2012 IRI Predictions

[Carolyn_Grace]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

Thus ensuring a very congested space filled with moving machinery, increasing the risk of injury - you know how many people are involved in handling cables and "spotting" robots once they're on the bridge. I just foresee nonstop chaos and unequal access at the practice area. If a formal schedule isn't meticulously kept by a bevy of volunteers, and the traffic on the field isn't managed by another bevy, some teams are going to be shut out of the triple practice process (much like they were in St. Louis), and safety will become a huge concern.

This was one of my huge concerns when finding volunteers for the Michigan State Championship event. At MSC we had five ramps set up, with about two-three volunteers manning the practice field at a time. It was certainly busy, but people were very conscientious of being careful. As long as there are not extra people standing around creating robot campfires, then I actually wouldn't foresee this as an issue. Especially as the IRI planning crew and volunteers are fantastic at what they do. To add: IRI has a much larger area for a practice field than what we had at MSC.

[Bjenks548]

Some predictions:
In qualifications:
There will be more double triples then single triples.
36 or higher auton scores will happen ~50% of the time.
Robots without a longstanding reputation will have difficulty convincing an alliance not to feed.

Alliance selection:
The top 4 will take the top 4 offensive robots
Bottom 4 then take the top 4 feeder robots
Top 4 then take the 5-8 best feeder robots
bottom 4 take the 5-8 best offensive robots

Eliminations:
Will be very exciting and hard to predict

[$wimmer3138]

Originally Posted by Bjenks548

Robots without a longstanding reputation will have difficulty convincing an alliance not to feed.

I feel that this is very true but is not just IRI specific. It will be interesting to see what robots take on what niches with the competion so competitive.

[LeelandS]

Originally Posted by Bjenks548

Some predictions:

Alliance selection:
The top 4 will take the top 4 offensive robots
Bottom 4 then take the top 4 feeder robots
Top 4 then take the 5-8 best feeder robots
bottom 4 take the 5-8 best offensive robots

Interesting. Why do you think the bottom 4 seeds will pass over strong offense for a good feeder bot? It seems to me like you'd want to secure your robotic firepower first, then work on getting a robot to feed. You could have all 18 balls fed to your side and it doesn't make a difference if you can't put them in effectively. At least, that's my view.

[mikemat]

Originally Posted by LeelandS

Interesting. Why do you think the bottom 4 seeds will pass over strong offense for a good feeder bot? It seems to me like you'd want to secure your robotic firepower first, then work on getting a robot to feed. You could have all 18 balls fed to your side and it doesn't make a difference if you can't put them in effectively. At least, that's my view.

With the depth of field at IRI, it is very possible that a great feeder bot, a great shooter, and a good shooter would be better than having two great shooters and a good feeder. It all depends on how far the great shooters and feeders (captains/first round) are from the good shooters and feeders (second round).

[LeelandS]

Originally Posted by mikemat

With the depth of field at IRI, it is very possible that a great feeder bot, a great shooter, and a good shooter would be better than having two great shooters and a good feeder. It all depends on how far the great shooters and feeders (captains/first round) are from the good shooters and feeders (second round).

That's true. If an amazing scorer seeds 5-8, then they may want to go ahead and pick up a strong feeder before rounding out their offense. If a team like 118/2056/1114, etc.. who is a strong scorer can get fed well, they'll probably be very well off with a "good" scorer backing them up.

Still, I'd rather get the best offensive robot available first and then a feeder bot. A strong offensive team will probably not be a stranger to feeding itself, so if given the opportunity, as an alliance captain, I'd rather put together the best offense I can first then a feeder bot, and adjust my strategy depending on where the balls are.

[mikemat]

Originally Posted by LeelandS

Still, I'd rather get the best offensive robot available first and then a feeder bot. A strong offensive team will probably not be a stranger to feeding itself, so if given the opportunity, as an alliance captain, I'd rather put together the best offense I can first then a feeder bot, and adjust my strategy depending on where the balls are.

I agree with this if it were a normal draft. At IRI, as a 5-8 captain, do you really want the top 4 alliances being able to pick the best shooters AND the best feeders? I think there will be far fewer good, proven feeders then there will be good scorers. I think a low captain would have a much better chance of picking up a great feeder with their first pick than their second.

[$wimmer3138]

What if the best shooter and feeders are the same robot?

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by $wimmer3138

What if the best shooter and feeders are the same robot?

This is very likely the case.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by $wimmer3138

What if the best shooter and feeders are the same robot?

Then your pick should be very easy.

[$wimmer3138]

Originally Posted by $wimmer3138

What if the best shooter and feeders are the same robot?

This was intended as sarcasm btw.

[Gregor]

One week 'till IRI!!!!

[JosephC]

Originally Posted by Gregor

One week 'till IRI!!!!

[Elizabeth Waters]

624 - Stinger Out

Check out photos of both our stinger and a triple balance with 2 L, 1 W.

[CalTran]

Anyone know if LookingForward with be producing a prediction for this? Seems a bit late for him/her to do so, but there's still hope and time