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

[EricH]

Originally Posted by LightWaves1636

I know team
207 - competed at the Los Angelos Regional
555 - competed at the New Jersey Regional
945 - competed at the Florida Regional
1158 - competed at the Arizona Regional
1515 - competed at the Los Angelos Regional
1984 - competed at the Greater Kansas Regional
can't think of any that were at Waterloo

...
207:I expect a mean game out of them, they made it to semi's I believe, at LA and so I think they'll be able to make it to elims...

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd take 1515 over 207 by a hair. Unless 207 has their gripper repaired, they'll be defense a fair portion of the time (though they do play defense fairly well). I haven't known 1515 to break yet this year, and if they get a tube, chances are high that it'll wind up on the rack. Should both be working perfectly, they've both got a good chance of placing high in seeding and going a fair ways in eliminations.

(BTW, it's spelled Los Angeles.)

[Bongle]

[3]How would you like to be still waiting to be drafted at the 12th, 13th, 14th, & 15th slot. Do you want to be drafted or do you hope that #1114 picks you on the 16th and final pick? If you get picked by #1114 on the last pick of the draft you become part of the alliance that everyone is betting will win the day, but if you are not the top team left on Karthik & Co.'s list, it is time to put your robot in the crate... ...I get a knot in my stomach just thinking about it. JJ

Getting picked 16th by 1114 is pretty much the best feeling ever. At that point you're getting all down because you can still think of other unpicked robots that are better than yours in some ways, and you're not picked yet, and OH MY GOD DID THEY PICK US? THEY DID!

[LightWaves1636]

Originally Posted by EricH

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd take 1515 over 207 by a hair. Unless 207 has their gripper repaired, they'll be defense a fair portion of the time (though they do play defense fairly well). I haven't known 1515 to break yet this year, and if they get a tube, chances are high that it'll wind up on the rack. Should both be working perfectly, they've both got a good chance of placing high in seeding and going a fair ways in eliminations.

(BTW, it's spelled Los Angeles.)

Oops, heh, sorry for the spelling, it was like around 3 in the morning.

[mizscience]

Originally Posted by Billfred

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!)

Our gripper started to bend outwards during the quarter-finals matches at UCF, and progressively got worse. We redesigned our gripper out of a stronger material and a smaller radius to hold the ringers more effectively.

Thanks for the pick, Billfred!

[LightWaves1636]

Darn it! I had a prediction of no snow for the regional because from December to February, the weekly snowstorm become very tedious. Then when march rolls around, it gets warmer and warmer, kids riding bikes, water fights, and other outdoor activities in the sun, I open the door to be on my way to the Magnes Arena, *POOF*, snow everywhere! Anyhow, Hope everyone has fun this week. Good Luck!

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Sacramento
This one has the making of deja vu all over again. The Sacramento has 22 teams competing in their 2nd (or third in the case of #114) competition of the 2007 season (60%). But 14 of those teams competed in San Jose. Could get interesting.

Some might make a big showing of the Poofs heading to another state this week but I think there are plenty of great teams left to head to the capital.

Team #114 was the number #1 seed in Silicon Valley. They picked #2 Seed, Team #100. They were eliminated in the Semi's due to some well played defense and a lack of a solid ramp. If Los Altos wins #1 Seed again (as they should) will they go with Woodside and Carlmont Robotics again? Hard choices but somebody's got to make 'em. They better get a good ramp if they want to advance to the final match and perhaps even bring home the big trophy.

114 and 100 both have solid scoring machines this season and should do well. They can compliment one another with good strategy if they think ahead and are sure to do well if they pair up again in Sacramento. They need to find themselves partnered with a good ramp that'll stay out of their way for most of the match, but that's a tall order if you're picking up teams at the tail end of the draft.

This regional is packed with other talent. Finalist and Champions include Teams #766, #852, #997, #1280 & #1760.

The Raging Seabiscuits (Team #1280) is an interesting study in the FIRST Fates, they were partnered with #114 in OR in Week 1: 3 matches after lunch and they are packing up their pits. Week 3 rolls around, they they come to San Jose: Champs. Is it the team or the partners or both? Time will tell.

Do not underestimate 766 or 852 this weekend. I had the pleasure of working with both during our run at the banner in San Jose and am very impressed by their talent. They each have solid machines -- 852 was performing better than or the same as 254 all weekend long at SVR and 766 has a machine that really started to shine near the end. What sets these teams apart, though, is the solid coaching behind the glass. These teams played off one another fantastically well and deserve more respect than they seem to get around here. I'd never know of them before heading to SVR, but I'll be singing their praises for awhile.

1280 is a good group, too, and always has solid machines. In Portland, it seemed like they were focusing a lot of their efforts on using their twin lifters effectively and that had mixed success -- with an obvious trend of improvement. Conversely, San Jose was all about their arm and they did much better for it. Statiscally, they were a superior scorer to their partner, 190, but that statistic may have been what hurt my alliance in the end. 190 was no slouch, either and I ignored them for too long. Watch out for these guys; especially if they have the good sense to stick with that arm and worry about the lifts only when they've got the time to show off.

As to #997, of course they won big at the PNW Regional, and I hear tell they are a pretty good ramp/lift team which we know is often the difference between competing and winning, but I am REALLY pulling for them because they are out of Corvallis, OR. Which is the home of my friend and coin op amusements competitors, Slambot by Morrowbotics. Mike Morrow is good people.

997 is a good lifting machine that plays solid defense thanks to the Outback Manufacturing-supplied two-speed tread drivetrain. It's the same system that Poof bodyguards 753 have used in the past and serves 997 just as well. 997 has to play good defense to ensure the victory since their lifts are pneumatically actuated. One lift is easy enough, but that second robot can take some time climbing to new heights, so it's imperative (and likely) that 997 doesn't let the other alliance get a run on tubes.

I'm interested in seeing the outcome of this event, if only because so many teams we've played with and against are competing again this weekend. I'm pulling for 766 and 852, though. Those folks deserve a few more awards.

[wedellm]

It was not mentioned that at the Colorado Regional, Team 1158 "The Corps" is returning to defend its title. Good luck to all the teams in the Colorado Regional.

[LightWaves1636]

Well, Colorado didn't go as well overall for practice as I was expecting but my team was doing an awesome job, and so has Team 555 and 877, simply amazing work. Excited for Qualifiers, hopefully more bots got fixed during the fix-it-window. The only thing my team was getting annoyed by was our limit switches(for our gripper) and gear tooth sensors(we had one on the jack lift but it caused the chain to snap the master link off) were working against us but we got it all fixed in time for our last match of the day and it was awesome. I'm defiantly excited for tomorrow.

[Liz Smith]

Originally Posted by LightWaves1636

Well, Colorado didn't go as well overall for practice as I was expecting but my team was doing an awesome job, and so has Team 555 and 877, simply amazing work. Excited for Qualifiers, hopefully more bots got fixed during the fix-it-window. The only thing my team was getting annoyed by was our limit switches(for our gripper) and gear tooth sensors(we had one on the jack lift but it caused the chain to snap the master link off) were working against us but we got it all fixed in time for our last match of the day and it was awesome. I'm defiantly excited for tomorrow.

Awesome for your team, and go 555! Yay! Thanks for the updates. Those of us a few states over greatly appreciate updates.

[Joe Johnson]

Friday night, just checking some scores around the country.

My tipster's knew what they were talking about in Israel. #1574 is #1 Seed and Goes all the way.

Toronto has #1114 7-0 with 1 match to go. If they win it, they will have been #1 Seed at 3 regionals this year.

The rest of Toronto is hard to read. #188 is looking pretty good in 5th place right now, but who knows. Other teams I tipped are in the middle of the pack. The pairings will divide the men from the boys.

No results posted from Sacramento.

Palmetto has #343 in 7th place. Could be a good place for them or they could be drafted by a higher seed. Stay tuned.

Joe J.

[geowasp]

well, so far in CO, many of the good teams have become a victim of this year's new non-random alliance selection... 159 is in the 20's (last i checked), 1552 lost 5 in a row, despite being productive (i love spreading propaganda for my own team), finally managed to squeeze one out in the last match of the day... anyways, i hate to say this, but alliance captains at CO this year may be littered with mediocre bots... and those who get picked by them, well, best of luck.
the irony is, we may become one of those.

[Doug G]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Friday night, just checking some scores around the country.

No results posted from Sacramento.

Joe J.

#100 seems to be a front runner right now. I heard someone say that smoke was coming from 114 during one of their matches. 776 and 997 seem to be top as well. Congrats to 1678, the local davis team, for their efforts sitting in 5th place - by the biggest ramps at the competition - my team calls them the origami-bot. 2063 plays great defense and has solid ramps. We're hangin' in there at 8th and hope to set up a good alliance for tomorrow. High score of the day was 260 by 100, and ??

[LightWaves1636]

Originally Posted by EricH

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd take 1515 over 207 by a hair. Unless 207 has their gripper repaired, they'll be defense a fair portion of the time (though they do play defense fairly well). I haven't known 1515 to break yet this year, and if they get a tube, chances are high that it'll wind up on the rack. Should both be working perfectly, they've both got a good chance of placing high in seeding and going a fair ways in eliminations.

(BTW, it's spelled Los Angeles.)

At our regional, I'd pick 207 over 1515. when angled right, 207 got their autonomous dialed in. 1515 takes too long to load on ringers. but anyway, the final alliances were 207, 1515, and 2083 against 555, 1583, and 1636. The first match they completely got us 14 to 4 and then we got them 32 to 34. The third match, 1515 broke down. I forgot the team that replaced them, and Blue(555, 1583, and 1636) won 36 to 70. I am so happy 159 got Chairman's, they really deserved it. After the first match, our alliance was in trouble, something was wrong with all three bots but we made it within the time limit. That was such a rush to get through it all.