Car Nack Predicts 2010-1

[Car Nack]

Car Nack Predicts 2010-1

1. Contrary to most previous years, the qualifying matches will have, on average, much higher scores than the elimination matches.

2. Unless there is a revision to the definition of a "suspended robot", an alliance scoring eight points (three robots hanging) will be extremely rare. So rare in fact that it will never happen at least 40 regional competitions and a chance it will never happen in the FRC 2010.

Car Nack has spoken.

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by Car Nack

1. Contrary to most previous years, the qualifying matches will have, on average, much higher scores than the elimination matches.

2. Unless there is a revision to the definition of a "suspended robot", an alliance scoring eight points (three robots hanging) will be extremely rare. So rare in fact that it will never happen at least 40 regional competitions and a chance it will never happen in the FRC 2010.

Woohoo! Been waiting for this.

I can see how #1 might come about.

I think prediction #2 is iffy. It depends on lots of variables that are hard to get a grasp on (though I suppose it's predictions like this Car Nack is especially skilled at making). You'll need a good suspend-o-bot who can also score (not an impossible combination, I think) a solid scorer/hanger and enough depth of field to get an acceptable scorer/hanger combination.

On the same note, I think 8 points will be exceptionally rare (or unheard of?) in qualifying matches. I think it might be the Bee's Knees in eliminations though. If you can use two robots to tie up the balls (kick them to your zone, or preferably score them) while suspendo-bot gets in position in the final 40 seconds, I think the 8 points will be hard to beat, especially if you can keep the scores in check during tele-op.

[Chris is me]

I hope at least one robot is dedicated to proving point number 2 wrong. I am unsure who has the guts (or foolishness) to take such a path, but I would love to see it.

#1 seems spot on if you slightly amend that to say higher combined scores. And it's pretty much spot on without that.

Thank you, Car Nack. You are wise.

[Paul Copioli]

I have a lot of money riding on #2 with several members of the GDC. To clarify, I agree with Car Nack.

[Mike Martus]

Car Nack is indeed a wise one! His truths shall lead us all.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Car Nack

Car Nack Predicts 2010-1

1. Contrary to most previous years, the qualifying matches will have, on average, much higher scores than the elimination matches.

2. Unless there is a revision to the definition of a "suspended robot", an alliance scoring eight points (three robots hanging) will be extremely rare. So rare in fact that it will never happen at least 40 regional competitions and a chance it will never happen in the FRC 2010.

Car Nack has spoken.

Neither are really surprising.
Defense will become much more important in the elims and unless there is a pairing like the 67, 111, 45 alliance in a qualification match you are probably not going to get teams together that are skilled enough to pull off an 8 point maneuver.

[Manoel]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

...unless there is a pairing like the 67, 111, 45 alliance in a qualification match you are probably not going to get teams together that are skilled enough to pull off an 8 point maneuver.

No matter how good 67, 111 and 45's really are (and they'll probably be better), they won't be able to score 8 points if the robots aren't designed to do so, and I think that's the point here; the lack of 8 point-finales may become a self-fulfilling prophecy - if no one believes it will happen, no one will spend time building the robot to do it, and then it will obviously not happen.

[Jared Russell]

I predict we will see more 8 point hangs than many of you seem to think.

[Alex Cormier]

How about this?

3. At least one person will be injured with the trident during game-play.

[Not2B]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

How about this?

3. At least one person will be injured with the trident during game-play.

I'm worried you may be right. And with the non-ball end, no doubt. I hope everyone's human players have practice to feed balls up so they can do it slowly and calmly, without whipping that thing around.

[Kyle]

On the topic of hanging, those that were around in 2004 remember how fast robots were able to climb the stairs and platforms and hang with just seconds left in a match. I remember robots that were able to hang and lift with seconds left in the matches on a consistent basis using very simple mechanisms. 8 points in the end game, I can see it happening, and I think the regional(s) that I will be able to attend I will see it with my own eyes.


Best of Luck

[Cynette]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I think everyone needs to estimate the length of time it will take to hang three robots. The risk of a loss becomes too great while the other team is scoring while you are doing neither scoring or defending. I would love to see it but I don't think I will.

Our team has done some of the calculations on the forces on the first hanging robot to support a second (didn't even consider the third hanger). Based on that, I think that is as much of a challenge as the time restraint.

[Racer26]

I think we wont see it largely because the top team is unlikely to be comfortable supporting 450(ish)lbs from their tower grabber widget. If its beefy enough to hold up 450 lbs of robot, its going to be heavy, and i doubt anyone is going to make that design tradeoff.

EDIT: Unless, of course, the GDC decides to make it more worth our while... like say... a 2nd SUSPENDED ROBOT is worth a 2x or 3x multiplier to either the hanging stack, or the goals scored.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by 1075guy

I think we wont see it largely because the top team is unlikely to be comfortable supporting 450(ish)lbs from their tower grabber widget. If its beefy enough to hold up 450 lbs of robot, its going to be heavy, and i doubt anyone is going to make that design tradeoff.

EDIT: Unless, of course, the GDC decides to make it more worth our while... like say... a 2nd SUSPENDED ROBOT is worth a 2x or 3x multiplier to either the hanging stack, or the goals scored.

Technically, it does not have to be "beefy" to support that kind of weight. There are tradeoffs involved.

I don't think it'll be seen because I don't know how much most teams can be trusted to try and attach themselves to someone else's robot without breaking something. The point values don't make it worth it, IMO.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by 1075guy

I think we wont see it largely because the top team is unlikely to be comfortable supporting 450(ish)lbs from their tower grabber widget. If its beefy enough to hold up 450 lbs of robot, its going to be heavy, and i doubt anyone is going to make that design tradeoff.

This is not true. You can very easily support 450 lbs of robots with a very light mechanism.