Alliance Selection Terminology

[Duncan Macdonald]

I hear myself saying it wrong all the time but it is part of FIRST terminology. I believe "PWM cable" (vs "3 wire cable" or "servo wire") and the use of "gracious" also fall into this category.

Originally Posted by Brandon1266

IE: 1114 (Captain) picks 2056 (1st pick) to be on their alliance for elims, and then picks 1241 (2nd pick). And if was IRI or a similar event, they would pick a back-up robot, 610 (3rd pick).

I would be ok with this alliance any year.

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

I just say alliance captain, first pick, third pick. Saves confusion.

Even though it technically wrong this how most people I know say it.

We know it's wrong but everyone knows what you mean when you say who was the captain who was first pick and who was third pick.

I assume at Championship this year the 4th robot will be referred to as "back-up".

[MamaSpoldi]

Originally Posted by Peter Matteson

Even though it technically wrong this how most people I know say it.

We know it's wrong but everyone knows what you mean when you say who was the captain who was first pick and who was third pick.

I assume at Championship this year the 4th robot will be referred to as "back-up".

It doesn't seem appropriate to call the 3rd pick at Champs the "back-up" since it is a full partner in the alliance and it can be utilized in any match that the alliance captain desires. In other words it is they are an additional strategic option for every match not just in case of a failure of one partner.

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by MamaSpoldi

It doesn't seem appropriate to call the 3rd pick at Champs the "back-up" since it is a full partner in the alliance and it can be utilized in any match that the alliance captain desires. In other words it is they are an additional strategic option for every match not just in case of a failure of an one partner.

Agreed. I'm just trying to anticipate the way we will talk about them. I think because tournament rules refer to picking your back-up when talking about this team that is why we will call them that. Realistically "4th bot" is more accurate, but I think people will use back-up for the aforementioned reason.

[JosephC]

Originally Posted by Peter Matteson

Agreed. I'm just trying to anticipate the way we will talk about them. I think because tournament rules refer to picking your back-up when talking about this team that is why we will call them that. Realistically "4th bot" is more accurate, but I think people will use back-up for the aforementioned reason.

I'm almost 100% sure I'm going to call them the back-up robot regardless of whether it's correct or not. I just happen to be used to the 4th robot being the back-up bot from IRI.