What did we learn - FIRST Scrimmages?

[AcesJames]

I learned that our team overestimated the necessary drivetrain to get over the bump. We made an articulating drive with 6 wheels, 16 sprockets, and 27 feet of chain, and we were going over the bump easily....but so were all of the other teams at Shakedown. Teams with the kitbot frame and 4 mecanum wheels were going over without too much trouble at all. 230, which was arguably the best robot there, had that exact setup.

However, I also learned that having 6 sticky wheels did NOT hamper our ability to turn, and it helped a whole lot in being able to push around other bots. It was literally like a warm knife through butter. Also, in learning things about our robot, we are then able to assess what we can and cannot do, and where we can and cannot play the best on the field. As it is, our kicker will be great picking up balls that were launched from the far zone, and just popping them quickly into our goals.

[SilentHAWK6]

Where any of the cast saved/recorded?

[Dr Theta]

We found that the ability to move between zones consistently and quickly can be the key for a successful match, that controlling a majority of the balls on the field doesn't always lead to high scores (not that it hurts your chances), and once again the drivetrain of the robot is the most important design feature; being able to go where you want in a quick and efficient manner will once again play a huge role.

[Nickel5]

I found:

Not much travel over the bumps

• Seemed to be more beneficial to the other alliance than to your own due to open field section.

Low scoring

• High score was 6, a more average score was 2

Hard to push a ball over the bump

• Just ended up being caught under the frame.

Once a ball is up against the alliance station walls, it's dead. If it's against the side walls in the middle section, it's also dead.
Autonomous is very important because it's a unimpeded chance to score
Hard to manipulate ball, even with ball control

[sportman3333333]

Did anyone manage to find the e-stop button at the driver stations at Suffield Shakedown. Team 999 has lost the stop button. If anyone has it, please pm me.

Thanks

[Michael Corsetto]

I learned how important ball possession is and how not-so-important bump climbing is. We would climb the bump max once per match and still be shooting balls all match. Teams that lacked ball possessors were
A) Having trouble lining up kicks and
B) Taking lots of pictures of our front roller

We also learned the importance of lining up quickly, and you can miss to the wall slightly and still make a bounce shot.

[O'Sancheski]

Originally Posted by Vector MycroftH

What webcast were you watching?
And I also agree with the fact that some teams rush their designs in order to attend these scrimmages. IMHO (even if you do not have a working robot) it would be wise to attend for the advantage of observing how the game is played, learn more about other teams' designs, and scout out the competition.

Looking forward to the start of the competition season.

Originally Posted by BradMello

He cannot be more correct, getting to know your opponents before competitions is key. The more knowledge you have about a team (their strategies, driver style) the better chance you have of beating them.

a very good point... Team Paragon didn't have a working robot to go to the Suffield Shakedown but our team still showed up... i went up to see how the game would be developed and see all the cool robots... to my surprise 90% of the teams had a robot under 18" and had Mecanum wheels... i left half way through the day to go back to the build site to work on the robot... but the funny thing is, Team Paragon won the Spirit Award and we didn't even have a robot there... good job to all teams that participated and good luck to evryone

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

I learned how important ball possession is and how not-so-important bump climbing is.

I learned how many teams did not realize how important ball possession is.

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by darkember

I was a little surprised with how low the scores were. I did notice that a lot of the scoring was done by robots pushing the ball into the goal instead of kicking in. Also, I noticed that defense was a pretty big factor too.

Billy,

Low scores are quite normal for a scrimmage. Scores will increase as the season progresses.

Mike

[dtengineering]

Did anyone see a robot hang from another robot?

Jason

[KC1AJT]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

Did anyone see a robot hang from another robot?

Jason

havnt seen it happen Jason i dont think we'll see much of it until Atlanta either

[bobosalad]

i learned that many robots (at the eagan invitational) do not have climbers, autonomous, or do too much at all. but as always there were the few that stuck out and preformed well. and it didnt help that the communications werent 100% solid.

[jamie_1930]

Today at the Rally we realized how much the rollers, everyone was experimenting with, suck. Literally I don't recall a robot with a roller, including us, not having at least one occasion where they sucked the ball into there robot. Luckily though we hadn't made a very good backcover for the robot to prevent balls from entering the back, so when we did suck up a ball we drove forward and pooped it out. Also thank you to 1511 for hosting the Rally once again as always it was a blast and this time we actually got some drive time instead of just working on the bot in the cafeteria the entire time.

[Katie_UPS]

I learned to bring tools. We thought "oh, the other teams will have a bunch of tools, we'll be fine". So did most everybody else. Also, I decided that having a robot that works (or atleast drives) is a key factor to getting on the field (no such luck for us :/).

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by squirrel

I learned how many teams did not realize how important ball possession is.

Jim,
TOTALLY agree with you.
This is why we are still scrambling wondering if we should powdercoat or not tonight or tomorrow, with less programming and driver practice.

We spent 1 1/2 weeks trying to find the right speed, motor, device, frame stop, etc. that we felt was to our satisfaction on possessing the ball.

Its not perfect, but with driver practice in how they turn and do reverse turns, it certainly improves.

One of the schools here had a scrimmage, and that was the biggest problem.........good ball possessing.