What's your top five? UCF edition

[bjimster1]

I'm surprised that there is no thread on this topic yet so I'm starting it.
From what you have seen, heard, or read, what are YOUR top five picks (top five seeds) for the UCF regional next week? Basically five teams that you believe will dominate (or at least) excel in the regional.

here's mine:

1. 86 Resistance
2. 233 Pink
3. 1251 Tech Tigers
4. 190
5. 1523 M.A.R.S.

[Arefin Bari]

I am confident on the robot I worked on for 6 weeks.

here is my list.

1) 233
2) 179
3) 86
4) 1345
5) 1029

[spears312]

My list (not self inclusive of course)

1)233
2)1523
3)86
4)1251
5)180

[Swampdude]

Thanks Ari,
It looks like we're going to have some strong competition. I'm not sure how its all going to play out because the wild card is defense. Will it matter or won't it???? If it turns out that defense isn't strong every match then my list is slanted towards the light traction high scorers (that I've seen so far). If it turns out defense is winning the day, it becomes anybodys game and the defenders are more important. For instance, without D I would pick teams like MARS and 1345 and 86 etc. But with great D teams like 61 and 386 around I don't see those high scorers getting much done. So you need muscle and scoring mixture. Which in my opinion requires either treads or 6wd, and 2 speed transmissions etc. Then you combine that with a turret or ground holding/camera correcting system and you've got a winner.
I've heard about heatwave and I can't wait to see that machine. Also I've seen the 79 pics, and that looks like a tough machine. 1369 looks interesting. Also 710 has a cool blocking technique. And of coarse 1029 is going to play some great D and get those 1 pointers. SPAM has a killer machine but I know they've got a lot of work to do to get it running clean - if they do they will own. I'm really looking forward to seeing 1251 but the overweight thing had me concerned. I'm sure 845 will bring a well rounded machine. 190 and 342 always put together amazing machines, but I have no info. Don't forget 945 - winner of 2004.
Anyhow I won't boast on ours and I'll pick (from those I know of) 233, 312, 61, 86, 79. If SPAM can get all their stuff finished I'd put them in my top 2 - I'm hoping for a great SPAM season.

[Corey Balint]

1) 845 - Overlooked in the past years, should make a great run
2) 312 - Always an impressive bot, with smart drivers/scouts, and a compatible partner, they should dominate
3) 1402 - Great strategy last year, expect the same this year
4) 61 - Good defenders, if a good autonomous then a great team they shall be
5) 357 - Have run into some on and off luck in past competitions, should be their year to have a big run

[Tim Delles]

1.) 233
2.) 179
3.) 86
4.) 190
5.) 1523

[RogerR]

i believe that a ground collection system will be a valuable defensive asset, as critical as a good drive train;

1) 233
2) 179
3) 86
4) 1902
5) 1029

Originally Posted by Swampdude

...I've heard about heatwave and I can't wait to see that machine...1369 looks interesting....

unfortunately, 1369 is going to have to miss UCF this year. we will be rocking the Peachtree regional, though.

and whatever fink told you about heatwave will pay dearly. his betrayal will not be taken lightly.

<edit>

Originally Posted by Swampdude

...Oops sorry Fink, whadya do to Heatwave leakers? probably involves fire?

you'd think that wouldn't you? actually, it involves some innovative use of live jumbo shrimp and 3.3 kg of publix brand ground beef chuck </edit>

[Swampdude]

Originally Posted by Corey Balint

3) 1402 - Great strategy last year, expect the same this year

Yep I forgot 1402, Somehow they always adapt so perceptively to the game. I'm sure they're going to have a do it all and do it well machine.

Originally Posted by RogerR

and whatever fink told you about heatwave will pay dearly. his betrayal will not be taken lightly.

Oops sorry Fink, whadya do to Heatwave leakers? probably involves fire?

[Billfred]

I've also heard rumblings about 312--I'll be very interested to see them in action.

I suppose I should, to get the list proper...

1) 179
2) 233
3) 180
4) 312
5) 1902 (Technically rookies, but they've got a lot of experience in their mentors. I'm not going to count them out.)

[Adam Richards]

No self-plugging here, since I'll be base driving. I do believe that qualifies as a conflict of interest...

My list:

1) 312 - Heatwave - I have no idea why I've been saying this since before the start of the season. Just trust me on this one.
2) 86 - Resistance - Absolutely amazing robot from what I've seen in the video. Fast, accurate and reliable, this bot is sure to dominate.
3) 180 - S.P.A.M. - Great drivetrain, and assuming they have everything finished, I'm quite positive we will all be amazed.
4) 79 - Krunch - My team's former mentors will be served well by their swerve drive this year, but will their drivers be up to the task?
5) 233 - Pink - I hate to say it, I'm pretty sure they will do well, but the SwampPink dynasty is over. Maybe next year guys?

[techtiger1]

Let me start off by saying thats for you people who put 1251 in the top 5.

I really don't know you never know but here it goes :

86
233
190
179
1523

Just a wild guess from what I have seen and heard so far, there are a lot of variables in this. Just my two cents on this subject, good luck to everyone see ya in a week or so.

-Drew

[Sgraff_SRHS06]

Originally Posted by Swampdude

Thanks Ari,
It looks like we're going to have some strong competition. I'm not sure how its all going to play out because the wild card is defense. Will it matter or won't it???? If it turns out that defense isn't strong every match then my list is slanted towards the light traction high scorers (that I've seen so far). If it turns out defense is winning the day, it becomes anybodys game and the defenders are more important. For instance, without D I would pick teams like MARS and 1345 and 86 etc. But with great D teams like 61 and 386 around I don't see those high scorers getting much done. So you need muscle and scoring mixture. Which in my opinion requires either treads or 6wd, and 2 speed transmissions etc. Then you combine that with a turret or ground holding/camera correcting system and you've got a winner.
I've heard about heatwave and I can't wait to see that machine. Also I've seen the 79 pics, and that looks like a tough machine. 1369 looks interesting. Also 710 has a cool blocking technique. And of coarse 1029 is going to play some great D and get those 1 pointers. SPAM has a killer machine but I know they've got a lot of work to do to get it running clean - if they do they will own. I'm really looking forward to seeing 1251 but the overweight thing had me concerned. I'm sure 845 will bring a well rounded machine. 190 and 342 always put together amazing machines, but I have no info. Don't forget 945 - winner of 2004.
Anyhow I won't boast on ours and I'll pick (from those I know of) 233, 312, 61, 86, 79. If SPAM can get all their stuff finished I'd put them in my top 2 - I'm hoping for a great SPAM season.

On that matter, there are always the subliminal factors of penalties. Especially with the offense-defense periods, I think there are going to be more penalties this year than there were last year. Though I'm not a believer in penalties, they may end up deciding everything. They say offense wins games and defense wins championships. But (lack of) penalties wins regionals.

I haven't seen much of the robots for this regional. Just out of blatant lack-of-knowledge of the Florida Regional, I will have to go with the consensus.

[Barry Bonzack]

I wouldn't mind a report from what was seen at the swampthing scrimmage. Could use a few tips for when my teams play Fantasy FIRST against eachother. With that said, I'm not entirely sure why we play this before a single match is played, these threads are always based off of history and popularity-Its a new year.

However, I'll play along.

233-Historically sound pick
190-counting on seeing an outstanding drivetrain
1402-Would not believe what I saw at the Robot Ruckus......

The next two belong to any of the following 179, 312, 180, and 1390. The first three are known for outstanding drivetrains and some incredible scoring mechanism year after year. 1390 this year really impressed me at how much they have improved and how beautiful their robot is. The best shooters at the ruckus were by far 1402 and 1390. I'm hoping 1402 can bring their speed down enough and work out a few last kinks to make them one seriously competitive bot. If nothing else, I have a feeling 1390 will win the "coolest t-shirt" award.

[Swampdude]

Originally Posted by Barry Bonzack

I wouldn't mind a report from what was seen at the swampthing scrimmage.

1523 put some videos together from our "scrimmage" here
But I don't think these tell you much about how those teams will compete. We were all basically trying our stuff out unabated and un-committed. We ran like 60 second shootem ups I guess. For us, we were actually working on autonomous most of the time and working out some ifi wheel problems (fixed now )... Plus we changed out the whole shooter frame to rapidly feed balls (and get lighter) since then.

Originally Posted by Barry Bonzack

1402-Would not believe what I saw at the Robot Ruckus......

Got pics/vid? explain!

[BillyGoats]

Originally Posted by Swampdude

Thanks Ari,
It looks like we're going to have some strong competition. I'm not sure how its all going to play out because the wild card is defense. Will it matter or won't it???? If it turns out that defense isn't strong every match then my list is slanted towards the light traction high scorers (that I've seen so far). If it turns out defense is winning the day, it becomes anybodys game and the defenders are more important. For instance, without D I would pick teams like MARS and 1345 and 86 etc. But with great D teams like 61 and 386 around I don't see those high scorers getting much done. So you need muscle and scoring mixture. Which in my opinion requires either treads or 6wd, and 2 speed transmissions etc. Then you combine that with a turret or ground holding/camera correcting system and you've got a winner.
I've heard about heatwave and I can't wait to see that machine. Also I've seen the 79 pics, and that looks like a tough machine. 1369 looks interesting. Also 710 has a cool blocking technique. And of coarse 1029 is going to play some great D and get those 1 pointers. SPAM has a killer machine but I know they've got a lot of work to do to get it running clean - if they do they will own. I'm really looking forward to seeing 1251 but the overweight thing had me concerned. I'm sure 845 will bring a well rounded machine. 190 and 342 always put together amazing machines, but I have no info. Don't forget 945 - winner of 2004.
Anyhow I won't boast on ours and I'll pick (from those I know of) 233, 312, 61, 86, 79. If SPAM can get all their stuff finished I'd put them in my top 2 - I'm hoping for a great SPAM season.

=)

Teams 179, 233 and 386 always have great robots. 945, 180, 108 and 86 never let you down either. Another MA team, 190, WPI always has an interesting robot to say the least. I think that there will be at least 20 teams that are going to dominate.

In my opinion UCF has one of the best regionals for competitive robots. This regional gets better and better every year. Can't wait till this year and see some of the surprise teams that no one expects to see!

I can't have a top 5. I have a top 8. In no specific order.

179
233
386
945
180
108
86
190