Robot Classifications

[hipsterjr]

In the past we have had shooters, herders, dumpers, lappers, arms, cappers, and ramp bots.


So the question is: What will be the major classes of robots this year?

I think all the restrictions will actually produce a lot of varied ideas to attack the challenge.

[gorrilla]

I think there will be 4 major design types this year...

#1. kickers
#2. Goalies
#3. multi hangers
#4. Multi taskers...

[kirtar]

As broad classifications, every robot should fit in to one of these:
Front Field/Offense
Mid Field/Supply Line
Back Field/Defense
All Around/Some combination of the above.

I see each section of the field requiring a slightly different play style. No matter what, a robot will have to start in one of these and will always spend the match playing in at least one of the areas of the field. Ignoring the ability to hang/elevate, the general roles of the robots before the finale will be offense, defense, and "supply line." It is equally important to be able to defend as to score, but in order to score you must have a supply of soccer balls.

In the back you will want to run into the opponent, and launching the ball is going to be more important, and you probably won't care about avoiding the opponent (you are the hunter). You will want to be able to maintain a pin for close to the maximum amount of time.

In the Front Field you will probably actively avoid the opposing defense. You are the hunted, but you have a target of your own. I think some method of herding while possibly the ability to possess/launch a short distance will be important. Mobility here will be important to avoid a pin, but escaping a pin may also be important.

In the mid field, you will need to do a little of both. You will track down the other supplier if you want to deny the supply of balls to the opposing alliance. You will avoid them when you are going to supply your offensive bot. I can see robots that are built for this task being able to be effective on every area of the field.

BTW, the directions are kind of reversed since your goal is toward you and not away from you.

[dodar]

Our team came up woth the obvious soccer names:

1. Defender
2. Midfielder
3. Forward

of course then you have to take into account multi-ability robots like 1 and 2 or 1 and 3 or 2 and 3 or 1, 2, 3 robots. Those robots i would classify as the Beckham-bots

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by gorrilla

I think there will be 4 major design types this year...

#1. kickers
#2. Goalies
#3. multi hangers
#4. Multi taskers...

and the multi-taksers shall rule them all!

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by gorrilla

I think there will be 4 major design types this year...

#1. kickers
#2. Goalies
#3. multi hangers
#4. Multi taskers...

Agreed with these. Also agreed with Ed about the multi-taskers ruling the game (although goalie + hanger is a deadly combo too)

[gblake]

Folks,

Please don't be shy about posting your ideas in this thread - As we update the 5th Gear match simulator (2009 5th Gear thread) for this season we are having to guess at the answers to this exact topic, so that we can give the simulated robots the right capabilities.

Keep tossing out ideas about different robot styles, robot functions or game play strategies so that we can soak them up and give you a better simulator.

Blake

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by gblake

Folks,

Please don't be shy about posting your ideas in this thread - As we update the 5th Gear match simulator (2009 5th Gear thread) for this season we are having to guess at the answers to this exact topic, so that we can give the simulated robots the right capabilities.

Keep tossing out ideas about different robot styles, robot functions or game play strategies so that we can soak them up and give you a better simulator.

Blake

gblake, would it be alright if I PMed you ideas I may not want to put in the thread at this time, but I'm guessing will be competitive?

To contribute, I believe this game will of course be ruled by a team that multi tasks well. However, doing a single task extremely well is often better than doing a multi task in mediocre fashion. I believe there will be robots that primarily shoot, interact with the bar with or without teammates, or push balls. The latter will be useful strategically in the center of the field for ball control, as it's very beneficial to have balls on one end of the field. I can see an alliance of a super shooter, a bar interaction robot with limited shooting, and a robot specializing in ball control winning events.

[Mr. Pockets]

A few that I was toying with.

Offense - Pretty self explanatory (no sub-group ideas yet)

Defense (see below for sub-groups I came up with)
-Guards: bots who do the best they can to limit movement between sections
-Goalies: Guard goals

Utility
-Hangers: Bots who are both very good climbers, but also easy to climb on.
-Conveyors: middle area bots used to syphon game pieces along.

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

gblake, would it be alright if I PMed you ideas I may not want to put in the thread at this time, but I'm guessing will be competitive?

It's more than alright - Please do

FYI - Robot capabilities that you/anyone might describe are what might make their way into the simulation (if they aren't too complex for our current physics, etc. or for operating using a single XBox controller - We do have limitations ); but specific strategies that take advantage of combinations those capabilities won't be part of the game - Strategy comes from those 5.4 million hours of brainpower Dave Lavery talked about. 5th Gear users have to develop/explore their own strategies.

Also, like last year, 5th Gear won't be released until the 2nd half of the build season.

Finally, remember the long-view Dave, Woody and Dean emphasized. We win individually when we all succeed 5-10 years from now. Donating a good idea to the community just might be more rewarding than playing your cards close to your vest. I know I could be convinced to give out a few rep points to posters who do that.

So - Yes please post or PM your ideas and be part of this year's successes.

Blake

[Passion]

There are different ways of "kicking". Of course, when they say kick, people right away think of how a human would kick, which was demonstrated on Today's presentation.
Our ideas of output system, would be securing the soccer ball against a piston, and then when time is right, the piston pushes the ball straight into the goal post. We just thought of this idea today, it is definitely much more sophisticated than this.

We had slightly considered of going defense, but what if our robot is the only defensive robot on the team?
I am sure it would be very hard for the our robot to defend two goal posts to prevent 3 robots scoring...
Speaking of that, I don't recall reading anything about this in the rules; is it legal to have all 3 robots that are on the same team to be on the same segment of the field?
By segment, I meant such as end zone, or mid-field, or scoring-zone

[EversmannJ]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pockets

-Conveyors: middle area bots used to syphon game pieces along.

I think these will become important. Ball control is always extremely useful in a game like this, if a Midfielder can't hit the goal consistently than their main objective should become "move as many balls to the opponent's side of the field as possible." A very simple way to do this would be herding (possibly kicking without an upwards angle) through the tunnels. A constant flow of balls into the center of the field would make the Forward's job much simpler.

[Aaron Lussier]

Just had a wacky idea.

A fast goalie bot, that has different hanging attachments to suit partners. Also, be strong enough to support the 400 some odd pounds.

[sporno]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

and the multi-taksers shall rule them all!

I agree, you will also have the one magical team that can do it all , and do it well ( we have seen 71 do it a few times)

Altho I do feel that some times might find a slight shame in playing goalie. I think that a decent box bot could go very far in this game. As we have all heard before, " Defense wins Championships"

[ssa3512]

Originally Posted by Aaron Lussier

Also, be strong enough to support the 400 some odd pounds.

Given the maximum weight of ANY fieldable robot is 120 pounds, I would think you would only need to support a total of 360 pounds from your lifting device, and 240 from any part of the robot that another robot would attach to (assuming that the third robot attaches to the second one)