Best Robots by Age

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

My thoughts for "best robot team whose rookie year was 200x"

2010: 3125
2009: 2753
2008: 2337
2007: 2056
2006: 1732
2005: 1625
2004: 1279
2003: 1114
2002: 987

Tossups would be for 2010 (obviously), 2009 (2775 and 2826 are very close behind), 2006 (1902, 1714, 1712), and 2005 (1676). I was tempted to put 971 for 2002...

For 2010 I vote 3256

[The Lucas]

Originally Posted by meaubry

1998 Team 47 - Won 3 Regionals of Ladder Logic (the last year of non-alliance competitions)

Originally Posted by Starke340

Without a doubt, HOT (#67) was the best in 2004.

The dominance of those 2 bots in those years is legendary and indisputable. However, the topic of this thread is to determine the best teams (robot performance over career) by their age (one per year based on a team's listed rookie year).

HOT is already the selection for their rookie year of '97 with no disputes I've seen. Team 47 is stuck behind 71 (hard to argue 4 World Championships) in the crowded class of '96 which also includes 16, 33, 56, 111, & 121.

[LLogan]

I'm going to suggest 1771 for 2006.

They have consistently been in the top three picks at their regionals (except for Palmetto 2009, where they were the 3rd alliance captain and won).

In 2008, they won the Championship Xerox Creativity Award. Do you remember their extremely innovative vacuum powered suction device for handling and hurdling the 40inch trackballs?

In 2009, they won Palmetto 2009 as the third seed alliance captain. They were also the first pick overall at Curie Division.

In 2010, they were the first pick overall and won Peachtree Regional.

[rees2001]

This is fun. Can we throw in an Honorable Mention for each year? This is FIRST and it never hurts to spread the love around. I only go back to 2000 so I will speak for the years I have been around for. Should we look at plastic, medals, or per event totals? Robots, ranking, overall or the combo package? Many teams do well per year but attend a bunch of events. Some teams only go to 1 or 2 events per year. Some teams go to multiple events every year and still blow the competition away. Some very impressive years in this group, 2000, 2003, 2005. I'm not trying knock some rookie years but ther are a few very impressive rookie years.

As for 2009 I like 2775 but I am biased. (who isn't?)

In 2005 I would like to add 1511, (Winnovation is really, really impressive. The Thunder gets my HM)
In 2003 I would add 1126. (obviously not 1114, but who is? that is like trying to compete with 71)
In 2001 I would add 503. (Again impressive but it is hard to beat a 494?)

I would like to throw some monkeys into the year 2000 wrench.
There are some Amazing teams started in 2000 year grouping. I know 341 & 343 are amazing. 359 (might want to look at their stats this year) & 368 are right there too. 469 has performed like no other (trust me, I watch the videos for the 2004 Einstein semi's and wonder what if) BUT, 365. Go MOE. Go to any event, they know MOE. Not that they don't know the rest of the group. But MOE is like the Yankees of FIRST without the haters.

This has been fun, thanks.


How can anyone have this conversation and not include 45?

[Akash Rastogi]

2002: 910 - the Foley Freeze. Such a beastly team.

[Andrew Schreiber]

2008: 2619 For 3 years now 2619 and 2337 have duked it out. This year they met at KU and AA districts. 2619 knocked out 2337 in the semis and then 2337 knocked out 2619 in the finals. Last year 2619 took a district where 2337 had a very off year. 2008, Enginerds were dominant with Das Boot.

I have to give the nod to 2619 because they have been more consistent. They may not have had as brilliant a rookie year as 2337 but since then they have been consistently improving.

2010: 51... wait, is that cheating?

1999: Poofs. Hands down, the Cheesy Poofs. While 217 may have 2 World Champions and a huge number of regional wins 254 is a Hall of Fame team.

[Huskie65]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

1999: Poofs. Hands down, the Cheesy Poofs. While 217 may have 2 World Champions and a huge number of regional wins 254 is a Hall of Fame team.

As a team yes but we are talking strictly robot here. 4/5 years in the finals on Einstein...

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

2010: 51... wait, is that cheating?

lmao

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

2010: 51... wait, is that cheating?

When a "rookie" comes in with a couple of Championship wins, a Championship CA, and who knows how many regional wins...

Yeah, that might be cheating.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by EricH

When a "rookie" comes in with a couple of Championship wins, a Championship CA, and who knows how many regional wins...

Yeah, that might be cheating.

and a WFA winner.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Huskie65

I think this is close but two titles is not easy...


1999: 254 (Cheesy Poofs - 18x Regional Winner, 2001 & 2005 Einstein Finalist, 2008 Championship Division Finalist)
1999: 217 (Thunder Chickens - ? regional Winner (3 already this year and 3 last year) 5x Championship Division wins Championship Winner 2006 & 2008

Depends how you look at it.
In the last 5 years, 217.
Since inception, I'd go with 254.
In looking at just regional wins, its difficult because some teams do more events than others. Being from Michigan and one of the best teams, the opportunities are much greater in the last couple of years.

What's flawed about this thread is its based on individual teams being the best as opposed to how you really get there. Its takes a 3 team alliance to win (in most cases) and often times, many of the top tier teams, pick another one to greatly increase their chances to win. And what about the 3rd alliance partner? Often times carried IMO.

Best example for us this year was in Hawaii 2010. We knew it was a big advantage to take 368 with the 1st pick. What if we didnt? What if it was us vs. them? Wouldnt the winner have proven to have been better than the other? Instead, both teams gets the W.

My .02.

[TheFish]

It hasn't changed too much but here is the next list update: I will include a 2010 team after the Championships.


2010:
2009: 2775 (Jackson Area Robotics - 1x Regional Winner, 1x Regional Finalist, 2009 Championship Division Finalist, 2009 IRI Alliance Captain)
2008: 2337 (EngiNERDs - 1x Regional Winner 2008, Championship Highest Rookie Seed)
2007: 2056 (OP Robotics - 8 of 8 Regional Wins)
2006: 1717 (D'Penguineers - 4x Regional Winner, 2008 & 2009 Championship Division Finalist)
2005: 1625 (Winnovation - 5x Regional Winner, 2006 Championship Division Finalist)
2004: 1251 (TechTigers - 4x Regional Winner, 4x Regional Finalist)
2003: 1114 (Simbotics - 12x Regional Winner, 2006 Championship Division Finalist, 2008 Championship Winner)
2002: 987 (High Rollers - 4x Regional Winner, 2007 Championship Winner, 2008 Championship Division Finalist)
2001: 494 (The Martians - 4x Regional Winner, 2003 Championship Division Winner, 2004 Championship Winner, 2005 Division Finalist)
2000: 469 (Las Guerrillas - 7x Regional Winner, 2001 & 2002 Division Finalist, 2003 Championship Winner, 2004 Championship Finalist, 5x IRI Champion)
1999: 254 (Cheesy Poofs - 18x Regional Winner, 2001 & 2005 Championship Finalist, 2008 Championship Division Finalist)
1998: 69 (Hyper - 7x Regional Winner, 3x Regional Finalist)
1997: 67 (HOT - 13x Regional Winner, 2003 & 2007 Division Finalist, 2004 & 2008 Division Winner, 2005 & 2009 Championship Winner)
1996: 71 (Team Hammond - 11x Regional Winner, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004 Championship Winner, 2007 Championship Finalist)
1995: 177 (Bobcat Robotics - 4x Regional Winner, 2001, 2006, 2008 & 2009 Championship Division Winner, 2007 Championship Winner)
1994:
1992: 148 (RoboWranglers - 6x Regional Winner, 2008 Championship Winner)

Notes:
2008: I'm still sticking with 2337 over 2619.
2000: Stacked year with plenty of good teams and programs. Moe might win it on reputation and recognition, but 469 is on top with statistics and robots (especially given their success this year)
1996: Note that 1996 was a stacked year as well and many teams who aren't on this list still deserve much recognition.
1999: 254 is still above 217 because of their long history of success (although if 217 continues their Champs performances this year that could very well change.
1998: I put 69 above 68 because their programs are very similar but 69 has had a better year this year... on top of that, they choose not to go to the Champs some years, which is why they haven't had International success.
1994: Still nothing
1992: Still close between: 148, 45, 190... but 148 has had more recent success so they go in the #1 spot.


Also, check out my next post for a new discussion which I'm sure everyone will be excited about

-TheFish

[Basel A]

About 2337, we also won a district this year (over 2619 in the finals) and at MSC we selected them as our first pick as 8th Alliance Captain. Furthermore, we got Michigan's first suspension (not that it counts for anything really, but..)

[TheFish]

Now for a discussion of the best PROGRAM by age... here we go:

Things to take into account: Rookie Inspiration/All-Star, Woodie Flower Awards, Entrepreneurship, Engineering Inspiration, Chairman's Award.

Remember: this discussion is more subjective than the last and people can include general information about the programs which makes their accomplishments more outstanding. This is a good chance for people to learn about what all the teams have done, and are currently doing with their FIRST Robotics programs to make the world a better place.

2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:
2006:
2005:
2004:
2003:
2002:
2001:
2000:
1999:
1998:
1997:
1996:
1995:
1994:
1992:

While I think some will be relatively obvious (and some years clearly very difficult) I'm not going to fill in anything right now and we'll see what the masses have to say.

-TheFish

ps. Remember that the discussion for the team that's been building the best ROBOTS hasn't ended yet either

[Akash Rastogi]

103 would be in the best program category since before they were in FRC. 1991 is when Dave Beck began the evolution of his project into what is now, the legacy of team 103.

[JVN]

Though I know everyone on 148 is honored by the praise we've received, surely the 1992 spot NEEDS to go to team 45.

The Technokats are an institution. Their impact on FIRST and specifically on FIRST robot design is immeasurable.

-John