Best Robots by Age

[Jon Jack]

Not to take anything from 2753, they had an awesome robot their rookie year, but my vote for best Rookie in 2009 goes to 2775. Here's why:

• The worst they've done in their two regionals is finalist (2009 St. Louis Regional Finalists, 2010 St. Louis Regional Champions)
• They were a 2nd round pick by 1717 on Galileo in 2009
• They made it all the way to the finals on Galileo, losing to the eventual World Champs (111,67, 971)
• They were the only rookie at IRI in 2009 to be an alliance captain.

It's close, but I think that 2775's performance in year 2 gives them the edge...

[TheFish]

Originally Posted by Jon Jack

Not to take anything from 2753, they had an awesome robot their rookie year, but my vote for best Rookie in 2009 goes to 2775. Here's why:

• The worst they've done in their two regionals is finalist (2009 St. Louis Regional Finalists, 2010 St. Louis Regional Champions)
• They were a 2nd round pick by 1717 on Galileo in 2009
• They made it all the way to the finals on Galileo, losing to the eventual World Champs (111,67, 971)
• They were the only rookie at IRI in 2009 to be an alliance captain.

It's close, but I think that 2775's performance in year 2 gives them the edge...

I'm convinced

I'll update the list I have going after some more people give their input...

[XaulZan11]

I'm not sure how much (if any) weight IRI should have. Some teams do take it very seriously, but others use it more as an event to train new drivers and just have fun. At regionals and at the Championship, everyone is playing to win.

[Siri]

I'd agree that 469, 341, 343, and 365 are all excellent teams with consistently impressive robots. That said, I think the stats back me up in saying that 469 has perennially the best preforming robot. However, I wouldn't find it too hard to say 365 has historically the best preforming team (as far as non-performance/engineering awards like Chairman's, Spirit, etc).

469:
*Championship Winner x1
*Championship Finalist x1
*Division Winner x2
*Division Finalist x2
*Regional/District Winner x7
*Regional Finalist x3
*Regional Engineering Award x12
Regional Sportsmanship Award x2
Regional Woodie Flowers x2

341:
*Championship Engineering Inspiration x1
*Division Winner x1
Championship Entrepreneurship x2
Championship Judge's Award x1
Championship Sportsmanship x1
Regional Chairman's x5
*Regional Winner x5
Regional Engineering Inspiration x3
*Regional Engineering Award x1
Regional Woodie Flowers x2
Regional Judge's Award x2
Regional Entrepreneurship x2
Regional Spirit x3
Regional Sportsmanship x1
Regional Website x4

343
*Championship Finalist x1
*Division Winner x1
*Division Finalist x2
Championship Engineering Inspiration x1
Championship Entrepreneurship x1
*Regional Winner x7
*Regional Chairman's x2
*Regional Finalist x2
*Regional Engineering Award x12
Regional Engineering Inspiration x1
Regional Autodesk x2
Regional Entrepreneurship x3
Regional Judge's Award x1

365:
*Championship Winner x1
Championship Chairman's x1 (plus 1 Honorable Mention #1)
*Championship Engineering Award x1
*Division Champion x1
*Division Finalist x2
Championship Engineering Inspiration x1
Championship Imagery Award x2
*Regional Winner x5
Regional Chairman's x4
*Regional Finalist x3
*Regional Engineering Award x5
Regional GP x3
Regional Woodie Flowers x3
Regional Entrepreneurship x2
Regional Judge's Award x1
Regional Sportsmanship x2
Regional Spirit x2
Regional Imagery Award x5
Regional Website x4

Performance/Engineering Awards Only
Championship Wins:
469 x1
365 x1
Championship Finals:
469 x1
341 x0
343 x1
365 x0
Championship Engineering:
469 x0
341 x0
343 x0
365 x1
Division Wins:
469 x2
341 x1
343 x1
365 x1
Division Finals:
469 x2
341 x0
343 x2
365 x2
Regional Wins:
469 x7
341 x5
343 x7
365 x5
Regional Finals:
469 x3
341 x0
343 x2
365 x4
Regional Engineering:
469 x12
341 x1
343 x12
365 x5

Championship Chairman's:
469 x0
341 x0
343 x0
365 x1
Regional Chairman's:
469 x0
341 x5
343 x2
365 x4
Accurate to the best of my ability, sans 2000 for all teams.

Why yes, building this list did make me feel like a complete amateur, why do you ask?

[XaulZan11]

I thought we were only talking about robot preformance.

I know this is probably unattainable, but I think 'average alliance selection' would be a good measure. Is the team consistently being on the top 3 teams picked or are they winning events as the 3rd robot?

[Coach Tom]

Originally Posted by Jon Jack

Not to take anything from 2753, they had an awesome robot their rookie year, but my vote for best Rookie in 2009 goes to 2775. Here's why:

• The worst they've done in their two regionals is finalist (2009 St. Louis Regional Finalists, 2010 St. Louis Regional Champions)
• They were a 2nd round pick by 1717 on Galileo in 2009
• They made it all the way to the finals on Galileo, losing to the eventual World Champs (111,67, 971)
• They were the only rookie at IRI in 2009 to be an alliance captain.

It's close, but I think that 2775's performance in year 2 gives them the edge...

Using the same logic, 2753 was the 2nd overall pick at IRI that year. Wildstang 111 was chosen first by team 980, the #2 alliance (832) picked 2753 as their first pick. Albeit I have a bit of a bias.

[xSAWxBLADEx]

My vote for 2009 best rookie goes to 2771. (sorry for the michigan bias)

[Grim Tuesday]

4451 hands down this year so far.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

4451 hands down this year so far.

So much this! Been saying it since 11 saw them play in Palmetto. A few of us were talking about them today as well.

[AmoryG]

Without actually doing some research, it's hard to think of some teams that are clearly better by year.

2013: ????
2012: 4334
2011: ????
2010: ????
2009: 2826
2008: 2337
2007: 2056
2006: 1717
2005: 1625
2004: ????
2003: 1114
2002: 987
2001: ????
2000: 469
1999: 217, 254
1998: ????
1997: 67
1996: 71, 111

And I really don't even know what teams even existed way back when. Is there some site where I can see the rookie years for each team?

Also, I don't believe there's a good way of measuring the best team by year for certain years. For 2007 the best team is clearly 2056. But it's really hard to say what team is the best from 1999. I would take 254 over 217, but the success 217 had, particularly between 2006 and 2011 was ridiculous. They won 2 Championships in 2006 and 2008, and won at least 70 matches in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

[Basel A]

4294 has been a bit underwhelming this year, so given another solid robot from 4334, I'd might endorse that pick for 2012 rookie. 4124 is another 2012 rookie that is doing serious work, though. Finalist last year and top pick and winner at BAE this year.

[dodar]

For 2013 I would have to say the current leader and high favorite would have to be 4451. And for 2010 I'd say 3357, they made it to Einstein.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

4451 hands down this year so far.

What's really scary is they get like 6 weeks to drop under the radar and somehow figure out a way to play their game even better before Championships. They didn't use up any black magic to win regionals (2x RAS, ranked 5th/finalists in Orlando and rank 7/semifinalist in Myrtle Beach) so I bet lady luck (and the robot itself) will go far into CMP with 4451. Definitely an early candidate for CMP highest rookie seed.

[TheFish]

Hi All,

Time to bring this back, now that we're in the heart of 2014's competition.

This is where things stand so far. Let the debates continue! Note none of the data attached includes 2014 wins.

Teams With the Best Robots by Rookie-Year
2014: ????
2013: 4451
2012: 4294
2011: 3539
2010: 3138
2009: 2826
2008: 2337
2007: 2056
2006: 1717
2005: 1625
2004: 1477
2003: 1114
2002: 987
2001: 494
2000: 469
1999: 254
1998: 48
1997: 67
1996: 71
1995: 177
1994: 144
1993: 151
1992: 111

[Basel A]

I haven't watched much outside of Michigan, but Michigan does have one strong contender. 4967 has won all three rookie awards, including Highest Rookie Seed Twice, and they've captained alliances to a District Win and a semifinal.