2015 Robot Rumble

[TechValleyFIRST]

Visit our website for more info and to register: http://techvalleyfirst.org/robotrumble/

[Paperclips]

Since Robot Rumble is just around the corner now, I figured that I'd make a few (outrageous) predictions about the event.
Based off of this post: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...9&postcount=55

1. 263- 20- 3044
2. 5254- 1124- 5099
3. 1493- 2791- 250
4. 839- 5236- 1880
5. 145- 4203- filler robot
6. 1665- 716- filler robot

It’s all going according to the predictions at Tech Valley Robot Rumble. 5254 has messed up 1 too many times in qualifications, losing their number one seed to 263 in the final match. 5254 is not worried about this, however, until 263 picks Team 20 in the first round. Somehow, Aftershock had found out about their master plan to recreate the epic TVR finalist alliance. In shock, the 5254 representative looks around, and notices the screen depicting the seeds of robots left. Stuttering, he gets out 1124’s number, and eventually, forms the Uber-Cyber-Raider alliance. The Tech Valley teams decide to team up with one another, and, with hours of practice field time backing them, form the Shaking Dyna-Falcons. The number 1 alliance gets jealous of these super cool names, and becomes the Sh0Xeteers.

The eliminations begin with 263’s alliance performing well against 1665’s, grabbing all of the cans from the middle with 3044 and 20’s amazing can grabbers, and end up putting up about 100 points. 1665’s alliance, however, surprises the crowd by completely cleaning out the human player station by throwing totes over the driver station wall and pushing them onto the platforms with Dozer-esque tactics. They put up around 70 points, but know it won’t be enough for them to move on. In Quarterfinals 6, Rosie reveals a new piece of cheesecake that they’ve just developed- can grabbing plants. Given a piece of cheesecake, it turns out that 839 can control rose bushes with their mind for 15 seconds at a time. They take all the cans and start stacking from the landfill before the match even begins. Their alliance puts up nearly 250 points. After quarterfinals are over, the alliances to move on are 263’s, 5254’s, 1493’s, and 839’s.

The semifinals show some truly impressive scores- there isn’t a match where the score is below 200. Following the now eliminated 1665’s example, human players now begin to throw totes onto the platform before the match even begins. Team 20’s human player is especially good at this, making two 6 stacks, capped, in just under a minute. 3044 begins to clear most of the landfill in every match. The number one seed alliance has an ending average of around 270. 5254 sees opportunity in the cheesecake eating plants, and begins to experiment, creating their own just in time for the first semi match, where they put the plant on 1124, who then clears the landfill 30 seconds in. Then, looking for something else to do, they pick up the step and place it outside of the field, allowing their alliance to steal totes from the other side of the field. By the end of the match, they have over 290 points. 1493 reveals their new mechanism for the next match, wings for their robot to fly to the other side of the field to pick up totes. However, halfway through the match, the Falcons get too close to one of the stage lights, and the wax used to hold their wings together melts. They land on 5236, who has been putting up 3 stacks from the feeder station, and shuts 839’s alliance out of playoffs. The Uber-Cyber- Raider alliance will go up against the Sh0xeteers in finals.

The finals have arrived, and tension is in the air. The MC counts down to begin the first finals match. “3, 2, 1…” He is stopped just before saying Rush. The MC turns off the microphone and has a heated debate with the referees. They stop arguing and resetters begin to modify the field. Then, the MC announces to the unsettled crowd the news- there will be no alliances for the final match- all robots will be expected to compete by themselves. Each drive team gasps, and immediately turns to make modifications to their robot.
Team 263 puts an earthquake machine on their robot. Team 20 straps all their old robots together to form the “Legacy Team”. 3044 brings out their offseason project, a mechanical Ox, much like the DARPA mule.
The Robot Raiders feed their plants more cheesecake while making a number of whispered phone calls. Team 1124 doesn’t really know what to do, so they team up with 5099 to build, as they put it “something, hopefully.”

Finals One has an impressive showing for all the alliances- Teams 20, 3044, and 11245099 especially. 20 shows that their legacy status in not a mistake, and scores every game piece they can- from tennis balls to moon rocks to totes. 3044 charges the stacks once they’ve been made, de-scoring every tote that each alliance manages to put up. 11245099 is the only team that manages to avoid that- by bringing back 1124’s 2014 robot bumpers and having 5099 play defense the entire match. However, all the teams are stopped by Sachem at the end of the match. After only putting up 2 totes in teleop, 263 releases their earthquake machine in full force, knocking down everyone’s stacks but their own, and three of 20’s tetras.
Team 20 takes the first finals match.

Finals Two has team 5254 come smiling to the driver station, and, after autonomous ends, a forklift drives onto the field, disrupting the Tiger and Bull fight.
However- this is no ordinary forklift. This forklift is being driven by none other than Karthik, EJ, and Dean Kamen! In awe of the sheer power of the forklift, drive teams step back from the controls for a moment. Then they snap back to the match. 5254 stacks with the help of the magical forklift. 5099 battles 3044. 20 stacks all the game pieces they can find. They know that whatever they do will have to stand up to Sachem’s aftershocks. With 5 seconds left, Sachem shows what their made of, and topples the 10 6 stacks made by the magical forklift, and any other thing standing on the field.

The referees, baffled by this whole event, debate for nearly 15 minutes over the winner.

They determine that the 2015 Robot Rumble Champion is the Head Ref.

[Niezrecki]

Paperclips. You made me laugh so incredibly hard. That was awesome.

[MooreteP]

The Rules for the Tech Valley Robot Rumble are a nice agglomeration of the permutations perpetrated since the CMP.
Robot Rumble Rules reboot

I am looking forward to the weekend.

[Brian Maher]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

The Rules for the Tech Valley Robot Rumble are a nice agglomeration of the permutations perpetrated since the CMP.
Robot Rumble Rules reboot

I am looking forward to the weekend.

The rules are a good mix to improve play. I'm happy they drew a lot from MidKnight Mayhem and IRI.

Just for fun, here is a ranking of the teams attending, by last regional OPR:

Team	Name			Rank	Last OPR
5254	Robot Raiders		1	80.7
263	Sachem Aftershock	2	71.5
1124	UberBots		3	46.5
1493	Falcons			4	39
839	Rosie Robotics		5	34
250	Dynamos			6	30.5
1665	Weapons of Mass Construc7	29.1
20	The Rocketeers		8	24.2
2791	Shaker Robotics		9	21.2
3044	OxBe4			10	20.8
145	Trx			11	18.9
5099	Cyberian Tigers		12	18.6
716	Who'sCTEKS		13	18.2
4203	Robokronos		14	14.7
5236	Man O' War Robotics	15	13.2
1880	Warriors of East Harlem	16	7.4

I'm looking forward to my first NY event!

[Brian Maher]

Alliance selection results:

1) 5254 20 716
2) 3044 1124 839
3) 145 1665 1493
4) 5099 263 4203
5) 1880 250 2791

No declines.

[Hallry]

Is there a webcast?

[Brian Maher]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Is there a webcast?

I don't think so.

[Kevin Leonard]

What a fun event! Thanks to 716 for joining 5254 and 20 for eliminations!

1) 5254 20 716 W
2) 3044 1124 839 F
3) 145 1665 1493 SF
4) 5099 263 4203 SF
5) 1880 250 2791 SF

The decision of who to pick was a very difficult one, with so many teams performing at about the same level.

In the end, we needed a team who could make some sort of stack with cans from the center, since we needed all three cans we start with. 20 and 1124 fit that bill, and due to 1124 breaking at an unfortunate time and 20's human player's expert noodle-throwing, we ended up selecting 20.

We were lucky enough that there really weren't any bad robots to end up with as our second round selection, and we had 716 join our alliance as our random pick. They ended up being a great addition, pulling totes from the landfill and getting the cans in a position where we could use them.

I was also disappointed 5236 couldn't make it to the event. They had quite the stellar little stacking machine this year, and it would have done well at this event.

[MooreteP]

T'was a great event. Even better than last year.

For a small amount of teams, only 15, the Spirit was exceptional.
A great introduction for many new students to a FIRST competition.

5254, not the Raiders anymore, but now H.Y.P.E, was a lock early on. 716 winning a competition after coming so close at the NEDCMP was sweet.

A couple of teams from Long Island made the trip while the Warriors of East Harlem, 1880, made a particularly good showing, mystified at what to do when you get to pick an alliance partner. I hope they all had a safe ride home.

New England made a good showing with 1124 and 839 pairing up with the host team, 3044. They made it to the finals with very well coordinated gameplay.

145's TRex mascot was excellent. Many teams were in the hunt for the Spirit Award.

I look forward to when New York moves to a district system. I miss seeing these teams in New England. An inter-district reunion in the Tech Valley or Hartford would be wonderful.

[Jay O'Donnell]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

716 winning a competition after coming so close at the NEDCMP was sweet.

I think you mean Battlecry

[MooreteP]

Oops, you're right, thanks.

Same venue, different day.