[FTC]: Scouting at FTC Nationals

[astephen68]

I was wondering if a excel database would work for Atlanta or would it be too many teams to do it with?

[Francis-134]

Originally Posted by astephen68

I was wondering if a excel database would work for Atlanta or would it be too many teams to do it with?

I have scouted FRC for for 5 years, and for the last 4, I have used a spreadsheet almost exclusively for scouting in the stands (the best kind, IMHO). This has worked well for my team from a small regional (24 team Waterloo) to an entire division (three years running) and even IRI. Make sure that you do not have too many parameters as you are watching matches.

As an example, you may want to look for how many rings a team scores in Auto and Operator Control, and then how they manipulate the goals. The most important thing to remember when you scout a team is to think about what information you can gather, and whether or not this info is useful in planning for matches or picking a team. Does it really matter if a team has six or four wheel drive or that they can pickup rings four at a time if they can't drive during a match? Just some things to think about.

[fredliu168]

Originally Posted by astephen68

I was wondering if a excel database would work for Atlanta or would it be too many teams to do it with?

Steve did you guys consider the scouting algorithm I wrote for this year's competition? It works well on a field of 50 teams.

[astephen68]

Originally Posted by fredliu168

Steve did you guys consider the scouting algorithm I wrote for this year's competition? It works well on a field of 50 teams.

Yes we did and it looks find i am just looking to see different kinds of scouting like i was going to make a database with execel again which i did for Waterloo Frc but this time ftc

[jbbjjbt]

I have a different question.

Can you see well enough from the stands to scout at Atlanta?

Jon T

[astephen68]

Originally Posted by jbbjjbt

I have a different question.

Can you see well enough from the stands to scout at Atlanta?

Jon T

Depending how far up you are then yeah

[fredliu168]

Atlanta has two (or one, i can't remember well) huge screens with cameras projecting the action. You can see relatively well.

[gdo]

Team Unlimited is working on a scouting database that uses Mircosoft Access. Its is on the forums here:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2105
You can download the file there.

We are currently working on getting it in a .pdf format for consumption for those without access.

If you want to submit data to the database, please go here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=65723

We will post a .pdf and Microsoft Access file to the forums as a new paper for all teams.

When in Atlanta, please stop by our pits. You can submit data to us, and you can also get the newest version of the database from us while there, we will give you the Microsoft Access file from a thumb drive, or as screen captures (as Access will not export as a .pdf ).

We are also thinking of bringing a printer so that we can print the data out for teams to view at our pits.

I hope that people find this helpful!

[thefro526]

For FRC we use a paper based scouting system and I'll be using an excel sheet to make picks and things like that. The paper sheets are kept in a binder that's organized by team so before matches we can make strategies on the fly. And I usually take the number of hurdles, laps, herds, and auto points and make a spreadsheet of that to pick from. I'd assume for vex you would use different scoring parameters but the system could still work.

[astephen68]

What about an access database?

[gdo]

Originally Posted by astephen68

What about an access database?

I'm working on the final data now for one. We have a template on (with no data from teams in it) here : http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2105

We will have a database with data from teams (we have something like 20 teams data) a little later (probably monday) as we are packing now our stuff as it departs on Monday morning.

[gdo]

Sorry for the delay in posting the final version online (I've been getting a lot of entries recently) so I thought I would put them in.

The final version is attached here:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2124

If you are unable to get this file now, but would like it, I will have the database on a USB thumb drive in Atlanta. Come to Team 1's pits, and ask for Patrick, I will be there most likely and will be able to give you the file, also answer any questions about it.

Best of luck to all teams! And thank you to all the teams that submitted data!

Regards,
~Patrick Pilvines of Team Unlimited (FTC #1)