scouting 2011

[Chris is me]

The important thing to note is to only track stats you're actually going to use. Speed is good to have - but it will be evident in scoring ability.

Here's my list as of now:

• # of Tubes on rack
• # of Tubes Misplaced (put in wrong position for a logo)
• # of Tubes Dropped
• Time on clock when Minibot scores
• # of Tubes Passed

What else would you need that's not subjective or obvious?

[MagiChau]

Originally Posted by MarkoRamius1086

Every team has good days and bad days, matched by good luck and bad luck in their matching, and due to this numbers alone cannot make a valid decision in my eyes. For the record I believe that ratios and other match numbers are just as invaluable (to showing the top teams for alliance pickings) as qualitave info. It takes a combination of qualitative and quantitave observations to truly make sure you are picking the team you want to.

My $0.02
Happy scouting and good luck this year!

Don't forget that we have to have dedicated individuals spending a bit of time analyzing after the day what teams look the best by combining those two. Then if they're not the head then inform the head of their opinion.

[xSAWxBLADEx]

sorry opinion was the wrong word i just think they are unneeded, with our scouting program and sheets we are trying to make them idiot proof cause yes all that stuff sounds good now but the question is when we get to competition can a person really scout all that?

[MagiChau]

Originally Posted by xSAWxBLADEx

sorry opinion was the wrong word i just think they are unneeded, with our scouting program and sheets we are trying to make them idiot proof cause yes all that stuff sounds good now but the question is when we get to competition can a person really scout all that?

I think the team has to come to an agreement before competition on how to prioritize aspects of teams. This may help with an issue of people being unable to properly scout. I don't think the team planned on having every aspect unweighted. So they probably are not expecting perfect data, but just in case an individual can notice it I guess.

[xSAWxBLADEx]

ya just giving my $0.02 cause over my 5 years of scouting (being head scout and actually scouting) the easier the scouting the more useful info you get

(i know chief delphi says my rookie year is 2009 but my sister was on the team in 2005 and we were short on scouters...then i got hooked :/)

[EagleEngineer]

Make a form that includes two slots for your too alliance parterns and three slots for your opponents. Put all the information that is important to the game such as if their robotics is offensive or densive, effective or ineffective, etc. Also include a part in each that shows the autonomous and a simple sketch of their robot. Once your done scouting the teams that are in your match, you should give it to the drive team, and have them evalute it. Having all the information on one sheet is much easier than having 5 sheets.

Good luck Scouting!

[nitneylion452]

Here's my scouting sheet. I don't know if we'll use it, but I think it's pretty good.
I also attached my "how to use the sheet" guide because I think it's necessary in order to understand the sheet's workings.

[xSAWxBLADEx]

our prototype scouting sheet this year

(pegs "X" for tubes circle it for uber)

[MagiChau]

Originally Posted by EagleEngineer

Make a form that includes two slots for your too alliance parterns and three slots for your opponents. Put all the information that is important to the game such as if their robotics is offensive or densive, effective or ineffective, etc. Also include a part in each that shows the autonomous and a simple sketch of their robot. Once your done scouting the teams that are in your match, you should give it to the drive team, and have them evalute it. Having all the information on one sheet is much easier than having 5 sheets.

Good luck Scouting!

Sketching the robot might be a bit of a hassle since you are in the stands and the robot might not show up until the last second so you have little time.
I would rather go to their pit after they finished a match or before eliminations/qualifications start and talk to the team.

[xSAWxBLADEx]

Originally Posted by nitneylion452

Here's my scouting sheet. I don't know if we'll use it, but I think it's pretty good.
I also attached my "how to use the sheet" guide because I think it's necessary in order to understand the sheet's workings.

while going over your teams scouting sheet i saw team scores (why do you need that when its in the pits 24/7)

[nitneylion452]

If they're a defensive bot, it helps to know the final score because it can be a decent way to gauge how well they did. Plus it only takes like 3 seconds to look at the screen and write down the numbers.

[xSAWxBLADEx]

i just feel its a waste of trees...YOU TREE KILLER lol

[nitneylion452]

Originally Posted by xSAWxBLADEx

i just feel its a waste of trees...YOU TREE KILLER lol

Haha. It stays on one page, it's more of a waste of ink, if anything.

[xSAWxBLADEx]

ya we have 6 sheets on one page, its cramped but it fits

[Siri]

I just want to mention that your setup depends on your scouters as well as your strategy, drivers and robot. For instance, 1511 are scouting gods. Check out their full setup sometime, it'll blow your mind. But they've got a lot of experience in it and can get valuable information out of qualitative answers.

Some teams (mine for instance) are still building their scouting base and don't have anywhere near as experienced observers. Thus I tend to lean my scouters towards more quantitative metrics to help with comparison. That's not to say the quantitative equates to inexperience, of course. (If you believe that, you need to meet a man named Karthik.)

As far as format, my best advice is try it. Especially if you're not a week 1 competition, take your best guess and then try a dry run (with video and/or imagination). Be flexible, take feedback from both the scouters and driver team. Another one of those iterative processes.