Interaction with other robots

[Mark Pettit]

It's every bot for himself out there. If you guys want to join the show, then come along for the ride. Otherwise, get out of our way (or we'll push you out). The only consideration we're giving to our alliance partners through design is to be able to disable or redeploy our autonomous through use of switches in case our program interferes with theirs.
Good Luck, and we'll see you at the competition.

[Pshyco]

This is also why you must make multi strategies, like about a dozen scenarios. Our team built a miniture 1:12 ratio playing feild to practise startegies on, that way you don't always have to draw on paper and stuff!!

[Koko Ed]

That's why it's best to have a simple but flexible robot so you are prepared for what you and your alliance partners of capable of to give yourself the best chance to win. It's hard to win if the robots can only do one thing and that thing is the one thing that isn't going to lead you to victory.

[Aignam]

Originally Posted by Mark Pettit

It's every bot for himself out there. If you guys want to join the show, then come along for the ride. Otherwise, get out of our way (or we'll push you out). The only consideration we're giving to our alliance partners through design is to be able to disable or redeploy our autonomous through use of switches in case our program interferes with theirs.
Good Luck, and we'll see you at the competition.

Well, with that attitude, you don't stand much chance of competing seriously. If you don't learn to work with your alliance partners, you're not winning any tough matches---this is a game of teamwork, cooperation, and strategy---cocky teams who think that they can do everything themselves while their partners sit in the endzone and wait for the 10 point bonus at the match's end are going to have another thing coming to them...

[DrShadowSML]

If you have a robot that can do 3 things very well, then most likely your alliance members can support what your robot can't do.

[Mark Pettit]

Originally Posted by Aignam

Well, with that attitude, you don't stand much chance of competing seriously. If you don't learn to work with your alliance partners, you're not winning any tough matches---this is a game of teamwork, cooperation, and strategy---cocky teams who think that they can do everything themselves while their partners sit in the endzone and wait for the 10 point bonus at the match's end are going to have another thing coming to them...

I think you're taking my post a bit too seriously.
FIRST is supposed to be about a little bit of fun too, you know?
The Dukes lead when it comes to strategizing to get the most out of an alliance.
We're building our robot to score maximum points. I don't think an alliance partner is going to hinder us from acheiving that but they can certainly help us to get more!

[DrShadowSML]

Max Lobovsky said:

I was rather disappointed last year to realize that many teams (sometimes it seemed like the majority of teams) seemed to ignore any plans you would make before the match and it was very rare to find a coach you could actually work with in the middle of the match. I saw this across the board of experienced and inexperienced teams and the effect definitley was horrible.

Of course, this is understandable. Teams spend months preparing for a just a few matches of competition and it is kind of hard to change your strategies and possibly lose because of what someone else is saying.

I don't see any reason for the situation to improve this year, but there is definitley reason for it to get worse. With 3 robots, getting 3 drive teams together before matches and talking will be more challenging and with the chaos of a 3 alliance game, you can pretty much forget about in game team work.

I have brought up this question to my team members and they say we have about 24 hours before the match to talk to your alliance members.

[NotaNerd]

For last year's competition, we built a strategy tree. One that incorporated every possible scenario. It was HUGE. Then, we could take our robot's design into consideration with our alliance partner's skills. Then we could MUTUALLY figure out a strategy. This worked best and made both teams happy. Unfortunately, this year's strategy tree would be ENORMOUS and almost impossible to make. Therefore, maybe some new ideas are in store...

[Aignam]

Originally Posted by Mark Pettit

We're building our robot to score maximum points. I don't think an alliance partner is going to hinder us from acheiving that but they can certainly help us to get more!

And if they fail you'll "push them aside"?

[DrShadowSML]

I think-and I belive many others agree-that this game requires cooperation within the alliance. You need to work together to succeed. It's a TEAM competition.