Thoughts on driving in the previous season

[Ryan Dognaux]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

2015 Recycle Rush, more than any other recent game, called for cool-headed drivers.

This. Recycle Rush was one of the most unforgiving games we've ever had in FRC. One wrong move and your match score could drop by at least 40 points, sometimes more if multiple stacks went down. In previous years if you missed a shot you could simply try again - this year's game piece made that pretty much impossible. You needed to be both consistent and fast at high levels of play, but consistency was the most important.

[Connor McBride]

Originally Posted by John Retkowski

In addition. I feel like the virtual field space this years was smaller than many recent games. Many more game pieces that were fairly large by frc standards, paired with scoring ramps and no horizontal limit restrictions for robots resulted in a field that compared to other years felt, well... cramped.

I completely agree with you on this. Especially when you have big robot, there is very little room to accomplish the task.

[Lij2015]

This would have been the best year to have a new driver because some robots needed minimal driver input, and you didn't have to drive against defense.

Also, drive coaches were only important as far as where to place stacks and read off time as unless something broke(which happened its fair share of times) your strategy didn't change on the fly much

[lark95]

Originally Posted by Lij2015

This would have been the best year to have a new driver because some robots needed minimal driver input, and you didn't have to drive against defense.

While this might have been true with a few bots, most of the bots that i saw, ours included, was a completely manual control. No autonomy at all. For our team this would have been a very bad year for a new driver.

However our team really hasn't done much in the new driver training area. With some training anyone could drive.

[DrewMatic]

Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell

Human Playing this year was much more difficult and required communication than the past two years. There wasn't much to communicate in 2013/14, but this year it made sense because of how stacking works.

Even though this was my rookie year. I learned that communication is the deciding factor if you do good in a match. Good communication is key

[nickyflash]

I remember for our first few rounds, it sure was tricky to get the robot to be perfectly aligned with the tote chute.

For our robot, it was easier for our driver to collect totes from the landfill. Man, it was some intense driving.

[MaGiC_PiKaChU]

Originally Posted by nickyflash

For our robot, it was easier for our driver to collect totes from the landfill. Man, it was some intense driving.

I'm glad I also had to drive a landfill bot... Way more entertaining

[Pouncing Zebra]

Communication is a very big part of success, whether between driver/operator/HP or alliance partners. But part of our success this year would have to be the dedication to practicing. I'll admit, it got boring sometimes, but at the time of champs I wouldn't need to have my eyes open to line up to a chute door. Our coach said before every single match this year (including Einstein Finals) "It's only another practice match" which really did help keep stress levels low.

[Lij2015]

Originally Posted by lark95

While this might have been true with a few bots, most of the bots that i saw, ours included, was a completely manual control. No autonomy at all. For our team this would have been a very bad year for a new driver.

However our team really hasn't done much in the new driver training area. With some training anyone could drive.

I did have a very different experience because only our claw was manual(and luckily me and our operator was great with it) while our whole stacking and intake system was run by one button.

My job was to position to get the second can, line up, spit the first tote out and then place the 6 stack and repeat steps two through four. If something broke(and it did a decent amount) thats when we switch to manual.

[nickyflash]

Originally Posted by Pouncing Zebra

Communication is a very big part of success, whether between driver/operator/HP or alliance partners.

I agree 1000%. Each person had a crucial role, and depending on the type of robot, human player could be extremely vital to the points. I thought Coopertition was quite interesting as well. (there were some good attempts there)

Originally Posted by Pouncing Zebra

Our coach said before every single match this year (including Einstein Finals) "It's only another practice match" which really did help keep stress levels low.

I'll have to commend you for that. That's pure zen mode.