top ten. Then again your team may go to 'harder' regionals than we do so it may not be that viable an option for every regional. Even so, with experience from the regionals we go to, being 8-2 is enough to get you in the top 6.

[rsegrest]

Originally Posted by Jibri Wright

...Even so, with experience from the regionals we go to, being 8-2 is enough to get you in the top 6.

Wow...not at ours. 8-2 may get you in the top 15...top 6? For ours that's more like 9-1 minimum...

[pntbll1313]

Originally Posted by rsegrest

Wow...not at ours. 8-2 may get you in the top 15...top 6? For ours that's more like 9-1 minimum...

8-2 is a very good record and should get you in the top 8 at just about any regional. I challenge you to find one where it didn't get you in the top 12 or so (still a likely captain)...

For example at Lone Star where you compete 8-2 would have ranked you 5th last year.
reference: http://www.thebluealliance.com/event/2013txho rankings

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by pntbll1313

8-2 is a very good record and should get you in the top 8 at just about any regional. I challenge you to find one where it didn't get you in the top 12 or so (still a likely captain)...

For example at Lone Star where you compete 8-2 would have ranked you 5th last year.
reference: http://www.thebluealliance.com/event/2013txho rankings

Indeed. Here are the records of the 6th seeds at Lone Start since 2007.
2013: 7-2-1
2012: 7-3
2011: 8-2
2010: Win/Loss not recorded
2009: 6-1
2008: 6-3-1
2007: 7-2

[Caleb Sykes]

Originally Posted by rsegrest

Wow...not at ours. 8-2 may get you in the top 15...top 6? For ours that's more like 9-1 minimum...

Here are the seeding results from the Lone Star Regional last year:

rank    team     QS      AP      CP      TP      Record  DQ      Played
1	118	 18.00	 228.00	 110.00	 397.00	 9-1-0	 0	 10
2	1477	 18.00	 178.00	 160.00	 237.00	 9-1-0	 0	 10
3	57	 18.00	 134.00	 200.00	 246.00	 9-1-0	 0	 10
4	148	 16.00	 168.00	 140.00	 323.00	 8-2-0	 0	 10
5	624	 16.00	 158.00	 160.00	 269.00	 8-2-0	 0	 10
6	4587	 15.00	 90.00	 230.00	 102.00	 7-2-1	 0	 10
7	3741	 14.00	 196.00	 60.00	 177.00	 7-3-0	 0	 10
8	4328	 14.00	 162.00	 100.00	 233.00	 7-3-0	 0	 10
9	231	 14.00	 152.00	 140.00	 292.00	 7-3-0	 0	 10
10	704	 14.00	 142.00	 140.00	 197.00	 7-3-0	 0	 10
11	3961	 14.00	 102.00	 110.00	 180.00	 7-3-0	 0	 10
12	441	 14.00	 94.00	 80.00	 169.00	 7-3-0	 0	 10
13	2582	 14.00	 86.00	 340.00	 99.00	 7-3-0	 0	 10
14	2438	 14.00	 74.00	 140.00	 153.00	 7-3-0	 0	 10
15	2587	 12.00	 206.00	 90.00	 375.00	 6-4-0	 0	 10

Lone Star certainly had some ridiculously good teams attending, but even 624 and 148 only went 8-2. Were you referring to a different regional? TBA says your team only attended this one. Or perhaps were you referring to 2012, which does not correlate to this year because the coopertition bridge played some havoc with the seeding.

EDIT: avoiding double post

[chrisfl]

Our strategy is to be amazing. I've already said too much

[rsegrest]

I humbly stand corrected.

When you play with the big dogs sometimes you forget that they lose a match (or two) more than you realize.

[Xavbro]

I'm thinking of making a playbook like for basketball or football with set plays for the different types of alliance set ups. I'm a visual learner so having drawing of what each robot should do during the match I feel would make it easier for each team to know and see before the match. The ideal strategy to me is what Justin said at first but with a slight change:

Originally Posted by Justin Shelley

1) Inbounds from human player and passes to robot 2. Also can play defense if needed.

2) Retrieves from #1 and tosses over truss. Can also high score if needed. Set screen/pick/block for robot 3.

3) Catches ball from #2 and scores into high goal with a large "sweet spot"

I also would have robot 1 toss it over the truss and have robot 2 or 3 catch it. I feel having robots in your scoring zone helps minimize defense on your primary scorer as one can block/screen/pick the defense to give space for the scorer to score.

Of course if the scorer can score with little to no problem with the defense on them, then yes, having a 2nd robot playing defense is definitely a better option.

[TheMadCADer]

Originally Posted by Xavbro

I also would have robot 1 toss it over the truss and have robot 2 or 3 catch it. I feel having robots in your scoring zone helps minimize defense on your primary scorer as one can block/screen/pick the defense to give space for the scorer to score.

I've been thinking about this a bit, and I think it will probably be best to have as many ball exchanges on the "starting" side of the Truss as possible. My reasoning is that a team playing defense will use the most obvious strategy possible to prevent scoring rather than the most optimal, and that is messing with the thing putting the ball in the goal. They will then sit on your "scoring" side of the Truss and interfere with you once the ball enters the zone. This would make a ball hand-off more problematic in that area of the field.

I'd have my last robot in the cycle enter the Red/Blue scoring zone only to shoot (with escort if needed), and then quickly withdraw, only hanging around if they need to play defense.

[Xavbro]

Originally Posted by TheMadCADer

I've been thinking about this a bit, and I think it will probably be best to have as many ball exchanges on the "starting" side of the Truss as possible. My reasoning is that a team playing defense will use the most obvious strategy possible to prevent scoring rather than the most optimal, and that is messing with the thing putting the ball in the goal. They will then sit on your "scoring" side of the Truss and interfere with you once the ball enters the zone. This would make a ball hand-off more problematic in that area of the field.

I'd have my last robot in the cycle enter the Red/Blue scoring zone only to shoot (with escort if needed), and then quickly withdraw, only hanging around if they need to play defense.

Good point. I can definitely see that happening in a match. Minimizing time in the scoring zone is a valid strategy. My approach was that the scorer could slow down the other alliance while waiting to receive the ball.

Overall I think the strategy for the game will develop more after regionals have been played (as usual). I do enjoy watching week 1 events and seeing teams develop strategies as the even progresses.