A robot that can just gather and pass efficiently

[Team549BigDawg]

After reading many threads and watching tons of videos what do you think about a robot that IS NOT a shooter but a very efficient ball gatherer and passer? I read and reread the scoring and it's obvious that many points can be gained by passing.
What I've seen so far is that tons of hours are being placed on shooting but not enough hours in passing. If it takes several seconds to line up for a pass and somehow get the ball out of your bot that valuable time wasted.

What are your thoughts?

[brandon.cottrell]

As is the standard with most of these games, we probably know what the ultimate "meta" for an alliance is until after the season is over. Right now I kinda think that 3 robots that generally all robots that can shoot, score, catch and be driven well are all you need.

[efoote868]

Originally Posted by Team549BigDawg

What are your thoughts?

If your team can gather the ball and release it in a controlled manner faster than anyone else (with a moderately fast - fast drive train), I would expect your robot to be in the elimination bracket at any regional you attend. I wouldn't be surprised if your robot made it to Einstein either.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by efoote868

If your team can gather the ball and release it in a controlled manner faster than anyone else (with a moderately fast - fast drive train), I would expect your robot to be in the elimination bracket at any regional you attend. I wouldn't be surprised if your robot made it to Einstein either.

I absolutely agree. I think there will be a huge need for a specialist machine like that. Very few teams will do it because its always sexier to be the scorer.

An effective assist machine will be a top pick, if not a picker.

[Team549BigDawg]

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I view this game as a soccer match. Not everyone is a forward that will be kicking the ball in the net. Teams need a good mix of players to accomplish the task.
An alliance needs a great inbounder to pass the ball to the next robot for the bonus points. That team must also disrupt the opposition when it's not inbounding the ball.

It takes a team of multiple talents to win a match.

[SoftwareBug2.0]

Originally Posted by Team549BigDawg

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I view this game as a soccer match.

This game reminds me of water polo.

[bEdhEd]

Just use a shooter that doubles as a passer

[Joseph1825]

That is exactly what I was telling my team after reading the rules at kickoff. A robot that only has a floor pickup (that is extremely fast and can be reversed) and a good drive train will be a very good robot in this game.

The thing I find interesting about this game is that a robot can never score a single point, but still seed first. All you have to do is win all your matches. Even a defencive robot could seed first if they played well enough to win every match.

[tkell274]

I honestly think that if you can build a robot with a solid tank drive and a very quick pickup/passer that you can do much better than a team that shoots and only makes it in 75% of the time.

This game is all about getting as many cycles as you can, and an alliance of three robots passing and scoring on the low goal crazy fast to get 31 points is going to beat any alliance of robots trying to get the truss score, spend time chasing the ball down after the truss score, getting the ball, shooting, missing, getting the ball again, getting defended, possibly missing again and then finally making it in.

I think this is a very viable strategy for all teams, including rookies and will further help to even the playing field and force the game to come down to the strongest built and best driven robots and the best strategy between the whole alliance instead of just a few power house teams ruling the field like always.

[Mark Sheridan]

or if your a team of limited resources concentrate on being passer. A robot with an good intake and the ability to pass the ball out will be invaluable.

why bother having a 7/10 shooter and a 7/10 intake when you can have one 10/10 intake? I would argue this would be an ideal MCC (Minimum Competitive Concept) robot. Being able to grab the ball fast and quickly pass it would make a robot completely competitive, and could be more attractive as a pick for an alliance that already has a shooter.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=116732

I really hope most robots will have decent intakes at competition. I think a team with a version of any of the 3 day robot intakes, a ball holder with incline to help the ball exit and a well maintained kit bot chassis will be a highly desired pick.