Questions to keep people occupied

[Grim Tuesday]

I dont know about you guys, but I have been getting quite antsy to get the season started, so I have come up with a list of questions that we can discuss for the next two or so days so we dont go out of our minds.

What do you think the best FRC robot of all time was?

When building a robot, how important is it to cater to looking appealing for an alliance (in 2010 terms, a defending robot would rarely get picked, how important is that in your early strategy)

Speaking of early strategy, how rigid does your team make it? Do you require that everyone's ideas conform to it, or is it more lax, and allow innovation

Which is your favorite FRC game?

How the hell did 2002 71 legs work?

On a scale of 1 to 10 how pumped are you for kickoff

Anyone else, come up with other things to discuss, the more the merrier!

[GCentola]

Well, its important to determine a good strategy and stick too it. A defensive robot was important when it came down to the finals because of win/loss rather than seeding. The trick is to design something that you hope can make a difference in the game, so that other teams want you, or you wind up in a position to pick other teams. As for the kickoff, im really excited for another season.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

When building a robot, how important is it to cater to looking appealing for an alliance (in 2010 terms, a defending robot would rarely get picked, how important is that in your early strategy)

I wouldn't say a defending robot would rarely get picked. 294, 3138, 148/217 among others were very dominant from the back zone. Defending robots didn't get picked because they were bad, not because they weren't appealing. Good defensive robots like all of those listed above were vital to alliances.

You want to build a robot that can easily complement others while being competitive on its own. All four of those robots found their niches in other zones as well as the back (294 in the midfield, the rest in front)

Speaking of early strategy, how rigid does your team make it? Do you require that everyone's ideas conform to it, or is it more lax, and allow innovation

Doing the wrong thing well is still doing the wrong thing.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how pumped are you for kickoff

Really anxious here.

[Cyberphil]

What do you think the best FRC robot of all time was?

My pick is for 1114 in 2008. That robot was completely dominating during every match.

When building a robot, how important is it to cater to looking appealing for an alliance (in 2010 terms, a defending robot would rarely get picked, how important is that in your early strategy)

For our team, we never try to look appealing to other teams. All we worry about is doing our absolute best in every match. We find it extremely annoying when teams come to us and tell us about what their robot can do. Especially to the drivers. Our scouts know who to pick, and trying to make yourself look good only makes you seem desperate. Your performance is what will really determine if an alliance picks you or not.

Speaking of early strategy, how rigid does your team make it? Do you require that everyone's ideas conform to it, or is it more lax, and allow innovation

Strategy is a must. If you do not know what you want to accomplish during a match, how can you possibly know what to build?

Which is your favorite FRC game?

My personal favorite, although I am very bias, is 2008, my first year officially on the team. It was a great game, easy to watch, exciting to watch, and there were so many different ways to solve the problem.

How the hell did 2002 71 legs work?

Honestly, I have no idea. I have heard of this bot many of times before, but this is well before I was in FRC.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how pumped are you for kickoff

10.3. I have developed insomnia within the past 2 weeks.

[EricH]

For most best robot of all time, there are quite a few that come to mind.

71, 2002. Grab 3 goals, engage file-card drive, and start crawling, taking whoever opposed you along for the ride.
--Runner-up for that year would be 60, who would grab 2 goals, lift them, and if you tried to push the goals, they'd just spin them around in a circle.

25, 2006. One of the few robots to go undefeated through all its regionals. They did pick up some losses at the Championship, but that's the tougher field for you.

469, 2010. You HAD to account for them, every match, whether their alliance partners were any good or not. Break their cycle, and they'll back out and restart it. Keep them from doing that, and they'll go right back to return duty.

1114, any year between 2006 and 2010. That good.

190, 2004. Beat them to the bar, or fill your goal faster. Your choice, but those were the only ways to beat them. BTW, that "fill your goal faster" was your mobile goal, as they'd probably covered your stationary goal already with the doubler ball. Then they'd use that doubler to double their own score.
--runner-up: the "slider" class of robots: 64, 237, 330, 868, and 1266 could all slide along the bar to block other robots from getting on. 330 could also unscore any doubler on their opponent's goal if they needed to.

The other way to tell a dominating robot: which robots have rules created specifically to stop one of their strategies/devices?
-71, 1997 and 2002. The "no intentionally detaching parts" and "no metal on carpet" rules.
-Wedge robots, 2005. 330, 67, 980 and other teams in 980's division eliminations. The "no wedges" rules. 330 and 67 won the championship and had sloped sides, while 980 and some other teams in one of their division eliminations had what is to my knowledge the first and only DQ-DQ tie in elims. Seems some tipping happened due to the design of the robots. The next year, it was "No wedges, and if you want protection, here are the bumper specs". This despite the fact that the wedges tended to be defensive and the fact that a lot of people on CD wanted wedges to stay.

Picking any one robot is too darn hard, though--they're all so good!

[Tetraman]

What do you think the best FRC robot of all time was?

--25's Aim High robot.
I'll even be willing to give a nod to 148's Overdrive bot, Tumbleweed.

When building a robot, how important is it to cater to looking appealing for an alliance (in 2010 terms, a defending robot would rarely get picked, how important is that in your early strategy)

--I would say that having the Team be appealing is better then having an appealing robot. Your robot could shine as gold but if it fails to score points an alliance won't pick you. Make the best robot you can, and sell yourself as a team.

Speaking of early strategy, how rigid does your team make it? Do you require that everyone's ideas conform to it, or is it more lax, and allow innovation

--After week 1 there are very few additions to the design that are allowed unless they are game-changing. Until then, all ideas are welcome, but have to be sifted though by the mentors as "worth doing". (Back 5 years ago when I was a student of the team)

Which is your favorite FRC game?

--Tie between Aim High and Triple Play.

How the hell did 2002 71 legs work?

--Ask them?

On a scale of 1 to 10 how pumped are you for kickoff

--12

[dag0620]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

What do you think the best FRC robot of all time was?

Well I haven't seen much of "Time" but by far 469 was amazing. It was an interesting strategy they had, and a great way to think outside of the box. Not only did they have there equipment for the cycle, but they had a fast and powerful robot beanth that could hold on it's own without even starting a cycle.

When building a robot, how important is it to cater to looking appealing for an alliance (in 2010 terms, a defending robot would rarely get picked, how important is that in your early strategy)

It is important, but should your robot be desgined that way? No. I know this from personell expirence. Our team seemed to think that the best route to a win was to try to look attractive to other teams and then get picked for an alliance. So in the end we went for the defensive strategy. I feel like thogh we had an amazing year, on field we didn't shine bright because we stuck to our defensive strategy. What ever comes forward with the game this year, I'm pushing for the fact that this year we need to be high scoring, and need to try to hit the top 8 after qualifications, and not play a support role.

Speaking of early strategy, how rigid does your team make it? Do you require that everyone's ideas conform to it, or is it more lax, and allow innovation

We are very ridgid. We spend all of saturday and Sunday on analising the game and picking our strategy, and once it decided, we stick with it. It stinks, but were all good about going with the same strategy, and it does make things run smoother.

Which is your favorite FRC game?

Well I've only played one so far which is Breakaway, so obvious my Favorite.

For older games, I would love to re-live Stack-Attack

How the hell did 2002 71 legs work?

I wasn't Around then, but they look cool

On a scale of 1 to 10 how pumped are you for kickoff

10! I can't do anything without thinking about Kick-Off

[delsaner]

What do you think the best FRC robot of all time was?

-- Without any knowledge before Overdrive, I can only offer my input for 2008 onward.
*I will agree that 1114 had an amazing robot in 2008, able to hurdle the track balls with ease. Seeing scores of mid 100's all across their bluealliance page, it was quite incredible.
*About everyone knew about what 469's robot is 2010 could do. Ingenuity at its peak, that robot was able to break to double digits easily.
*I would also like to credit 111 for their 2009 robot. I really liked their approach at the game and how they designed their robot. I thought it was very effective as well as creative.


When building a robot, how important is it to cater to looking appealing for an alliance (in 2010 terms, a defending robot would rarely get picked, how important is that in your early strategy)

Looks are good, but a good functioning robot that is efficient will show in its own way to teams.


Speaking of early strategy, how rigid does your team make it? Do you require that everyone's ideas conform to it, or is it more lax, and allow innovation

We take a vote after we brainstorm ideas for what we want our robot to be strong. After we come down to what we want it to do, each sub-team designs their own mechanism for their respective group. In the end, we make strategy pretty rigid.


Which is your favorite FRC game?

I really wish I was there for Aim High. It looked like such an amazing game. Stack Attack probably comes close as well.


On a scale of 1 to 10 how pumped are you for kickoff

10. Hands down.

[apalrd]

My turn to answer!

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

What do you think the best FRC robot of all time was?

Best:
469 in 2010
1114 in 2008
71 in 2001 and 2002
I don't really know many robots before my time, though.

When building a robot, how important is it to cater to looking appealing for an alliance (in 2010 terms, a defending robot would rarely get picked, how important is that in your early strategy)

If you perform well, you can pick your own alliance.

Speaking of early strategy, how rigid does your team make it? Do you require that everyone's ideas conform to it, or is it more lax, and allow innovation

Fairly rigid. If our initial strategy proves to be incorrect with more prototyping and testing, we will revise it. I would not say that being more lax allows more innovation.

Which is your favorite FRC game?

Triple Play or Rack and Roll. Both featured large arms, which look cool. Speaking of Stack Attack, that was the worst game in the history of FRC. If the goal was to stack boxes, the world champions could not do it (111 got ot the platform first, hit the wall, and strafed along the hill flipping anyone who tried to oppose them)

How the hell did 2002 71 legs work?

I have no idea. They weren't perfect though.

On a scale of 1 to 10 how pumped are you for kickoff

33

[Grim Tuesday]

I'l add a new question:

What are your opinions on "chokehold" strategies. (ie, 469 in 2010, or 71 in 2002)

[EricH]

If you can find it and build a legal robot to exploit it, that's YOUR problem.

All the defense that can be played will be directed at YOU to try and stop that strategy. If you can take that, go for it.

[Chris Hibner]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

What do you think the best FRC robot of all time was?

ChiefDelphi (47) 2000. That robot really looked like an NBA player playing in a high school game.

When building a robot, how important is it to cater to looking appealing for an alliance (in 2010 terms, a defending robot would rarely get picked, how important is that in your early strategy)

I'm gradually brining my new teammates on board on this one, but I think it's pretty important. You can't always guarantee you'll be a picker (unfavorable match list, something breaks, bad luck, etc.), so you better be highlyt desirable.

Which is your favorite FRC game?

2000, and no other game even came close.



And as far as chokehold strategies go, I think they are a ton of fun. It's great to see someone pull it off, and it's even more fun to see how creative people get to try and defeat it.

[Mike Soukup]

Originally Posted by apalrd

Speaking of Stack Attack, that was the worst game in the history of FRC. If the goal was to stack boxes, the world champions could not do it (111 got ot the platform first, hit the wall, and strafed along the hill flipping anyone who tried to oppose them)

That's odd, I thought the goal was to score more points than one's opponent and win the competition. As a side note, we never actively flipped our opponents, it was illegal that year. Instead, we let our opponents try to drive up our ramps and they typically either flipped themselves or got stuck. We easily had enough power in the wings to lift any robot and flip it, but we didn't do it. The referees were watching us closely every match.

What do you think the best FRC robot of all time was?

71 in 2001. They did the work of 2 robots. Most alliances needed 4 robots to play the game effectively, Beatty needed 3. Due to the nature of the game, the only way to beat them was if they made a mistake, and it never happened.

When building a robot, how important is it to cater to looking appealing for an alliance (in 2010 terms, a defending robot would rarely get picked, how important is that in your early strategy)

Our goal is to be the #1 seed, but that doesn't always happen. Our backup plan is make sure we're a desirable pick for one of the top seeds.

Which is your favorite FRC game?

2006. It was fun to watch and was a very difficult design challenge. Autonomous was fun and meaningful, the game had a great back & forth aspect, the point values were well balanced, the best alliance typically won, and we got to shoot balls.