2015- Minimum Competitive Concept

[Ginger Power]

I didn't get to go to a week 0 event this year, so I have a question for people who did. What would you say the MCC* is this year? and, what do you think it will take to get in the top 8?


*MCC = minimum competitive concept, or the simplest design that could make eliminations at almost every regional.

I saw this post in the week 0 thread and figured it deserved it's own thread. So what does everybody think about MCC's and the robots that will seed in the top 8?

MCC: A robot with a U shaped frame (not a requirement but useful) that can line up in front of the tote chute and simply make quick stacks of 3-6. A simple fork lift on an elevator driven by a winch can accomplish this task effectively. Having tabs on the forklift to grip the totes is almost a necessity for forklifts based on what I've seen thus far. It doesn't get much more simple than a drivetrain plus one motor.

Top 8 Robot: After watching 148 I'm still in a little bit of shock when it comes to this... Assuming most robots at an average regional aren't that incredibly... can't think of the right adjective but it's something good... I believe a top 8 robot will be able to make at least 2 capped stacks of 5 or 6 with an autonomous mode that can score points without the help of alliance partners. More importantly a top 8 team will need to effectively coordinate an alliance given the lack of space for teams to work without planning ahead. To seed in the top 8 at an average regional I believe you also need to score coopertition nearly every match.

[Kevin Leonard]

Being that no real competitions or picking has happened yet, this conversation is usually tabled for post-season shenanigans.

As of now, I could see a number of types of extremely simple robots that could make eliminations at every regional they attend.

My MCC right now: A robot that can possess game pieces, move into the auto zone, and brush litter into the landfill zone. This robot could serve a few different functions:
a) It could start stacks
b) It could move stacks
c) It can carry containers to get k'noodled at the human player station
d) It can push litter into the landfill

A top 8 robot at an average regional can probably make 1 capped stack of 4-6 per match or 2 uncapped stacks of 4-6, as well as get coopertition most matches. Most will have auto modes that just grab a tote or container and move to the auto zone.

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by Ginger Power

MCC: A robot with a U shaped frame (not a requirement but useful) that can line up in front of the tote chute and simply make quick stacks of 3-6. A simple fork lift on an elevator driven by a winch can accomplish this task effectively.

Sounds like our robot, which is encouraging.

If we take my (possibly optimistic) prediction for qual average scores in week 1 (subtracting TNA), we get 72 points. If a robot can make one stack, five totes tall with an RC on top, they get 30 points, or nearly half of my prediction. I want to say that a robot meeting MCC should should earn at least 30 points on its own.

Though, if we take Kevin's view, then my MCC sounds like his Top 8.

[Ginger Power]

Originally Posted by Kevin Leonard

Being that no real competitions or picking has happened yet, this conversation is usually tabled for post-season shenanigans.

It could be interesting to see how people's opinions change from now until then. Obviously nobody can truly know what the MCC is and it's all just speculation, but it's Chief Delphi! Land of speculation.

[StAxis]

The 28 point boundary. That's the minimum competitive barrier, at the championship level at least.

What do I mean by that?

A robot, for example 148 since that's the one everyone is ooing and ahhing over right now (and for good reason) can pull off a stack and can auto alone. That means in auto your third robot needs to do one thing, drive. There are your first 4 points of the 28.

Then in teleop, one robot will take the landfill by storm, and one will take a feeder station. The primary feeder will do 3 stacks with cans and litter. The landfill robot occupies the landfill and takes the cans from the center in auto, then just stacks the landfill totes.

That leaves your third robot, a feeder station robot, to complete 2 full stacks, sans cans, from the non taken feeder station in order to maximize the score for the alliance. That's the other 24 points.

Now, for a winning alliance at champs, this robot may also spend the last minute working on the unsused landfill side depending on the landfill robot.

*Sidenote this all goes out the door the second a powerhouse pulls out a double feeder station split robot. At which point 2 landfills or a landfill and step specialist become the minimum, but I think the 28 point robot is more likely to be the lowest common denominator robot

[EricH]

I have a theoretical MCC. However, because it's an actual robot, I'll refrain from posting what it is for a while.


Actually, the real MCC for Recycle Rush would be a conveyor-bot. Takes totes from the Chute and lands them on the nearest platform. Some fine-positioning items may be required...but it should be simple enough...

[Caleb Sykes]

MCC = Robin.

You can't get much simpler, and Robin would easily make elims at most events.