Most Innovative Teams

[akeisic]

Most innovative? Off the top of my head a couple of robots stand out in my mind...(and going back a little)

2000: Team 47: Swerve drive. I can't say for sure, but they might have been the first team to use a swerve drive. The rest of the robot was spectacular - and I don't think they ever used their "jaw" feature in competition. I'm still impressed by this robot!

2000: Team 25: The cherry picker robot. While I never saw the robot up close, you knew no one else built anything like it.

2001: Team 267: The only team to LIFT a goal. They may not have had enormous success that year, but those goals were heavy! See the pictures I posted.

2002: Team 71: The walker robot. This is the robot that forced the rule about metal contact with the carpet. Starting from vertical, the robot flopped, grabbed 3 goals and then "walked" to victory. I think it's the only walker FIRST bot built.
...
2008: Team 1114: I don't think most people can even imagine the robot they designed. No other team manipulated the ball the way they did.

2009: Team 148: The way they picked up the balls, stored them and ejected them was amazing - amazingly simple too! While they weren't the only bot of the type, they perfected the design.

2010: Team 469: Duh!

[EricH]

1997: 71 had a detaching mechanism that dominated the game, with the help of the rest of the robot. (The next year, no detaching mechanisms intentionally became part of the rules.)

NBD: I believe that was 47, not sure of the year. (It was before Dr. Joe posted the whitepaper, though.)

With regards to 71 in 2004, 190 in that same year had the capability to steal the doubler from their opponent's goal and place it on their own, while hanging, while blocking the entire bar. I don't recall that they ever actually did it in competition, though, at least while I was watching. Two other teams also tried for the steal, but one scrapped it entirely and one switched to a simple descorer device.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by EricH

NBD: I believe that was 47, not sure of the year. (It was before Dr. Joe posted the whitepaper, though.)

I remember their 04 robot was plastered with DeWalts. The 03 may have used them as well though.

[penguinfrk]

Originally Posted by EricH

1997: 71 had a detaching mechanism that dominated the game, with the help of the rest of the robot. (The next year, no detaching mechanisms intentionally became part of the rules.)

Like detachable mechanisms?
Not entirely detached, but 3-5ft of PWMs or so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teNYfV8F-rs

"Give them an award, right now!"
Too bad it wasn't very reliable... Very exciting to watch though.

[TEE]

Originally Posted by akeisic

Most innovative? Off the top of my head a couple of robots stand out in my mind...(and going back a little)


2002: Team 71: The walker robot. This is the robot that forced the rule about metal contact with the carpet. Starting from vertical, the robot flopped, grabbed 3 goals and then "walked" to victory. I think it's the only walker FIRST bot built.

I saw a video of that, and I'd have to say that qualifies- so amazing ^_^

[Josh Murphy]

Team 33 is a pretty innovative team. Year after year they come up with some pretty crazy, but efficient ideas and they work so smoothly.