What did everyone learn from this weekend's scrimmages?

[Mr MOE]

All who attended scrimmages or watched webcasts/videos of them this past weekend:

What did you learn about this year's game?

Please share.

Thanks!

[Collin Fultz]

Fans can be very effective for propulsion. When trying to evade a potential scorer, being able to kick on your fan can be a great advantage. It is also very helpful for pinning.

[ZakuAce]

Shorting outyour cRIO right before competing is bad.

From hte bit I saw before we left, dumpers and human players seemed to be scoring more than shooter robots.

[Koko Ed]

If you don't move from the get go you are good as dead.
Super Cells are important and a good Payload Specialist is vital. If they can't hit the broad side of the Regolith it might be a good idea to have them take a seat and get someone in there who can shoot straight.

[TJ2 disc]

It took a couple of hours for the officials to actually get the game up and running. They had a problem with the field not "talking" back to them. Whenever they would try to start they would get no response. This new electronics system is causing a lot of problems.

[cziggy343]

we HAD a shooter robot when we went to our scrimmage on saturday. today, we do not. that's what we learned from the scrimmage

[NOV8R]

six robots and trailers on the field equal traffic jam most of the time. No robot is going to set the robot land speed record this year. With all the congestion long range shooting is not very effective or even practical. Dumpers are a threat, but some dumper are a lot better than others. The payload specialist shooting are more effective than robots shooting. A super cell in the hands of the 'right person' at the end of the match is a game changer. Getting empty cells to airlocks takes a strategy and the right robot. I was amazed how many robots had trouble just driving around pulling the trailer. Some just sat spining their wheels. Like others have said 'no autonomous' equal 'dead duck'. I have some video of the Colorado scrimmage I'll post later today with our robot in action.

[nHouse]

from the couple of practice hours with other teams its looking like there will be quite a few traffic jams and struggles to either pin or avoid getting pinned. Im not sure if shooting or dumping is better but both have their flaws that came into play.

I just hope everyone has good traction control systems and a strong drive team because this year is tough to get your robot into postion while simultaneously trying to hurt the other robots position.

[petek]

It takes patience and tactical driving (and maybe a bit of luck) to score many rocks from your robot. There's one jackknifed configuration where you push on the side of your opponent with your shooter/dumper positioned on their trailer that seemed to work, but any other attempts to score while moving were rather dodgy (meaning they usually dumped on the floor). Better to try to pin your opponent's trailer first and then score, but watch out for your opponent's partner that's trying to do the same thing to you! In the elimination rounds I expect to see the best robots dancing for position until the right opportunity presents itself.

[M. Mellott]

Just my personal opinion, but it looked like a FIRST robotics competition, only played at half-speed...very slow-going. Also, six robots plus six trailers made for a VERY congested field, making things worse.

I'm curious to hear from those at the event as to watching a day's worth of matches staring at that highly-reflective white surface. It seems like it could be hard on the eyes--kind of like getting "snow blindness" on a sunny winter day.

[Pelicano234]

In about 4 out of 5 matches I saw, there was a big mosh pit in the middle of the field where the dumpers seemed to do better. I realized one important thing, and that was to keep moving at all times and if you're tryingto pin somebody, watch out because someone is probably doing the same to you. Feild awareness is very important.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by M. Mellott

I'm curious to hear from those at the event as to watching a day's worth of matches staring at that highly-reflective white surface. It seems like it could be hard on the eyes--kind of like getting "snow blindness" on a sunny winter day.

Thank you. [Adding "sunglasses" to the "earplugs" and "Advil" in my scorekeeper's kit...]

[Jared Russell]

You know those midget hockey games they put on during intermission at an NHL arena?

It looks a lot like that.

[Boydean]

That urethane drive rollers can melt rover wheels.

[Thermal]

Originally Posted by cziggy343

we HAD a shooter robot when we went to our scrimmage on saturday. today, we do not. that's what we learned from the scrimmage

Oh whats the big plans? I saw some troubles with your shooter but I thought the nimbleness of the drive was fantastic.

For us we learned a little on how to control the bot, pinning tactics, I got some real driving experience, and we got to optomize our dumper so balls don't get stuck.....and rs545's don't spontaneously combust giving off monstrous amounts of blue smoke.

I can't wait to see your plans at palmetto MiM