Is Autonomous worth it?

[Jared Russell]

I think there will be events where the autonomous high score is 12.

I think there will be events where the mean autonomous score is below 4.

I think there will be events where the mode autonomous score is 0.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by Jared Russell

I think there will be events where the autonomous high score is 12.

I think there will be events where the median autonomous score is below 4.

I think there will be events where the mode autonomous score is 0.

I think you're probably right.

As to "the math," it's very, very easy: you have fifteen seconds in which to score points. Is it better to score points *and* set yourself up for teleop, score points only, set yourself up for teleop only, or do something else?

[Taylor]

The question this year isn't "is it worth it to do autonomous?" - it's "do we want to be the only ones that don't do autonomous?"

[MrJohnston]

Originally Posted by Jared Russell

I think there will be events where the autonomous high score is 12.

I think there will be events where the median autonomous score is below 4.

I think there will be events where the mode autonomous score is 0.

And if you have a robot that can sore 20 in autonomous every time - single-handedly - or *cough* 28, would it not be worth doing - while your two alliance partners start preparing to stack?

More than the last several years, when thinking about Autonomous this year, we have to think of ourselves not as a single robot but, rather, as a member of an alliance. Yes, the center recycling containers will be important - especially in tougher events/matches. However, only one or two robots needs to make a move for them. Yes, stacking the recycling bins that start on our side is important - but how many robots need to do that at once. Up to 32 autonomous points are possible - that's too many points to completely ignore - especially when you can compile them before sending a single tote out of the feeder station.

The key will be coordinating the efforts of the entire alliance... Robots able to do a couple of different things (even/especially? during autonomous) will have an advantage as they will find success with different mixes of alliance members.

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Taylor

The question this year isn't "is it worth it to do autonomous?" - it's "do we want to be the only ones that don't do autonomous?"

The question isn't "should we", it's "what should we". There are a lot of ways to spend your time, and some of them might result in more than 20 or 30 points later in the match. Of course, most of us know that by now. I just think the "points" in auto might be forgone by a number of teams.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

I just think the "points" in auto might be forgone by a number of teams.

Agreed. But if your alliance doesn't get an autonomous score because your robot didn't move - regardless of the outcome of the match - that could be damaging to your team's image.

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Agreed. But if your alliance doesn't get an autonomous score because your robot didn't move - regardless of the outcome of the match - that could be damaging to your team's image.

Right, of course. I hope every robot moves. (could this be a reasonable hope this year?)

[adciv]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

Right, of course. I hope every robot moves. (could this be a reasonable hope this year?)

I don't remember any robots not moving last year by the end of the regionals. Mind you, we did see issues with robots moving the wrong direction or not stopping and slamming into the wall.

[IronicDeadBird]

My question is did some team dare to make a robot that didn't move and do they have a super strategy....
It would be a risky move but who knows I find this community of students and mentors is very very smart and creative.

[who716]

Autonomous is always worth it, and if it wasn't possible first wouldnt make it sound possible, our design this year is going to specifically focus on stacking three in auto and bringing them into the autozone in the allotted time, aswell as another auto the grabs two recycle bins off the step( at the same time), since we could do this we could do everything else the game calls for aswell. therfore in my opinion i think it is highly vALUBALE!

[who716]

Originally Posted by IronicDeadBird

My question is did some team dare to make a robot that didn't move and do they have a super strategy....
It would be a risky move but who knows I find this community of students and mentors is very very smart and creative.

HAHA we tetered on the thought of a stationary elevator system that would go from the human player station to the near platform that would raise and lower by air cylanders therfore the human player would just place the tote out of the chute and it would travel on up the elevator then come off at the platform the we would raise it too the next level and attempt it again.

we decided though that this was two one sided of an option and really limits our ability to work with other robots

[Caleb Sykes]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

The question isn't "should we", it's "what should we". There are a lot of ways to spend your time, and some of them might result in more than 20 or 30 points later in the match. Of course, most of us know that by now. I just think the "points" in auto might be forgone by a number of teams.

I completely agree with this.

We are planning to have a couple of different auto modes for different situations. Depending on our partners' capabilities* I could see our alliance going for 0, 4, 8, or 12 points in auto.

*Their actual capabilities, determined by scouting, not the capabilities that they think they have.