No Lifter = No Playoffs

[coldfusion1279]

Our team decided to axe the lift idea also.

Many of the videos I have seen indicate that several teams will need more than 20 seconds to drive over to the tower, attach themselves, and lift above the platform (not to mention we must consider the robots getting in eachother's way...)

Yes it is a 2 point opportunity cost, and yes, teams will think we are weaker since we don't have a lift. But that's okay, let them think that...

[robodude03]

Any good scouting team would choose a robot based on it's performance (i.e. ball handling, shooting, etc). Picking a robot only because it lifted once in a match would not automatically make me pick them. I would have to look at their overall capability and whether they can make up for the hanging with accurate or high percentage shooting.

Our team initially designed a lifter then decided to scrap it for a robot that could go under the tunnel and use a new feature we added. It all depends on how your team will decide to play the game and what role your robot will play in qualifications and eliminations. We believe we made the right choice and will focus on creating strategies that suit our capabilities. So I wouldn't say that "No Lifter = No Playoffs".

[artdutra04]

A robot that does 60% of the tasks 100% of the time is better than a robot that does 100% of the tasks 60% of the time.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

A robot that does 60% of the tasks 100% of the time is better than a robot that does 100% of the tasks 60% of the time.

For lack of better words.... "What he said"

[kws4000]

Indeed.
Several matches were 0-0 or low ties at Traverse City, MI, and that was only because of the balls. On other matches that had hangers, they made all the difference between a tie or loss and a win. On at least one occasion, the hangers were the only ones that scored anything.
If my team's lifter was functioning properly during the first few matches, we would have been in the highter standings all the time. But on the second day, we managed to jump from 38th of 38 to 18th.
Just got to get it right the FIRST time!

[Enigma's puzzle]

Just to put this into perspective, the winning alliance (#1 alliance)had no one on the alliance that could lift.And throughout the eliminations, I believe i only saw 4 different teams attempt to hang.

[Bandgeek80001]

My best suggestion:

Bring it with you as part of the withholding allowance, and have everything you need in order to mount it and cut back the robot's weight. Play a few practice rounds, and watch the rest. Watch carefully to see what kind of effect the arms seem to be having at your event.

This way, if it seems to be a pointless thing to add, you were ready, and if you think it will help, you can throw it on.

(Also, after the competition it would be a cool thing to show potential sponsors once you've perfected it.)

[ttldomination]

Don't try to hang unless you can do it consistently and quickly. I've seen teams waste too much time lining themselves up, when they could've been play defense.

At P'tree Regional, only 2-3 robots could hang, and none of them were in the finals.

[robodude03]

Originally Posted by kws4000

Indeed.
Several matches were 0-0 or low ties at Traverse City, MI, and that was only because of the balls. On other matches that had hangers, they made all the difference between a tie or loss and a win. On at least one occasion, the hangers were the only ones that scored anything.
If my team's lifter was functioning properly during the first few matches, we would have been in the highter standings all the time. But on the second day, we managed to jump from 38th of 38 to 18th.
Just got to get it right the FIRST time!

I found that the 0-0 matches were because of high defense and obviously hanging in these situations would turn the match around for the given alliance. However, at the same time could it not be said that if a team had successfully made shots during autonomous the match would tip in their favor? After watching the matches in San Diego, I have to say that having an autonomous mode that at least gets the balls in the alliances near zone (or scores) gives them a significant advantage in a match.

[delsaner]

Originally Posted by robodude03

I found that the 0-0 matches were because of high defense and obviously hanging in these situations would turn the match around for the given alliance. However, at the same time could it not be said that if a team had successfully made shots during autonomous the match would tip in their favor? After watching the matches in San Diego, I have to say that having an autonomous mode that at least gets the balls in the alliances near zone (or scores) gives them a significant advantage in a match.

I saw a lot of matches that were 0-0 because of penalties. Don't get me wrong, a good defense can certainly prevent ball from going in, thus causing no points in the game, but penalties certainly caused a lot of 0-0 matches.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by delsaner

I saw a lot of matches that were 0-0 because of penalties. Don't get me wrong, a good defense can certainly prevent ball from going in, thus causing no points in the game, but penalties certainly caused a lot of 0-0 matches.

I've seen matches that had WAY more penalties than points scored.
It's very much easier to incur penalties this year than to score and thus 0-0 scores will be pretty common unfortunately.

[Wayne TenBrink]

We were grateful to finish as "1 seed at TC, so we had our pick of the field. We don't hang. Our first round choice (2645 Power Surge) was a reliable hanger. However, it wasn't their only strength. There were 3 on our short list for the first round. All three were agile, could move the ball over the bump, score, and worked well with us. I can't say if hanging was the single bonus that swayed our decision, but it certainly helped. Their hanging during eliminations made the difference in one or more matches. In the 2nd round, we went for defensive agility over the ability to hang.

We didn't rule out non-hangers or limit our choices to them. Hanging ability is most valuable when it is combined with a needed skill during the other minute and 40 seconds of the match.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I've seen matches that had WAY more penalties than points scored.
It's very much easier to incur penalties this year than to score and thus 0-0 scores will be pretty common unfortunately.

Quoted for truth.

Teams/alliances that can limit their penalties will have great success compared to the average team/alliance.

[nskerven]

Originally Posted by coldfusion1279

Our team decided to axe the lift idea also.

Many of the videos I have seen indicate that several teams will need more than 20 seconds to drive over to the tower, attach themselves, and lift above the platform (not to mention we must consider the robots getting in eachother's way...)

Take a look at CORE 2062's video. http://vimeo.com/9510415