2015 Curie Divison

[bkahl]

Originally Posted by MrJohnston

1114 graciously accepts the alliance offer.

I usually like to think teams "gratefully" accept.

Then again, 1114 has their awesome speech listing all of their sponsors.

[JohnFogarty]

I predict 1114 - 4613 - 610 will be the first seed alliance. The 3rd pick probably won't be possible, but I can imagine. I can't figure the 4th.

[AMathew15]

Originally Posted by Gweiss96

Just so you know, 148 can do almost twice as much as 379 from HP and 1114 can grab the center cans.

At our first regional event we were only putting up just a little bit more then one six stack, at our second regional we were putting up little more then 2 six stacks a match and almost had a 3 tote auto, you can bet that we will significantly improve from what we have done at our past regional's now that we know what the competition is going to be so don't doubt us just yet.

[SciBorg Dave]

Originally Posted by MrJohnston

Prediction #2
(Yes, the serious long shot prediction)

The lack of strong bin-grabbers is downright painful. However, the few that are out there seem to always find themselves up against 1114 and never allied with 148. 1114 learns the hard way that they aren't quite fast enough on the grab is is constantly limited to 1 RC during a match. Moreover, its style of play nearly always prevents a partner from being able to complete coopertition stacks.

Meanwhile, 148 struggles with the complete lack of RC's and finds itself at odds with great alliance partner such as 3663 as they having no bins to stack at all. They spend their first few rounds in the top five unable to separate themselves from the pack.

Many teams spend most of the first day developing "wicked-fast" can-snatching mechanisms, but they are not ready until the end of qualifications - too late to help 148 to bolster its score.... Those other strong feeder-station bots hang close - those that have coopertition abilities or autonomous tote-stacking routines hang right with 148....

As qualifications begin to wind down, 148 and 1114 look up and the rankings and are completely shocked to see that 148 is sitting in third place with 1114 in second. Little-known 948 has managed to take advantage of a little luck in its pairings and its 3-tote-stack autonomous routine followed by an immediate coopertition score in every match to just slip into the #1 spot.

Alliance selections are intense... 948 chooses 148 - fully anticipating to be declined. And, they are. 948 then selects 1114. Bewildered 1114 isn't sure what to do. 148 is no longer a possibility. Is there a better stacker than 948 left? What if they declines and 948 takes that stacker (and gets declined again?!)? Resigned to their fate - and cursing coopertition points, 1114 graciously accepts the alliance offer. Due to an insane run in can burglers, a very strong 4061 manages not be drafted... until 948 snatches them up with their second pick. They seem to have improved their single can-snatcher in the two weeks since the PNW Championships and find that they are able to out-grab nearly all 2-bin grabbers... As is the newly mounted bin-snatcher on 948.

948-1114-4061 manage to run the table (though really have to battle in the finals against a tough 148-1318-610 alliance) and make Einstein.

We will play together in Quals- But we two have some unfinished business to take care of in the Elims. Lets make it happen.

[RoboTUB]

I was a spectator at both the Pittsburgh regional and the Buckeye regional and witnessed the wonderful consistency of 379. They not only improved tremendously from their first regional to their second, but I have no doubt in my mind that they will improve even more for worlds. They are very strong in making consistent 6 stacks and I would love to see them and 1114 team up for the "playoffs"!

[MrJohnston]

Originally Posted by SciBorg Dave

We will play together in Quals- But we two have some unfinished business to take care of in the Elims. Lets make it happen.

Yes. We do have business to settle... It would have been good to see how our alliance could perform sans strange software issues... We had a shot in PNW...

[MonteCristo578]

3309 can do 3 Five stacks and has a three tote auto, so let's not count them out. They also have the 3rd highest OPR in Curie, closing the gap between 148 & 1114's monster OPRs.

I would bet money that 148 and 1114 are already working together. They are both sponsored by IFI and they both are masters of strategy. They probably have a trick up their sleeves. Let's be real here.

610 being the third robot in 1114's 1st seed alliance is probably impossible. They're too good to be the 2nd pick of 1114.

[glennword]

#TeamIFInstein anyone?

[MrJohnston]

Originally Posted by MonteCristo578

3309 can do 3 Five stacks and has a three tote auto, so let's not count them out. They also have the 3rd highest OPR in Curie, closing the gap between 148 & 1114's monster OPRs.

I would bet money that 148 and 1114 are already working together. They are both sponsored by IFI and they both are masters of strategy. They probably have a trick up their sleeves. Let's be real here.

610 being the third robot in 1114's 1st seed alliance is probably impossible. They're too good to be the 2nd pick of 1114.

Nobody is counting out the Friarbots: They are a very good landfill stacker. However, they do not match well with 1114... They are a better fit for 148 or other feeder station bots. My big question about the: They should have learned in Las Vegas that they need to be able to get to the center RC's during autonomous if they are going to hold their weight in eliminations in St. Louis as a landfill bot. Did they? It does not look like they had anything the following weekend in Arizona.

Unless a lot more bin snatchers appear in Curie before qualification rounds, the Friarbots will do very well in qualifications. However, without some manner of grabbing bins in autonomous, they are not likely to be an early pick... Rather, they will hope to be a captain (not unlikely) and will have to choose between picking up a bot that can snatch bins and one that complements them well at the feeder station.

Frankly, I am guessing that they will add the bin-grabber before qualifications begin... If so, they could be the second best landfill bot (next to 1114) and a very possible partner to 948 (my team).

As for 610... It is a very good robot, but there are a lot of good robots in Curie. As I have started to familiarize myself with all the stronger robots in Curie, I figure there are two *really* good ones (148 and 1114) and about 20-25 other strong ones - one of which is 610. 610's OPR ranks them at 22 in Curie, which, from the video I have seen, may be about right for their performance so far this year... We'll see how they (and everybody else!) plays in St. Louis, but Curie is strong enough that seeing 610 as a late second pick is reasonable. (Right now, I'd project them as an earlier 2nd pick - but I still have a lot of robots to watch.)

Are 148 and 1114 already working together? Texas and Canada? Maybe by phone? I don't think so... Still, it really doesn't matter: They are the two strongest bots in Curie - but a solid margin - as things stand right now and, as they compliment each other very well, are very likely to choose each other for eliminations. It is up to the rest of us to find a way to take the #1 from them in qualifications an break up that nasty alliance.

[Sunnykx]

I think Team 3663 has some cool things to offer as well. We're an incredibly reliable double-can-with-noodle 6 stacker and change and we've developed a fast, strong can snatcher. Our OPR is not the highest because we've had an unusually low amount of partners who do Coop.

Our scouting is fantastic and we regularly beat the odds by advancing over higher-seeded alliances. Our SF avg at District Champs was 201.33. We've pre-scouted most of you as individual teams - not alliances- and we know who puts up the numbers and how they do it. Be assured, we know who you are even if you haven't had a big presence online. Yes, 379, you're one of the teams I'm talking about. You guys are awesome. So, be on the look-out for this PNW team that may not have crossed your radar.

[MrJohnston]

Originally Posted by Sunnykx

I think Team 3663 has some cool things to offer as well. We're an incredibly reliable double-can-with-noodle 6 stacker and change and we've developed a fast, strong can snatcher. Our OPR is not the highest because we've had an unusually low amount of partners who do Coop.

Our scouting is fantastic and we regularly beat the odds by advancing over higher-seeded alliances. Our SF avg at District Champs was 201.33. We've pre-scouted most of you as individual teams - not alliances- and we know who puts up the numbers and how they do it. Be assured, we know who you are even if you haven't had a big presence online. Yes, 379, you're one of the teams I'm talking about. You guys are awesome. So, be on the look-out for this PNW team that may not have crossed your radar.

Yup, 3663 is a very strong feeder station bot... I look forward to seeing their can-snatcher... It was under development at the PNW champs, so it will be great to see what they've got now...

[MrJohnston]

I'm looking for video on 1319 and 4613. Both have some good performances at regional events, so I'd like to see what they bring to the table, butt he video available for their events (Australia, Georgia Southern and Peachtree) seems to be rather lacking....

[JohnFogarty]

Originally Posted by MrJohnston

I'm looking for video on 1319 and 4613. Both have some good performances at regional events, so I'd like to see what they bring to the table, butt he video available for their events (Australia, Georgia Southern and Peachtree) seems to be rather lacking....

The entire Australian regional videos are here. All of 4613's matches are there.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkd...sXlNda69U0g3VA

Finals they consistently made 3 stacks. 2 x 6 & 1 x 5. All capped. Except the 3rd stack FM 3.

Also reveal video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58SO-kO7Jr8

As for 1319. You'll find all match video for their regionals here in Georgia FRC's channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQT...F93LrYzIIvNe-g

If my memory serves me right they usually made 2 x 6 stacks capped.

[The other Gabe]

Originally Posted by MrJohnston

Yup... We have our work cut out for us...

I'm thinking they wont ally: not enough can grabbers; 1114 will go for 610, or someone like that

[MrJohnston]

Teams to watch on Curie (other than 148 and 1114) - listed in numerical order:

Who did I miss?

70: Can put up a couple of tall stacks, primarily from the landfill, has a solid 3-tote autonomous routine... Finished 4th in Michigan Champs qualifiers, but has something to prove after being eliminated in the 4th round.

107: Another Michigan team. ONly finished 15th in Michigan Champs qualifiers, but was an early pick (#3). Sports a solid 20 pt. autonomous and can put up two full stacks from the feeder station. Made it to semis in Michigan.

303: Another very solid feeder-station bot - had a very strong season in MAR. Can solidly put up two full stacks -and perhaps a little more. 6th in the Mid-Atlantic Champs, lost in the finals.

379: Out of Cleveland, this is another strong, consistent feeder station bot capable of putting up two full stacks plus a few more totes. Claim to fame: Competed in two regionals, #1 captain in both, won Buckeye.

701: This is perhaps the only team in the world this year to compete in three regionals - and lose in the finals in all three - against very strong competition. Another solid feeder station bot able to put up two full stacks - though has sown some play in the landfill.

948: Another very solid feeder station bot - able to put up two full stacks, plus a little more. Adds a very strong 20pt auto +fast coopertition combo that could affect qualifiers. Has been inconsistent all year. Put up the highest score in PNW this year.

1318: A PNW landfill bot with a pretty quick two-bin grab that consistently puts up two-five stacks from the landfill. Will compliment all the strong feeder bots well. 3 district events, 3 district wins.

1574: Won in Israel; can quickly grab two center bins... Some inconsistency in scoring...

3309: Three regionals this year, improvement at each one, culminating in a win in Arizona. This bot will put up 3 full stacks from teh landfill if allowed to do so - and has a very strong 20 pt autonomous. If it develops a way to snatch center bins during autonomous, this bot could be dangerous.

3663: Another strong feeder station bot - consistently putting up two six-stacks. Rumor has it that this PNW bot now also has an autonomous bin grabber...

3937: Yet another strong feeder station bot - able to put up two full stacks - plus a few more bins. Won at Bayou.

4061: Another strong feeder station bot from the PNW. It's ability to use tipped over bins sets it apart, though. Able to put up two full stacks from the feeder and recently added a pretty darn quick bin-grabber. Definitely has something to prove after a "software error" helped it to an early exit in PNW champs.

4143: A feeder/landfill hybrid able to put up two full stacks during teleop... Can snag center bins with long arm during teleop... May be able to do so during autonomous.

Good bots that almost made this list:
610, 1156, 2046, 3959, 4450, 5046