Official Ultimate Ascent Thread!

[Johnbot]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

I feel like picking up game pieces this year is different from yeares past. In 2009, 2011, and last year, picking up from the ground was CRUCIAL. But why? Because of the sheer amount of game pieces on the floor. This year I just don't see a multitude of pieces on the floor until the final minute or so.

Yeah, this year might not be at all like Logomotion....
*flashback*
Game pieces... game pieces everywhere!

Anyways, the only thing I'm disappointed by is the similarity between the last three games. All three had three tiers of scoring (though this year we get one more, but only six game pieces to score in it); all three had an "endgame" that seems like it could swing a match, and all three had human players throwing game pieces into play, as well as a feeder station. Oh well, it should still be a great year!

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Johnbot

Yeah, this year might not be at all like Logomotion....
*flashback*
Game pieces... game pieces everywhere!

Anyways, the only thing I'm disappointed by is the similarity between the last three games. All three had three tiers of scoring (though this year we get one more, but only six game pieces to score in it); all three had an "endgame" that seems like it could swing a match, and all three had human players throwing game pieces into play, as well as a feeder station. Oh well, it should still be a great year!

Although the numbers have changed between tiers, that pretty much describes every FIRST game ever (at least since the advent of alliances). An "endgame" worth a potential match-swinging amount of points has been in every game since 2001, human players have entered game pieces onto the field in every year other than 2008, and most years have had some sort of tiered scoring method. That's like saying all FIRST games are similar because they use "game pieces".

After pondering over this game for a few days, this seems like the most difficult end game challenge in a long time. I remember back in 2007 thinking "how are we going to lift 2 other robots?". That seems easy in comparison.

[moogboy]

Originally Posted by fb39ca4

Dean Kamen would be proud.

Two wheel drive has become my team's final design. I think it will work out well for us providing we get our climber designed well.

[Johnbot]

I mean, Breakaway seemed different. (Low scoring, with only two goals, if I remember correctly.) Lunacy was also unique. (With the low traction, and a single goal (although there were three tiers of game pieces) and the human-player reliant endgame.) I don't remember anything from before Lunacy.
I remember Logomotion's kickoff, and I though the game was very different.
I remember Rebound Rumble's kickoff, and I though that it had a similar feel to Logomotion.
This year, although the endgame seems tough, I believe that a large number of teams will be able to do it, so it will seem similar to last year's game.

[Racer26]

I think there's an awful lot of teams severely underestimating the difficulty of a 30pt climb. 10pt climbs are easy. 30pt climbs are HARD.

That being said, I think you're going to see several of the top teams with climbers that can do triple climbs in a ridiculously short period of time.

[Jacoblint228]

Amazing! i think this years game will probably be the most challenging one yet!

[AllieS4246]

Originally Posted by 1075guy

I think there's an awful lot of teams severely underestimating the difficulty of a 30pt climb. 10pt climbs are easy. 30pt climbs are HARD.

That being said, I think you're going to see several of the top teams with climbers that can do triple climbs in a ridiculously short period of time.

I could not agree more. The main thing will be finding a great balance between a very sucsessful shooter and a very sucsessful climber. The few that can should sweep the regionals do to the time it takes to accomplish both in 6 weeks.

[Joon Park]

Originally Posted by Johnbot

I mean, Breakaway seemed different. (Low scoring, with only two goals, if I remember correctly.) Lunacy was also unique. (With the low traction, and a single goal (although there were three tiers of game pieces) and the human-player reliant endgame.) I don't remember anything from before Lunacy.
I remember Logomotion's kickoff, and I though the game was very different.
I remember Breakaway, and I though that it had a similar feel to Logomotion.
This year, although the endgame seems tough, I believe that a large number of teams will be able to do it, so it will seem similar to last year's game.

Could you clarify? Breakway was before Logomotion, perhaps you meant Lunacy?

[gabrielau23]

Originally Posted by AllieS4246

I could not agree more. The main thing will be finding a great balance between a very sucsessful shooter and a very sucsessful climber. The few that can should sweep the regionals do to the time it takes to accomplish both in 6 weeks.

I think that the biggest difference between teams will be the ability to do 20+ climbs.

[F22Rapture]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

I think that the biggest difference between teams will be the ability to do 20+ climbs.

This is true.

Gravity is a cruel mistress. 100-130 pounds (gotta include the battery) falling from 12 inches is easily enough to do some serious damage to aluminum frames (or any frames, really) let alone 45, 55, 65 inches.

I can only imagine the nightmare of having a West Coast Drivetrain fall and shear off a wheel or two, bend the axles and potentially even damage the chassis itself.

A misstep right before finals (or if it's bad enough, any time before then) could spell the end of your competetiveness.

[gabrielau23]

Originally Posted by F22Rapture

This is true.

Gravity is a cruel mistress. 100-130 pounds (gotta include the battery) falling from 12 inches is easily enough to do some serious damage to aluminum frames (or any frames, really) let alone 45, 55, 65 inches.

I can only imagine the nightmare of having a West Coast Drivetrain fall and shear off a wheel or two, bend the axles and potentially even damage the chassis itself.

most definitely. Actually, our team calculated that the robot would be closer to 140. 10 lbs for bumpers, 10 for battery. Also, 10 points really isn't THAT much. 20 may be enough to swing a match.

[Bill_B]

What makes everyone so sure that the 120# limit is going to be universally reached? The smaller robots this year may only reach 100 or even 90# and still have enough functionality to be competitive. Add to that any emphasis on climbing will encourage serious weight trimming all around. I refer to weights without bumper battery additions. Not that a fall wouldn't be a serious event in the life of any of these machines.

[Djur]

Originally Posted by moogboy

Two wheel drive has become my team's final design. I think it will work out well for us providing we get our climber designed well.

I'd love to see how that works out.

[Johnbot]

Originally Posted by Joon Park

Could you clarify? Breakway was before Logomotion, perhaps you meant Lunacy?

Oops, for the sentence comparing Logomotion and Breakaway, I meant to type Rebound Rumble. My bad.

[thetntm]

Originally Posted by moogboy

Thoughts on 2 wheel drive?

hmm, how about a 3 wheel drive? it seems to be indicated by the new bumper and size rules, and it would probably help with strafing while aiming.