Best Robots by Age

[JABot67]

My opinion:

2016: 5803 (or 5895 - thanks bkahl)
2015: 5460 (or 5406 - thanks BrennanB)
2014: 5172
2013: 4488
2012: 3990 (or 4039)
2011: 3476 (or 3539)
2010: 3310 (with 3132 on the upswing)
2009: 2826
2008: 2481
2007: 2056
2006: 1717 ( )
2005: 1678
2004: 1318 (or 1241 - thanks Chris_is_me)
2003: 1114
2002: 987
2001: 494 (or 610 - thanks Chris_is_me)
2000: 469
1999: 254
1998: 195 (or 180)
1997: 67
1996: 71
1995: 177
1994: 144
1993: 151
1992: 111 (or 148)

As more facts come to light, I will most likely end up editing my opinion!

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by JABot67

Side note: How come 610's rookie year is 2002 but all of the teams around it (like 612) had their rookie years in 2001?

It's not; it's 2001. FRC website lists them as attending "Nationals" that year.

With 610's continued excellence especially from 2011 onward, they are certainly competitive with 494 for the title.

1241 is a strong choice for 2004.

[JABot67]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

1241 is a strong choice for 2004.

Absolutely. For some reason I thought they were 2003.

[bkahl]

2016: 5895

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by bkahl

2016: 5895

No question in my mind about this. While I appreciate all the nominations for 5803, I think 5895 Peddie School Robotics' on-field performance shows a clear winner. They won 9 awards in 4 events, highest rookie seed at every event they attended and captained the #4 alliance on Carson to the finals.

Ultimately the next several seasons will show more than just the rookie campaigns. This year's rookie class is one of the strongest I can remember. 5817 Uni-Rex, 5818 Riviera Robotics, 5813 Morpheus and more also came out very strong this season, and most importantly are building sustainable programs which will continue to field incredible, high caliber teams for years to come.

[Liam Fay]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

It's not; it's 2001. FRC website lists them as attending "Nationals" that year.

With 610's continued excellence especially from 2011 onward, they are certainly competitive with 494 for the title.

1241 is a strong choice for 2004.

As is 1477.

[Moskowapplepi]

1519, 1671, and 1690 all contend for best out of 2005 with 1678. all have either won or been a finalist on einstein and always do well a worlds

[Charlie Randall]

Was not our rookie year, but in our second year (2004), team 1218 went from ranking last at their first regional, to captaining the number one seed on Galileo and finishing as Einstein finalists, only to lose in three to 71... .

[Basel A]

I agree with many of the suggestions and disagree with others. I'm particularly not convinced we've found the best 2010 rookie. Do we give it to 3339 from their being spectacular the past two years? Or 3310 for more consistent production?

2004: I just don't think 1318 is in the running with 1477 and 1241. They're similar on recent history, but can't compete on early history and lack of championship win.

2015: 5406 might be in a tougher region, but I still think 5460 has had more success, particularly this year (4th overall pick at MSC en route to being finalist)

2014: I would go with 5254, but I think we can have more discussion.

2001: Tough choice, but I'd go with 610 personally. FRC history is short-sighted. Let's add 525 to the discussion as well.

2006: The other possible choices are 1918 and 1718. I'd still go with 1717. Never noticed before, they won a robot award at the Championship 6 of their last 7 years.

Per Billfred, I think we're going with 111 as a '96 rookie. We should only be considering robot quality (see: thread title), but personally I think 111 has been better over the course of history than 71, despite 71's extra Championship. 148 gets in over 45 because FRC history is short-sighted.

2016: 5895
2015: 5460 or 5406
2014: 5254 or 5172 or 4967
2013: 4488
2012: 3990 or 4039
2011: 3476
2010: 3339 or 3310 or 3138 or 3015
2009: 2826
2008: 2481
2007: 2056
2006: 1717 or 1718 or 1918
2005: 1678 (this is unequivocal)
2004: 1477 or 1241
2003: 1114
2002: 987
2001: 610 or 494 or 525
2000: 469
1999: 254
1998: 48 or 180
1997: 67
1996: 111 or 71
1995: 177
1994: 144
1993: 151
1992: 148

[JABot67]

Basel is right about everything as usual. Except I do think 195 should be considered along with 48 and 180 for the rookie class of 1998.

48:
1 Championship win (1999)
2 division finalists (2006 and 2007)
5 regional wins (going back to 2007)
10 regional finalists (going back to 2000)

180:
1 Einstein win (2012)
1 Einstein finalist (2002)
2 division wins (2002 and 2012)
2 division finalists (2003 and 2016)
9 regional wins (going back to 2002)
2 regional finalists

195:
1 Einstein finalist (2006)
2 division wins (2006 and 2016)
1 division finalist (2015)
2 district championship wins (2015 and 2016)
1 district championship finalist (2014)
4 district event wins
6 regional wins (going back to 2007)
3 regional finalists (going back to 2002)

Edit: As a small side note, 3015's rookie year is actually 2009, and thus cannot be considered in the running for the 2010 class awards.

[JABot67]

I'm also definitely on the 5172 hype train for 2014 (sorry HYPE ). They have literally made the finals at every regional they've ever attended, ranking 2nd and 3rd overall at their regionals their first two years. Impressive!

[tindleroot]

I agree with 195 for 1998. Another 1998 rookie that is not as well known but could be put up for consideration is 64. They made Einstein twice in their years, and had such a great season in 2005 (9 awards and a trip to Einstein finals) that they retired their number, resuming as 39 in 2006 (I think that's who they became, right?). 64 is a little unconventional since they stopped competing, but on a year-for-year basis I could argue that they were the most successful 1998 rookie.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by tindleroot

I agree with 195 for 1998. Another 1998 rookie that is not as well known but could be put up for consideration is 64. They made Einstein twice in their years, and had such a great season in 2005 (9 awards and a trip to Einstein finals) that they retired their number, resuming as 39 in 2006 (I think that's who they became, right?). 64 is a little unconventional since they stopped competing, but on a year-for-year basis I could argue that they were the most successful 1998 rookie.

Fun fact about 64. In most of the historical statistics I've played with over the years, they ALWAYS come out near the top. But that's because I usually stop derating scores for folks when they stop competing. And usually teams don't have a dominant year then stop competing... I've figured out ways around this, but 64 is always my canary for forgetting to do a reversion to mean in a statistic.

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by Moskowapplepi

1519, 1671, and 1690 all contend for best out of 2005 with 1678. all have either won or been a finalist on einstein and always do well a worlds

1538 has had both great competitive success and also is Hall of Fame.

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by Basel A

2006: The other possible choices are 1918 and 1718. I'd still go with 1717. Never noticed before, they won a robot award at the Championship 6 of their last 7 years.

1983 has been the dominant team in the PNW for many years now.