Enough already...

[Gui Cavalcanti]

Alright, all I've been hearing lately is that 2 goal grabbers and ball handlers are the only robots on this field that can possibly win. Everybody else apparently is a fluke. I strongly, vehemently disagree.

We started our build with Dean's message in mind; build your robots rugged, and make them able to take a beating. Our chassis initially weighed in at 80 pounds - 80 pounds of aluminum! There was angle around the edges for support, tubing through the center for additional support, a V cut in the front of the chassis for the one goal we manipulate to become a part of our robot, and all sorts of add-ons strength-wise.

When we got to VCU, we realized a lot of teams were going to be better than us. Ball handlers were numbered, but they were still viable competitors. The "succesful" goal grabbers could grab two or more (365 and 384, notably). We decided, since we could not rely on any system on our robot to magically win our rounds for us, that we'd have to strategize our way through. Our robot turned into one of those defensive robots you would see in 2000 - blocking entrance onto the ramp, keeping robots away from the troughs, etc. We ran defense in a majority of our rounds, only grabbing goals and making offensive moves when it was deemed necessary. In this manner, we rose to 5th seed, and our alliance (with 643, a ball flinger, and 316, another 1 goal grabber) went all the way to 1st place.

I'm not insulting 2 or 3 goal grabbers, or ball handlers, in any way. All I'm saying is that sometimes the little teams can surprise you if you're not paying attention.

My team has already begun strategizing for the new types of competitors we will meet at nationals; all the effective 2 and 3 goal grabbers, the excellent ball handlers (hats off to 157, 111, and all of you who know who you are). We can't wait to meet you on the field, wearing the same color or not. Just don't discount us.

[Ian W.]

Heh, you're completely right. Our bot doesn't even grab goals. It was meant to, but after we came in at over 40 lbs. overweight, we had to redesign. Our robot turned into a superfast, and super powerful bot that played lot's of defense and some offense. We started off by just running out and pushing the goals around, and then even other robots. We kept the other bots off the balls and kept the goals away. In the end, we wound up in 9th seed at NYC. Then, we moved up to 7th from the other teams picking, and picked a great alliance, and made it al the way to the semi-finals. For a rookie team at their second competition, not bad. I think we completely surprised a lot of teams, and even proved that lexan does break.

[Wetzel]

I think its a bad idea to discout anybody until you see them in action.
At the DC scrimmage, I saw 422(it had wings ) and took a look at them in the 'pit'. All I saw was this solid piece off aluminum and a really simple goal grabber. I remember thinking "this one isn't gonna do well, the design is too simple and its the wrong strategery.'
Lo and behold, they win at VCU. Guess it wasn't to simple and was a good strategery.

Live and learn.

Gui and 422: Good job on a solid bot.

[Martin]

Just about everyone at the canadian regional thought that team 907 was fluking it all the way through, 1st after first day of competition, and 3rd in the overall seedings. We did have luck as did everyone else, but guarding goals, strategic planning, blocking, driving techniques, i guess its all luck.....haha, we hadto compensate for the lack of goal grabbers with all those, and we did very well.

Martin
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