what kind of robot will win?

[Bcahn836]

I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on what type of robot will win the championship.

[AzNiCe]

most definitely it will have to be a combination. ive seen a lot of robots that can hang well, a lot that can herd well, and a lot that can cap well, but to win, im pretty sure the robot will have to be able to do at least more than one.

[ebmonon36]

I'm also going to have to go with a combination. After seeing the finals at Midwest regional and seeing how well the combination teams worked, I think this is going to be the way to go. The ball collectors have gotten a lot better over the season and so have the human players. Add this with the capability of a good hanging robot and you have a winning combination. It is difficult to top 12 balls in a goal - capped - and a robot hanging.
Eric

[Jake177]

I think that a small ball bot with 2 good cappers and/or hangers will be the winning alliance.

[Mike M.]

I personally feel that the robot that will win the nationals is one that works well with its other alliance partners. and i think that the best alliance will include combination bots that compliment each other.

[Peter Matteson]

I feel it will be a well balanced team and not a specific skill. Remeber every strategy has a counter strategy and therefore can be beaten by a clever team. Also winning aliance will have the most reliable robots in most respects, i.e. auton always works and parts don't bend, brake or fail.

[omutton]

Definately a strong auton. mode will be an asset. I think a bot with a combination hanger and capper will win it, if they are allied with a strong herder.

[Joe Ross]

The winning alliance will need to have completely duplicated capabilites. A strong defensive robot can shut down 1 robot, so the other robot will need to be able to pick up the slack.

I've always been a big fan of dynamic strategies. I think the championship finalist alliance from 2000 or the championship winning alliance from 2002 were the most dynamic, but I have a feeling that the winning alliances this year will take the meaning of a dynamic alliance to a new level.

[Bcahn836]

Just to add to these ideas, a good robot is nothing without good drivers. And a good team to fix the robot when stuff breaks. I think i should have added that somewhere.

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by Bcahn836

Just to add to these ideas, a good robot is nothing without good drivers. And a good team to fix the robot when stuff breaks. I think i should have added that somewhere.

You are absolutly right a team can't win without level headed drivers who think their way out of situations and don't get flustered when something goes wrong.

[fred]

I think that small balls will be extremely important in the playoffs. In 2 of the 3 regionals that I went to, a small ball bot became in the champion and in the other regional, a small ball bot was a finalist. I think that in the winning alliance, first of all, there will be a robot that can play good defense and can also hang. There should also be a capper that can probably hang and a small ball bot that might be able to hang as well. Good drivers will also have a very big impact in my opinion. A good driver could be the difference between the championship and a 1st round exit.

[Xufer]

I Think the winning aliance will be a ball herder + capper with a secondary option to hang on the side after watching afew of the regionals i think that ball herding played a significantly bigger part. i dunno just my opinion but i noticed ball collecters with good Human players (i.e. Gale Force) did really well. with an alliance that could cap or unhang a team like that would be close to unbeatable.

[Lisa Perez]

Defense is definitely going to play a very integral part at nationals. Seeing this, I believe that any kind of robot with maneuverable, stable, and speedy chassis will win. Even though other teams may have plenty of capabilities, a robot with a chassis that embodies all the above qualities will be able to stop attempts at points.

[JakeGallagher]

I think a robot that can defend well will be on the winning alliance.

[Billfred]

It's the championship. You've gotta come with AT LEAST herding and capping OR hanging. Get all three, and it'll be hot.

But it's also going to be the slickest driving. I see lots of robots running D to keep other teams away from 2X balls and the bar. Perhaps even some ball stealing.