Scouting Better

[GreeneBean]

I'm looking for a way to gain super fantastic info on the robots but our current way of doing so is not the best I feel. We are using a Google Form and scouting 3 to 4 robots per match to keep our scouts from getting burned out. The google form, however, relies on internet to work. Is there any way to get the data without the need for internet but still using technology?

[Caleb Sykes]

Originally Posted by GreeneBean

I'm looking for a way to gain super fantastic info on the robots but our current way of doing so is not the best I feel. We are using a Google Form and scouting 3 to 4 robots per match to keep our scouts from getting burned out. The google form, however, relies on internet to work. Is there any way to get the data without the need for internet but still using technology?

Why is "using technology" a requirement for your scouting system?

[Jon Stratis]

You could do exactly the same thing using an excel spreadsheet on each computer/tablet. Then you just need to occasionally merge the spreadsheets to see the full picture.

There are team-built apps out there as well. They basically do all of that for you, allowing you to sync data from multiple tablets over Bluetooth to a master tablet.

[evanperryg]

Originally Posted by GreeneBean

I'm looking for a way to gain super fantastic info on the robots but our current way of doing so is not the best I feel. We are using a Google Form and scouting 3 to 4 robots per match to keep our scouts from getting burned out. The google form, however, relies on internet to work. Is there any way to get the data without the need for internet but still using technology?

Gearscout is an android app that does not require an internet connection. You can choose to have it save all data as a text file on the device. These text files can be imported into an excel spreadsheet for analysis.

[IronicDeadBird]

Originally Posted by Caleb Sykes

Why is "using technology" a requirement for your scouting system?

Cause the alchemy based scouting just hasn't panned out the way we want.

[GreeneBean]

Originally Posted by evanperryg

Gearscout is an android app that does not require an internet connection. You can choose to have it save all data as a text file on the device. These text files can be imported into an excel spreadsheet for analysis.

Is gearscout available on iOS and Android?

[ThunderousPrime]

The easiest way to improve your scouting system is to add a tripod and video camera and record all of the matches. A picture is worth a thousand words and videos are priceless For scouting. Videos allow you to look back and see driver habits, reevaluate data, get everyone on the same page for a picklist, evaluate drivetrains and more. Also they help your drive team see their performance and be able to correct issues before the next event.

Also the tape never lies where scouts can make errors or in your case, simply have no data on a team.

A keen eye with strategic knowledge can do a lot with match videos in tandem with The Blue Aliance data, more I suspect than many team's scouting systems.

[evanperryg]

Originally Posted by IronicDeadBird

Cause the alchemy based scouting just hasn't panned out the way we want.

Really? Try adding some extra torn low bar fabric into the mix. Works great for us.

[GreeneBean]

Originally Posted by Caleb Sykes

Why is "using technology" a requirement for your scouting system?

Toting around stacks of paper and sifting through it all wastes loads of time. I'm looking for an quick and easy way to sift through data.

[IKE]

Originally Posted by GreeneBean

Toting around stacks of paper and sifting through it all wastes loads of time. I'm looking for an quick and easy way to sift through data.

Very interesting. I have found well organized notes and data to be incredibly fast and helpful.

I admit, I am a bit jealous of some of the great electronic systems I have seen, but I have only been burned by my notes once, and that was when I lost my pit scouting binder at Champs.

[Boltman]

Sent PM

[IronicDeadBird]

If your paper scouting system isn't working out it isn't because you used paper its because you didn't come up with a good paper scouting system. Nobody said you had to carry around a crate of papers that was your decision.

[GreeneBean]

Originally Posted by IKE

Very interesting. I have found well organized notes and data to be incredibly fast and helpful.

We used a paper and pencil system in the past and I had it organized very well. When we went over the data, it took sometime to crunch numbers and get an idea of how a team did during the qualifiers.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Here is the best video I know of on how to scout at a very high level.
To Compete Consistently and Effectively: Logan Farrell FRC#118

[IKE]

Originally Posted by GreeneBean

We used a paper and pencil system in the past and I had it organized very well. When we went over the data, it took sometime to crunch numbers and get an idea of how a team did during the qualifiers.

I can understand that. I am a big proponent of the one team, one sheet system that uses rows for matches. If you are taking the right data, I can literally see a team getting better with just a second of glancing. The one team one sheet concept also helps sort for pick list by making Yes, No, Maybe piles and then sorting those stacks accordingly.

One problem I have with most electronic systems are they do a great job of averaging, and giving metrics, but the metric is only as good as its foundation. Take for instance a team that didn't run their first 3 matches, and then did very well once fixing their software glitch. A good scout would be concerned, but would send someone to investigate the issue, and then you would want your data to really ignore those first three matches. 3 down matches would potentially reduce averages and totals by 25% for a district event but definitely is not reflective of how their Elim performance would be.