UTC Regionals Team 126 GaelForce

[rjbarra]

Originally Posted by BoyWithCape195

Oh, haha, I wasn't aware of this. May I ask why?

Your mission was to play defense with not only power but incredible speed and maneuverability. A lot of our team members wanted to pick you. You carried yourself well in the pits, on the field
and in the stadium. Even though we are from NY this is our home tournament. We are already talking about coming back to UTC. If somebody picks us at UTC we will always accept. It is a great honor for us. There are a lot of years where our robot can not even get out of its own way. We are not like the Beast with a great robot every year. I think it will be years before we have a robot like this again. We wish you the best of luck.

[AcesPease]

Originally Posted by 1493kd

Thoughts on my first experience as a mentor.. team 1493- Albany High School, Albany, New York

Our team 1493 did the best we have ever done, so that was a nice accomplishment. We didn't meet our goal which was to be selected for the "tourney" (what ever it is called slips my mind this second) Thought that we most certainly were going to be selected. After making many changes to our bot by the last day we were very strong. Our defense was very good, with our low COG we were able to push almost any bot back, we could make it up the ramp with ease, and were good for an easy 10 pts in autonomous whenever we wanted. (Except the time they forgot to close the side doors all the way which caused us to get stuck.)

Once again thank everyone and good luck in nationals

Our scouting had your robot ahead of the four robots that were picked after team 1124. You did yourselves proud during the qualification rounds.

A word of caution to teams picking alliances: At BAE we were picked before a better robot (team 133 BERT) and that alliance defeated us in the finals. In Hartford I think that 1124 was the best third robot, and our alliance eventually won. Choose the third robot very carefully.

Bill Pease
Team 176
2006 UTC New England Champions with 177 and 1124
2006 BAE Granite State Finalists with 319 and 562

[vVigglEs]

In Hartford I think that 1124 was the best third robot

I agree that 1124 was a steal for third round.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by vVigglEs

I agree that 1124 was a steal for third round.

Note:1124 didnt start scoring in autonomous mode until the elimination rounds.

[Justin]

Originally Posted by Ogre

From my observations at regionals, the best alliances are the ones with three good, versatile shooters.
For instance the three robots that won UTC had strong drive trains and could each shoot a few balls.
The benefit of three shooters is in their offensive period. If all three robots can shoot, you can't defend all three. Block two of them and the third one shoots a few. Go block the third one and the one you left starts shooting.
All three of the shooters also had strong, effective drive trains. They weren't easily pushed out of the way, and could be very effective blocking.
The same thing happened at BAE. Three good shooters, with strong drivetrains.

It's not that robot are built to specifically play defense, it's that the robots are versatile. I mean, there is a 40 second period where your alliance has to play defense, so you might as well play it well. That's exactly what these robots did, and did well.

I have to disagree with this to some extent. I think that you need a versatile alliance. At UTC we witnessed an alliance made up of three amazing shooters but without little defensive capability. In the end they ended up getting d'ed up and fell to the 177 lead alliance. I think there is a lot going on in this year's game and if you can negate even one really good shooter well you might just keep yourself in the match. This is one of the things I like about this year's game it basically forces teams to play defense. If you don't play at least some up against an alliance of shooters you are going to get slaughtered. 177's strategy was exactly what it should have been and was very well executed. Moral of the story from my point of view is don't under estimate defense. Let's also be clear about the fact that 126's alliance was a very good alliance and we haven't heard the last of any of the teams on that alliance in 2006 not be a long shot.

Justin

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

Note: 1124 didnt start scoring in autonomous mode until the elimination rounds.

I talked to 1124's mentors in the pits before our final qualification match (against 1124), and they showed me all of the improvements they had made to their robot after the matches ended yesterday. Between increasing the squeeze on their throwing and tweaking their autonomous mode (Thanks, Tom!) they had done a lot to improve their robot's functionality. 1124's scoring in auto proved to be extremely important, since it was what won us the autonomous modes in one of matches in the semifinals.

With the 1 to 8 then 8 to 1 alliance selection this year, the second pick is far more interesting than the first one. It's pretty easy to tell who the top notch bots are, but it takes a strong scouting team to figure out the best bots down 24 places. It's largely in thanks to our scouting and alliance selection teams that we were able to select such a strong alliance and compete so well in the eliminations.

[John Neun]

[quote=Ben Piecuch]Guys,

Let's not get into an offense vs. defense argument here. Both teams 20 and 126 have very strong offensive robots, and were unfortunately the main targets for some very defensive robots at the UTC regional.

Thanks for the comments (in the whole post), Ben. As I just mentioned in another post, we had a GREAT experience in Hartford, and we hope to return. For the record, our robot had bumpers, sustained some pretty severe hits, and was nonetheless fully functional at the end of the contest. We get the idea of robust design. We also have no animus toward the winning alliance. Quite the contrary. You beat us fair and square, you outplayed us, and congratulations! I say that officially as chairman of our corporation: Congratulations to the winning alliance! Woody Flowers got a look at the structural effects of the defensive game on our robot and he said, "Too bad. You should be happy and proud of what you did in this competition." He was absolutely right, and we absolutely are, especially because this year we were given our own "Woody Flowers" in the person of Paul Kane. I appreciate the advise given previously in this thread, too. We'll do our best to improve our designs.

Of course we have room to improve, but I must also say that I have never been more proud of a machine or the way our students played our robot. Thank you all for the privilege of allowing us to be part of the competition and for allowing us to be on the field with all of you. What a wonderful bunch of people! I hope we can return to Hartford for many years to come.

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by John Neun

He was absolutely right, and we absolutely are, especially because this year we were given our own "Woody Flowers" in the person of Paul Kane.

John,
You reminded me of something I had wanted to bring up. The Woody Flowers award went to a deserving individual. 15 years of FIRST and I could see in his face he still loved every minute of it. Paul was a very deserving mentor and had the unique opportunit y of having Woody hand him the award along the Dave the 2004 national Woody Flowers recipient.

[meredith]

I would like to thank Team 20 and 571 for doing a great job in the elimination rounds. Team 20- you had an amazing robot and were outstanding to work with! Team 571- your team always has a robust robot and you were also great to work with. If our motor didn't get damaged in the semis I think we would have had a shot, but unfortunately those are the breaks of FIRST. Good luck in your other regionals and see you in Atlanta.

[meredith]

I would also like to make a comment about lining up robots in autonomous mode. According to the rules, during elimination rounds the highest seed has the last chance to line up their robots accordingly. Before one of our elimination matches, all 6 teams were behind the lexan, and they were about to announce the teams, when we looked at the field our opponent left their alliance box and was repositioning their robot to hit us. Since we were about to be announced I did not have time to change our program and they hit us. I find this action violates a clearly stated rule. It also appears that this was done on purpose so we could not change our autonomous mode. This type of action does not seem to fit under the FIRST moto of gracious professionalism.

[1493kd]

rjbarra team 20 wrote-Team Albany, Great Job. We want to work with you next year. One thing is we want Albany to have an animation submitted. Our animation was better this year. We set goals to improve it every year. It is amazing with all the problems your school has faced that you even fielded a Robot.
Great Robot!

Thank you with more help from new teachers and mentors hopefully next year we will represent ourselves even better. Our new goals we have set for next year are to 1. make our pit area as nice as some of the other taems 2. Be a bigger force in the stands 3. make it past qualifying

[1493kd]

Bill Pease team 176 wrote-Our scouting had your robot ahead of the four robots that were picked after team 1124. You did yourselves proud during the qualification rounds.

A word of caution to teams picking alliances: At BAE we were picked before a better robot (team 133 BERT) and that alliance defeated us in the finals. In Hartford I think that 1124 was the best third robot, and our alliance eventually won. Choose the third robot very carefully.

Bill Pease
Team 176
2006 UTC New England Champions with 177 and 1124
2006 BAE Granite State Finalists with 319 and 562

Thank you I thought we did well ourselves. Your team did an outstanding job scouting from what I was told from our pit crew. I think strategy is very underrated in the competition.

Also I have seen many people discussing the offensive vs defensive bots.. I think that you need a well rounded team to be successful. Like they always say offense wins games defense wins championships.

One of our best moments was when we played against gaelforce in qualifying and were able to limit their offensive onslaught by pushing their bot back. Even though we lost the match..

[Zotas]

Originally Posted by meredith

I would also like to make a comment about lining up robots in autonomous mode. According to the rules, during elimination rounds the highest seed has the last chance to line up their robots accordingly. Before one of our elimination matches, all 6 teams were behind the lexan, and they were about to announce the teams, when we looked at the field our opponent left their alliance box and was repositioning their robot to hit us. Since we were about to be announced I did not have time to change our program and they hit us. I find this action violates a clearly stated rule. It also appears that this was done on purpose so we could not change our autonomous mode. This type of action does not seem to fit under the FIRST moto of gracious professionalism.

I follow this forum regularly but I don't usually post. I've made an exception as this thread has really gotten under my skin.

I can assure everyone that the 177 alliance in no way violated any rules during the UTC regional. To say that our team intentionally violated rules to block your shooter in autonomous is reckless and I seriously hope that you do not represent the opinion of your team. The only time that you were blocked you was in SF1-2, and you didn't even run the same program that you ran in SF1-1, so you obviously changed something. We have the utmost respect for your team and it is unfortunate that you see the elimination in such poor light.

With respect to defense and pushing, we again did not intentionally tip anyone or violate any rules. We were pushed onto the ramp numerous times and even pined up there once by your alliance, team 20. We did not fall and were able to maneuver and re-enter the playing field, but that action by 20 was legal and in no way different than any defensive posture that we took. We apologize if either robot was damaged and I can assure you that was never our intention.

The FIRST world is not a perfect but the referees and judges did an amazing job given the circumstances as the field broke and they had to resort to manual scoring. They even went as far as having manual time keepers to assure that everything was fair. Great job!

Great job 20, 126 and 571. Can't wait to see you in Atlanta!

[CBelliss]

I had a great time at the UTC Regionals, as an oberver, and as the operator/shooter for Team 20. I was very happy when our mentor, Paul Kane won the Woody Flowers award, he started our team, and was very deserving of the award.

With regard to the competition and semifinals, I believe that the Bobcats and their alliance played a very strong defense. At the same time, I believe they were too aggressive, forcing our robot around even when we were in no position to affect the outcome of the match. At the end of the round we were way down in points, yet we were still forced up the opponents ramp by two robots, and tipped over. Effective defense yes, gracious professionalism, no. I believe it was uncalled for, and caused unnecessary damage to our robot. I recognize that it could have been an accident, and someone might have been carried away in the heat of competition.

I realize that this is a physical game, but there are limits. Anyways, congrats to the winners and all who participated. I am eagerly awaiting the national competition, where I hope to see as many great competive robots as the UTC regional.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

177's strategy was to play defense on 20. I assume this was under the impression that if 20 cant pick up balls, they cant score.

I did not see anything from the stands that would imply the Bobcats were playing unnecessarily hard. Either did the refs.

177 won the match fair and square. Sorry.