The Quest for Einstein

[Tom Bottiglieri]

I bet someone from 973 could add quite a bit of perspective to this thread. They consistently build very good specialist type robots that are basically designed to make Einstein.

[Thad House]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

I bet someone from 973 could add quite a bit of perspective to this thread. They consistently build very good specialist type robots that are basically designed to make Einstein.

Adam already did a few posts back.

Their robots are always good at doing that. They seem to be amazing at building robots that have a specialty for taking them really far.

[Michael Corsetto]

Originally Posted by waialua359

The problem is for teams similar to ours. We can never get over the hump, because we dont get picked early, nor do we get picked later in the 2nd round. Always stuck in the middle. Being in the middle is the worst place to be or to be selected there, IMO.

Glenn,

I seem to remember 359 turning down the #1 seed in 2013... along with 3 other teams...

To the OP: Steal from the best, invent the rest. We are constantly looking to 254 (best team in FRC), and they're a huge reason we've gotten to where we are. Also 971 and 973. All world champions within that past 6 years.

#sunsoutgunsout #choochoo

-Mike

[kevincrispie]

Perhaps one of the most important attributes a team or team members can have is hustle. I distinctly remember the Silicon Valley Regional in 2013 and being impressed by the hustle and determination of the students on 973. Even though there weren't many of them, each student went the extra mile to make sure that 973 was a highly competitive team. It was quite inspirational. They certainly live up to the slogan that is printed on their shirts, "Outwork us".

Successful teams that I've encountered have creative, focused, and hardworking students. They have the ability to overcome obstacles. Many currently successful teams weren't always successful, and worked very hard to get to where they are today. I know that's true of my team and other multiple regional winning teams, and it's a continuous effort to keep improving and figure out ways to run our team.

All these traits are achievable in any FIRST team, regardless of their size or resources. I don't just look at great teams's robots when I go to competitions, I look at the kids working and I try to figure out what makes a team go.

[ice.berg]

Money - I am going to have to disagree on this one. Yes money does help, but doest it directly influent success? I don't think so.

Resourcefulness - I believe this is one of the most crucial things in FIRST. You may not have a lot of cash or other fancy things, but its how you use your resources to their greatest ability. I have seen some many successful robots built with a reciprocating saw and a dewalt. Now, of course it may not be the most efficient or prettiest, but it sure could get the job done.

It may be a surprise but, money does not automatically buy you a great robot in FIRST.

[artK]

The third (and fourth) bot is extremely important to doing well at champs. Consider the third robots of the past few years championship alliances. Getting the best alliance partners requires a great combination of an amazing robot, strong scouting, a generous schedule, and some teams to fall deep into the draft. Teams like 2848, 610, 16, 973, 177, 971, 148, 987*, who normally go deep (or win) at the most competitive regionals, were the second picks on these alliances. Even the fourth bots this year were all exceptional robots (5136 and 3467 were among my favorite machines that year, and those four backup robots won three events, a couple of district champion finals appearances).

The one catch for trying to build a good third robot is that what it contributes to the alliance can be difficult to see year to year, especially when doing initial strategic analysis. I could write in extreme detail what third bots did, but in general, the best third robots specialized in something other than the primary scoring function.



*I am not sure what the draft order was when they won champs, but it was from the 8th seed, and 177 is already on the list.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by artK

The third (and fourth) bot is extremely important to doing well at champs. Consider the third robots of the past few years championship alliances. Getting the best alliance partners requires a great combination of an amazing robot, strong scouting, a generous schedule, and some teams to fall deep into the draft. Teams like 2848, 610, 16, 973, 177, 971, 148, 987*, who normally go deep (or win) at the most competitive regionals, were the second picks on these alliances. Even the fourth bots this year were all exceptional robots (5136 and 3467 were among my favorite machines that year, and those four backup robots won three events, a couple of district champion finals appearances).

The one catch for trying to build a good third robot is that what it contributes to the alliance can be difficult to see year to year, especially when doing initial strategic analysis. I could write in extreme detail what third bots did, but in general, the best third robots specialized in something other than the primary scoring function.



*I am not sure what the draft order was when they won champs, but it was from the 8th seed, and 177 is already on the list.

190 picked 987 then 177 in 2007.

[The_ShamWOW88]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

#sunsoutgunsout #choochoo

Unless you're in New England....

#AllAboutThatShovelLife

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by The_ShamWOW88

Unless you're in New England....

#AllAboutThatShovelLife

#snowblowyouaway

[Sperkowsky]

My goal is to make worlds atleast once by the time Im a senior. This year we have a decent robot but not a great one and I know for sure there will be much better bots in our area. Our chairmans award is good but not great also. (We need to do more community outreach)

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

My goal is to make worlds atleast once by the time Im a senior. This year we have a decent robot but not a great one and I know for sure there will be much better bots in our area. Our chairmans award is good but not great also. (We need to do more community outreach)

Don't build a middle of the pack <insert highest scoring game task here> robot. Build the absolute best <insert complimentary scoring task here> robot.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

Don't build a middle of the pack <insert highest scoring game task here> robot. Build the absolute best <insert complimentary scoring task here> robot.

...and then pray you don't get selected by the 8th seed alliance.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

...and then pray you don't get selected by the 8th seed alliance.

Hey, luck is a big part of it for all teams! Sometimes the cards fall your way, sometimes they don't.

[MrTechCenter]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

...and then pray you don't get selected by the 8th seed alliance.

I've witnessed 8th seed alliances make it to regional finals. Anything could happen.

[GKrotkov]

Originally Posted by MrTechCenter

I've witnessed 8th seed alliances make it to regional finals. Anything could happen.

Certainly. However, when following the strategy of optimize to be the very best second pick, you should be aware of what might happen should you succeed. It doesn't mean you shouldn't specialize, but you may end up shooting yourself in the foot.

Interestingly, that changes a bit this year. This year, you don't have to outscore the 1st alliance as the 8th seed to advance. I get the feeling that this will give a boost to the lower alliances.