So Glad That Scouting Has A Place This Year

[Ginger Power]

Originally Posted by Boltman

Scouting is important every year, can sure increase performance knowing tendencies, I'd put scouting slightly below the importance of a good drive team and on par with robot design . Congrats for taking it on.

While scouting definitely is important every year, it's more important this year. Never before (that I know of) has the opposing alliance been able to choose the obstacles that your alliance will be traversing and vice-versa. In order to be prepared for a match, a team should know the drivetrain capabilities for every robot on the field, tendencies for where they acquire boulders, how they are affected by a limited view of the field etc. This info can then be used against your opponent like never before.

One thing I think will have a huge impact this year is pre-match strategy. While most teams just meet up in the queue line and say "you shoot here, I'll intake from here, blah blah blah..." now there's a lot more to figure out. I'd think most, if not all teams would benefit from meeting with their alliance partners well in advance of their match, and really put some thought into how it will play out. A team with a bad robot, and brilliant strategy, can be more competitive than ever before.