Notes from cleveland

[Josh Hambright]

So far most robots have demonstrated the ability to simply push things around. Many teams are using a very simple modification to the 1 hour drive train and other simple designs.

Only 2 robots have created stacks during competition. We were one of them and the highest robot stack far has been 3 i believe,we are pretty sure we can get 4 tomorrow but we'll see.

Most of the matches are simply robots killing each others human player stacks and knocking the wall and clearing stacks. Many of the matches have ended with peaceful sharing of the top of the ramp though there has been some good competition over the HDPE.

Yesterday during practice rounds many of the teams skipped their autonomous code using the human player getting back on the pads because the code wasn't done. Today we saw ALOT of dead reckoning wall attackers. Not many teams are using sensors for much more then line following.

Alot of rookies are doing very well. ArcherGeeks from Ft. Wayne were throwing boxes from one side to the other using their forklift arm yesterday. And there are several rookie teams in the top 10.

Robots to look out for.
33
1006
292
494
47
73
340

I cant think of any more, its late and i need to goto sleep. We should have alot of pictures and possibly some video online in the next week.

Tomorrow looks like it is going to be very interesting.
Awards Given today:
Rookie allstar- 1006 (the canadian team)
Driving tomorrows tech- 469 (Las Guerillas)
There was another one but i missed it.

Ohh and if any teams happen to read this and are interested, our team put together an access database and scouted all of the teams and if anyone wants to take a look at it before a match just stop by our pit and ask about it and we are more than willing to share. We will have a refined and improved system like this at chicago also if anyone is interested there.

[Onizuka]

That pretty much sums up what has been happening the past few days. Teams are mostly using simple but very effective autonomous modes(usually up the ramp to knock boxes down).
To add one team to watch out for to the list: 1126, I will most likely have some more teams after todays competition.

[jnatt]

Just watched Match #89

Those four robots where well played.

110 to 73.

Liked the stacker and bin thrower.

Good job to all those teams.