Favorite 2014 Robots?

[K519_1325]

What are some of your favorite robots from this past year and why? My votes would have to go to 610 and 254 because of their phenomenal intakes and shooting accuracy (both of whom I also got to see compete at North Bay and Waterloo).

[Karthik]

Hat Hat Hat!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyVkyakC6xk

[Kevin Leonard]

A number of really well engineered robots I can think of-
177- really high release point made them really hard to block and I don't think I ever saw them miss
846- Dozens of really cool details went into this machine to make it great at assisting and scoring high goals.
2485- The phenomenal scoring capabilities as well as the other details- like great human loading make this machine another personal favorite of mine.

A couple really cool robots I know of:
1126- Sparx's cannon was a sight to behold and pretty scary on the field. It also helps that we won a regional with them .
900- I was extremely skeptical at first, but these guys proved to the world that their crazy design could compete at the highest levels. With better luck these guys easily could have been on Einstein for their first year at the World Championship.
27- Their design seems really simple- and it is. But the way their collector works is extremely effective at getting assists by passing on the field or through the human player.
4048- A simple and effective trusser with a goalie stick. There's a reason they won Battlecry. All they needed all year was a top-tier finisher to bring them to the top.
330- A two-sided collector and a weird shooting mechanism would normally make this a slightly above-average robot. An incredible drive team who knows how to make their machine effective makes the Beach Bots so good this year. And a goalie stick to boot.

[Jared Russell]

971, 469, and 1114 were mine.

[CTbiker105]

I've always liked the rotating turret shooter of 2826's Charybdis. Very cool design and visually appealing as well. It's a shame they didn't get to play at CMP this year.

[Mark Sheridan]

254, 971, 2056, 33, 1678, 469, 973, 4488, 3476, 987, 2485, and 368

[Gregor]

254 is the cliché response, but their overwhelmingly dominant robot was also one of the most unique of the year. Even though they're everyone's favourite, they're mine too.

Originally Posted by Jared Russell

971, 469, and 1114 were mine.

Is that 2014 specific?

[Damiaen_Florian]

Probably 1717, they were my favorite wheeled-shooter this year and their swerve drive wins me over all the time. In a game with so much defense it was awesome to see them weave around defenders left and right.

[brandon.cottrell]

Originally Posted by Kevin Leonard

1126- Sparx's cannon was a sight to behold and pretty scary on the field

This. This so much. I really regret not interacting with them more, they stayed in the same hotel as us. Earlier this season I had a lot of fun trying to explain their incredible power to people on our team who weren't incredibly familiar with robots.

Also fun fact they did really well in 2008 too.
http://www.thebluealliance.com/team/1126/2008

In addition to that, I'd say in no particular order: 3683, 4488, 610, 1717, 190, 118, 1986, 2485, 67, 148, 1310, 1318, 624, 1711, 862, and 330. I should note that 1717 and 330 are definitely my favorites.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by brandon.cottrell

In addition to that, I'd say in no particular order: 1310

Testing KISS passing in our pit was fun!

[Cam877]

Naming a few off the top of my head:

254- obviously. It was just so ingeniously designed as well as amazingly creative. And the three ball. Just wow. I really loved the fact that they had a shot for in front of the low goal and one for when an opposing robot was blocking the low goal. That was genius. Not to mention the two intakes, which really helped in picking up the ball under heavy defense. Just a brilliantly designed robot overall.

1114- obviously. Another greatly creative design, with the wheeled shooter. Their shot was basically the poofs', except a tiny bit less accurate. Doesn't change the fact that it's great. Also I love the name. Simbot Evolution. Not only does it have a ring to it, but it's aptly named, with the "evolution" of simbot ss from 2008.

Note: Who would've thought the finals in Einstein would have wheeled shooter scoring bots? Obviously these two teams did.

1717- In case you haven't noticed, I have a thing for wheeled shooter bots not only that, but the swerve was just amazing, as usual. I believe the love for the wheeled shooters comes from the fact that they were thrown aside at the beginning of the season by most teams, but arguably ended up being the best way to shoot. Shows that creativity doesn't hurt.

3539- Another different robot, built by a team that's never afraid to differ from the norm. They're probably my favorite team in Michigan, and I'm sure their creativity and their success that comes with it has a lot to do with it. I mean just look at the thing. It's so well designed. The way that they're able to control three balls at once by forcing balls through their robot channel with those bands, then once the balls at the top lay it right in is great. Amazing team, amazing robot.

971- Their robot is one of the prime examples of innovation this year. To take that popular 1114 design, and not completely copy it, but think, "how do we make this better?" And of course, they came up with the ability to flip the claw and shoot on both sides. This function was clearly amazingly helpful, especially under heavy defense when it might be hard to turn around. Their track record this year was simply amazing, and that kind of ingenious innovation will bring that on.

Note: I still wish there was a bot built that could intake and shoot on both sides

177- Another instance of brilliant game analysis. Obviously, due to the heavy defense that would be inevitable, short robots would be getting blocked. So they concluded that a tall robot would be best for the job. Not only that, but making their shot have a super high release point, so that beast could pick up from anywhere in the scoring zone pretty much and score. Brilliantly thought out and executed.

1678- Definitely the most successful mid-field bot, if not the best, in all of FRC. The two intakes are beautiful, and allow them to intake from anywhere, then put it up to the human player. Beautiful robot, great team.

27- I'm surprised I haven't seen this one yet, but here it is. Another creative design, kind of combining the common designs of catapult and linear punch into one amazing end effector. It is very consistent to the human player, and proved to be quite an asset, especially to 33 Their intake was flawless, and complemented their punch perfectly, holding that ball snug in shooting position until ready to shoot. Then it would come off the ball and in one fluid motion the ball would already be out. Great robot, amazing team and very deserving of their championship chairman's award, as well as their michigan state title.

Honorable mentions:

33
359
368
469
1983
2590

[Samwaldo]

Originally Posted by Cam877

Note: I still wish there was a bot built that could intake and shoot on both sides

Take a look at 3467. Ranked #1 before NE Champs. Quite alot of awards 2 in addition to their 2 District wins! And I would go so far as to say, the most creative launching mechanism (2 methods at the same time)

[Bryan1625]

I always enjoy 2451. their swerve was beautiful and their driver could drive it well with a deadly shot. I also liked 33. Difficult to beat. Going against them is scary, their shot is dead on and they are nearly impossible to play defense on!

[Mr V]

My favorite is 4061. http://www.sciborgs4061.teamr.com/Page11.html

The collector is very effective and can bounce back from heavy impacts. My favorite part though is their sling shot shooter that they can adjust the angle so they can shoot from near or far and from the same side as the collector or the other side. It is also very fast yet the driver always seemed to be in control.

[Cam877]

Originally Posted by Samwaldo

Take a look at 3467. Ranked #1 before NE Champs. Quite alot of awards 2 in addition to their 2 District wins! And I would go so far as to say, the most creative launching mechanism (2 methods at the same time)

Yes actually I thought about them after posting, and they're definitely on my list as well. Actually during a summer design workshop our team ran last summer the leaders decided to have everyone design for overdrive, and their style shooter is what me and my friend came up with. They are undoubtedly on my list as well.