Best defensive strategies

After reading a thread on some possible defensive strategies, I started thinking about more effective defensive strategies used in the past. What are some of the best defensive strategies robots have seen in the past? Pics or videos would be awesome!

[Hallry]

One of the best defensive robots that I've seen was team 3553 last year. They had a great system that unfolds to double their length, and were therefore extremely successful in blocking others. Their CAD file can be seen here.

[EricH]

The bar blockers in 2004.

This class of robots, half a dozen in number, could pull a 200-point swing in a match. At 50 points per robot on the bar, the blocker would go up (50 points) and block one or both of their opponents (50 points each) and then allow their partner up (50 points) for a possible 200-point swing. The real fun came when two bar blockers went at it. I seem to recall one of them pinning another on the bar...

It gets better, though. Two of the bar blockers could eliminate a doubler ball from the bar. Opponents could place the doubler on a goal, but these two robots could remove the doubler.

Robots to look up: 64, 190 (stationary with capacity to steal the doubler ball), 237 (there is video of 190 vaulting over them), 330 (the other with un-doubling capability), 868 (the only one to make Einstein), 1266 (a rookie that year).

[BJC]

Playing Defense is the act of preventing the other team from scoring.

As such it can be used before, during, and even after the scoring process of the opponent.

Before: Tube starving this year. Taking a tube the other team was trying to pick up. Pushing tubes into the lane so the opponents can't get to them. ect.

During: Activly attempting to stop them from actually scoring points. T-boning, zone defense, ramming ect all fall under this. This is probably what most people think of as defense.

After: generally descoring, or the act of taking their points away. FIRST has been trying to get rid of this type of defense in recent games. Often times it is illegal to descore. However, it is arguably the most effective method of defense because it (usually) involves the most reward for the least work. Example: this year knocking off a logo piece on the top row at the end of the game would have been more effective then playing robot on robot defense the entire match. (of course that's why it was illegal.)

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by EricH

237 (there is video of 190 vaulting over them)

Where would one be able to find this video? It sounds awesome!

Originally Posted by Hallry

Where would one be able to find this video? It sounds awesome!

Ditto! I would love to watch a match like that!

[Ankit S.]

My soccer coach always told me "The best defense is a good offense".

On that note, I'd like to say that 71's '02 bot was a great defensive robot, just because it could dominate the offensive side of the game.

As for strategies, offensive-defensive strategies could include scoring as many game pieces possible to ensure that the other alliance does not get any. This relates an iteration of the tube starvation this year, and a possible strategy in '09 (wasn't there back then, but it is probably a viable strategy).

[avanboekel]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Where would one be able to find this video? It sounds awesome!

One of the most epic things I have ever seen in an frc match
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5nnGGRi-94

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by avanboekel

One of the most epic things I have ever seen in an frc match
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5nnGGRi-94

Wow, thanks, that's incredible!

[O'Sancheski]

Originally Posted by BJC

Playing Defense is the act of preventing the other team from scoring.

This is a debatable statement. Not all defense is stopping the opponent from scoring. Defense can be stopping the opposing alliance from scoring, but it also can be getting in the way and making it harder for them to score. If you can't block the opposing robot from scoring, at least make it earn the points that it is about to attempt. Ive seen even the best drive teams stumble when their strategy of easy scoring didn't work. This topic was brought up in the thread where it talked about mecanum wheels and defense. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91401&page=4&highlight=mecanum+wh eels+defense

[Jared Russell]

The best offensive robot in the world is going to have a hard time scoring if they can't acquire game pieces...

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Where would one be able to find this video? It sounds awesome!

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

Ditto! I would love to watch a match like that!

One offseason robot vault coming right up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5nnGGRi-94&NR=1

237's slider mechanism is inside the black "mailbox". Oh! Forgot to mention: 190 was the only stationary robot in the 2004 bar blockers. The others all had a sliding mechanism.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by EricH

One offseason robot vault coming right up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5nnGGRi-94&NR=1

237's slider mechanism is inside the black "mailbox". Oh! Forgot to mention: 190 was the only stationary robot in the 2004 bar blockers. The others all had a sliding mechanism.

237 was brutal that year! Such a sick robot for the 04 game.

Originally Posted by EricH

One offseason robot vault coming right up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5nnGGRi-94&NR=1

237's slider mechanism is inside the black "mailbox". Oh! Forgot to mention: 190 was the only stationary robot in the 2004 bar blockers. The others all had a sliding mechanism.

Sorry Eric, but O'Sancheski beat you to it! Thanks anyways though! That was some amazing footage!

[CalTran]

Well, along the same lines as "the best defense is a good offense" 469's 2010 Breakaway robot comes to mind. We, as 2410, had the honor of assisting them in a Curie match and boy was the score in that match for us high. Their starvation cycle really caused a lot of elite teams fall prey to their strategy. It's amazing they did not win World Champions, but lost to 3 even more amazing teams off of points alone.