Best Robots by Age

[TheFish]

While I know there will be much debate about this (especially with the older teams) I was wondering what you guys thought about the best teams who have recently come out of the woodwork?

For example, best team who's rookie years were:
2010:
2009:
2008:
2007: 2056
2006: 1717
2005: 1625
2004:
2003: 1114

I added my thoughts from my brief knowledge of FIRST... feel free to agree/disagree.

[Mr. Pockets]

My knowledge is limited to Michigan, but I'd definitely nominate 2834 for 2009. Very successful team.

[cziggy343]

how about 2753 for 2009? was that not the first rookie team in forever to make it to einstein?

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by cziggy343

how about 2753 for 2009? was that not the first rookie team in forever to make it to einstein?

1902 made it to Einstein in 2007.

[JABot67]

Originally Posted by JesseK

1902 made it to Einstein in 2007.

However, 1902's rookie year was 2006, making them a very good second year team that made Einstein.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by JesseK

1902 made it to Einstein in 2007.

They'd have made it in 2006, if their drivetrain hadn't gone Oink Oink BOOM! in the divisional finals. They were rookies that year, second year in 2007.

I'd say, going by 2 per year, 2009 has 2753 and 2775, 2006 has 1717 and 1902. 2010, the jury is still out. We'll find that out next year.

2002: 980, 968

[Huskie65]

I think this is close but two titles is not easy...


1999: 254 (Cheesy Poofs - 18x Regional Winner, 2001 & 2005 Einstein Finalist, 2008 Championship Division Finalist)
1999: 217 (Thunder Chickens - ? regional Winner (3 already this year and 3 last year) 5x Championship Division wins Championship Winner 2006 & 2008

[meaubry]

1998 Team 47 - Won 3 Regionals of Ladder Logic (the last year of non-alliance competitions)

[MCarron]

OK, I started thinking about this thread last night and realized that trying to pick the "best" of anything for any year is down right impossible. It's like trying to say, who was the best scientist; Einstein, Galileo, Curie, etc. Maybe we should change this thread just a bit and call it the top five or top ten robots based on their rookie year. Maybe that would be easier.

I know that when I look at teams #341, #365, and #469 for 2000, I admire all of them and aspire to be just like them. I'm hoping that out there somebody thinks of #343 in that regard as well. I would hate to see this thread start to create hard feelings amongst teams. Personally I would love to have any of the teams mentioned above in my corner of the ring any day!!

How about the top five for 2000 being 469, 365, 341, 343, and xxxx. What about all the other years? This thread would be a great thread to show the entire FIRST organization it's role models by year if that makes any sense.

At any rate happy botting to all and best of luck for the rest of the year.

Cheers,
Mike Carron

[Starke]

Without a doubt, HOT (#67) was the best in 2004.

[Ty Tremblay]

Originally Posted by Starke340

Without a doubt, HOT (#67) was the best in 2004.

They may have been the best in 2004, but they were started in 1997. This thread is about the teams with the most competition success based on their year of inception.

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by meaubry

1998 Team 47 - Won 3 Regionals of Ladder Logic (the last year of non-alliance competitions)

Originally Posted by Starke340

Without a doubt, HOT (#67) was the best in 2004.

The dominance of those 2 bots in those years is legendary and indisputable. However, the topic of this thread is to determine the best teams (robot performance over career) by their age (one per year based on a team's listed rookie year).

HOT is already the selection for their rookie year of '97 with no disputes I've seen. Team 47 is stuck behind 71 (hard to argue 4 World Championships) in the crowded class of '96 which also includes 16, 33, 56, 111, & 121.

[LLogan]

I'm going to suggest 1771 for 2006.

They have consistently been in the top three picks at their regionals (except for Palmetto 2009, where they were the 3rd alliance captain and won).

In 2008, they won the Championship Xerox Creativity Award. Do you remember their extremely innovative vacuum powered suction device for handling and hurdling the 40inch trackballs?

In 2009, they won Palmetto 2009 as the third seed alliance captain. They were also the first pick overall at Curie Division.

In 2010, they were the first pick overall and won Peachtree Regional.

[rees2001]

This is fun. Can we throw in an Honorable Mention for each year? This is FIRST and it never hurts to spread the love around. I only go back to 2000 so I will speak for the years I have been around for. Should we look at plastic, medals, or per event totals? Robots, ranking, overall or the combo package? Many teams do well per year but attend a bunch of events. Some teams only go to 1 or 2 events per year. Some teams go to multiple events every year and still blow the competition away. Some very impressive years in this group, 2000, 2003, 2005. I'm not trying knock some rookie years but ther are a few very impressive rookie years.

As for 2009 I like 2775 but I am biased. (who isn't?)

In 2005 I would like to add 1511, (Winnovation is really, really impressive. The Thunder gets my HM)
In 2003 I would add 1126. (obviously not 1114, but who is? that is like trying to compete with 71)
In 2001 I would add 503. (Again impressive but it is hard to beat a 494?)

I would like to throw some monkeys into the year 2000 wrench.
There are some Amazing teams started in 2000 year grouping. I know 341 & 343 are amazing. 359 (might want to look at their stats this year) & 368 are right there too. 469 has performed like no other (trust me, I watch the videos for the 2004 Einstein semi's and wonder what if) BUT, 365. Go MOE. Go to any event, they know MOE. Not that they don't know the rest of the group. But MOE is like the Yankees of FIRST without the haters.

This has been fun, thanks.


How can anyone have this conversation and not include 45?

[Akash Rastogi]

2002: 910 - the Foley Freeze. Such a beastly team.