Predictions Week 5: Last Stop Before the Big Show... ...Part 1

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Palmetto

It is getting too late so I am going to have to short change someone somewhere. South Caroline is going to have to take one for the team.

I am going with a couple of quotes from tipster and a quick note or twol

Have to agree here. Metal In Motion are Big Time Robot Builders. Look for good things to happen in South Carolina.

We'll see. This is a tougher call. Everyone needs luck but I am thinking that perhaps 1251 needs too much luck to come out on top this weekend.

Another pick I have to squeeze in here is C.U.P.I.D. (Team #1539) They seeded #21 in Georgia and were picked up by the #8 Seed. I know some folks didn't give them much of a shot but there they are with that Big Blue Banner all over their bad selves ;-) They are a long shot by any stretch of a team that could surprise you.

Geeze, the South gets cut short again? We're going to have to bring some sweet tea and barbecue to Dr. Joe in Atlanta to fix this for next season.

It did seem that 1251 was having a bit of trouble with tube wobble in the gripper at UCF. Whether this is just the rough nature of UCF or a design problem with their gripper is hard to tell, but I still have high hopes for the folks from Coconut Creek. (I have to--they're my FF pick!)

The sparkliest team in FIRST, the Burning Magnetos (342) came back from some drive problems last year with a nice, solid setup at UCF, solid enough to make it decently far down at Florida. There were some problems with the elevator (namely keeping it in place) early on, but seem to have that knocked out.

343 needs no introduction.

1539 did bring home the banner at Peachtree with 1369, however my source indicated that they spent much of the bracket on the sidelines with mechanical problems, hence 1848 coming in. However, if those gremlins get sorted out, I wouldn't bet against Clover.

1369 also needs no introduction.

386 was the last-minute alternate draw of the finalist 1902/179/108 alliance at UCF, and they nearly scored the keeper on a couple of occasions. Their suction-cup gripper seemed to have trouble grabbing with both cups, but I expect them to land on the good side of things at Palmetto.

My obligatory heart pick this year is team 1293, D5 Robotics. This is my first season not affiliated with them since their inception, but I've seen what they can do. Every year, one fatal flaw has found its way into their machines--window motor drive in 2004, undrivable casters in 2005, hopper jamming (and hard-to-access electronics) in 2006--but I can't find any of those problems with their 2007 robot. Smooth 80/20 elevator with window motors and a plenty-grippy treaded drive (with belts that seem to take the abuse). Two things can hold them back--one is that they're running four CIMs through the BaneBots gearboxes, and the other is that exactly zero members of the drive team from 2006 are returning to put on the badge. (Two graduated, one transferred to the Governor's School for Arts and Humanities, and one is me. ) However, seeing that they succeeded in thrashing their kit BaneBots gearboxes to within a micrometer of their lives before ship, perhaps experience won't be as much of an issue.

I'm not saying much about 1618, as I obviously have a conflict of interest large enough to drive a truck through there. I think it's a capable robot, and definitely the best the team's done--but don't ask me how it's going to measure up at Palmetto until Saturday night.

To step off of the field a bit, this year should also be interesting when it comes to Chairman's. 342 brought it home the first two years of the Palmetto Regional, but last year missed out in favor of 1398 (Keenan Robo-Raiders), who's been on a meteoric rise in that area. (Rookie All-Star in 2004, EI in 2005, Chairman's in 2006). Both are great teams--expect one more nail-biter after the rack gets unplugged.

I'm excited for this one.