Top Ten Bots of 2000

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Posted by Michael Betts.

Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 6/4/2000 11:25 AM MST


In Reply to: #1 machine posted by Justin Ridley on 6/3/2000 12:28 PM MST:



: I simply can't rate the 10 best robots. . .

I agree with Mr. Ridley that rating the ten best is an overwhelming task.

My personal favorite was 111 Wildstang. I was impressed from the first web photo I saw and my respect both machine and team continued to grow as I saw it perform. Overall, it was a wonderful combination of aesthetics, functionality and performance.

I also would like to add a fourth question to Andy's (very flattering) Bobcat analysis... Why didn't that thing fall apart? I still get cold sweats when I think about the shock load stresses that the arm joints must have seen during the competitions!

- Mike

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Posted by Erin.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Student on team #1, The Juggernauts, from Oakland Technical Center-Northeast Campus and 3-Dimensional Services.

Posted on 6/4/2000 8:46 PM MST


In Reply to: #1 machine posted by Justin Ridley on 6/3/2000 12:28 PM MST:



What can I say, other than: Thank You.

-Erin, Team #1 Juggernauts

'Strategy drives design; simplicity is the key.'

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Posted by P.J. Baker.

Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 6/3/2000 1:16 PM MST


In Reply to: Top Ten Bots of 2000 posted by Andy Grady on 6/1/2000 9:18 PM MST:



Andy,

We are flattered. If you ever figure out the answers to those three questions, please let us know.


: 10. Team 177 International Fuel Cells and South Windsor HS: These guys make the list due to the fact that they were probably the most enigmatic team to me. I looked at them in awe everytime they were out there and every time i asked myself three questions...1.How the heck does that thing not tip over, 2. How the heck is that thing underweight?, 3.HOW THE HECK DOES THAT THING NOT TIP OVER, ITS SO HUGE!?! Either way, I thought the thing was cool, so they make number 10.

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Posted by Ryan Shanley.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Student on team #191, The X-Cats, from Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School and Xerox.

Posted on 6/5/2000 1:30 PM MST


In Reply to: Top Ten Bots of 2000 posted by Andy Grady on 6/1/2000 9:18 PM MST:



For myself, with almost 300 robots, you would need more criteria before such titles can be handed out. All the listed robots (plus many others) were very well built and competed well. However, team #47 was the best offensive robot at the Rutgers regional, but they were beaten by a few teams that hardly ever won a match, and just pushed them around, beating Chief in the finals. But which robot was better?

I can't rightfully compare robots as different as the ramp was to say, team 131, who also had a good robot. This presented good and bad results: a variety of strategies yielded diversity and new dimensions to the competition. At the same time, though, so many robots doing so many different things in different ways made it very hard to compare, which is why I think this years finals were disappointing as a whole, compared to those of recent years, and why many good robots, teams and animations were overlooked for awards (such as team 192).

For these reasons and more, the recent discussion about the good and bad of nationals and possible solutions was (I think) very important, and should be continued as we work toward Dean's goal of 1,000 teams.

ryan

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Posted by Steve Prairie.

Student on team #173, RAGE, from Rockville High School /East Hartford High School and UTRC.

Posted on 6/5/2000 3:30 PM MST


In Reply to: Top Ten Bots of 2000 posted by Andy Grady on 6/1/2000 9:18 PM MST:



Here's a few of the bots that we liked to watch in action: (in no particular order):

131 -CHAOS
126 -NYPRO
157 - our partner in Florida semi-finals
?64? - Miracle Workers; we had a REALLY high scoring first round w/ them in Florida
175 - BUZZ, really fast, UTC, good partners
47 - CHIEF, nice bot like always, kinda like ours
69 - HYPER, they gave us a scare in New England
176
111 - Wildstang

And of course... us, RAGE 173. WE had our best year yet, #1 seed in New England, losing in the semi-finals, and #1 seed in FLorida for part of the time, and losing in the semi-finals. (i see a pattern).

Anyways, I can't wait for battlecry at WPI, c-ya there.

Steve Prairie
Rage 173

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Posted by Lora Knepper.

Student on team #69, HYPER (Helping Youth Pursue Engineering & Robotics), from Quincy Public Schools and The Gillette Company.

Posted on 6/6/2000 5:58 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Some of the Best Bots of 2000 posted by Steve Prairie on 6/5/2000 3:30 PM MST:



Steve,

I almost had a heart attack in the driver's station during those rounds in NE. You guys have an excellent machine, and I hope to get a rematch during BattleCry! See you there!

Lora

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Posted by Anthony Lapp.

Engineer on team #221, MI Roboworks, from Michigan Technological University.

Posted on 6/6/2000 1:37 PM MST


In Reply to: Top Ten Bots of 2000 posted by Andy Grady on 6/1/2000 9:18 PM MST:



Rating the top ten is very difficult. Being a competitor since '96 and an engineer since '99 I've seen a lot and done a lot with respect to FIRST. I'll just through out some names and comments and let you decide.

1. At the top are the three greatest teams that ever were and ever will be.
Team 1 - Juggy 2K was more powerful and beautiful than I ever expected, but didn't shine until the post season were they practically destroyed the field in Indiana and defended two bots at WMRC while OSMTech racked up the score.
Team 111 - 12 balls, 30' limbo, hang on the bar, hp load, ground load......tied at the top as one of the greatest FIRST machines ever built.
Team 16 - Bomb Squad was in supreme form this year. Super quick and highly defensive. They were extremely agressive yet never lost the vision of FIRST, they took home a Chairman's Award.


2. Just as much indecision here!

Team 47 - They didn't make the top, but they didn't go unnoticed. Dr. Joe didn't let me down this year. The swerve was in full effect and that arm of theirs brought chills to my skin every time i saw it run. If they would have grabbed the bar they might have made the top.
Team 312 - Baxter Lakewood brought out the Heatwave with fire this year. They uniquely solved the rolling balls of different sizes by pushing them out! Cool paint job too.
Team 67 - Hotbot held ten, used unique flopping strategy to limbo and was by far the best hanging robot in the country. Put them on the field with their best driver and you're in for some trouble.

3. The rest get all mixed up in memory....the robots this year were amazing. Tons of different designs and plenty of excitement kept 2000 exciting!

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Posted by Erin.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Student on team #1, The Juggernauts, from Oakland Technical Center-Northeast Campus and 3-Dimensional Services.

Posted on 6/7/2000 8:12 AM MST


In Reply to: three way tie at the top posted by Anthony Lapp on 6/6/2000 1:37 PM MST:



Anthony, thanks thanks alot

Erin

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Posted by Andy Grady.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Coach on team #42, P.A.R.T.S, from Alvirne High School and Daniel Webster College.

Posted on 6/6/2000 2:19 PM MST


In Reply to: Top Ten Bots of 2000 posted by Andy Grady on 6/1/2000 9:18 PM MST:



after reading some of these posts I have seen that I forgot a few teams when making the list who should be on even though they aren't

Team 1-gotta love the turret and defensive power

Team 246 - gotta give Colleen credit for one of the most powerful little robots i have ever seen

The spam team - i forgot the number but they should be sharing the spot in the top 10 with Big Jimmy

Team 69 - The design on this monkey is just plain cool

Heat Wave - Baxter and Lakewood for their huge triumphant return to FIRST this year and one heck of a robot.

Team 45 - This is probably the most complicated thing i have ever seen, but I loved watching it =)

Congrats to everyone
Andy Grady, Team 42

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Posted by Lora Knepper.

Student on team #69, HYPER (Helping Youth Pursue Engineering & Robotics), from Quincy Public Schools and The Gillette Company.

Posted on 6/6/2000 5:53 PM MST


In Reply to: Honorable mentions posted by Andy Grady on 6/6/2000 2:19 PM MST:




: Team 69 - The design on this monkey is just plain cool

Thanks Andy! My only regret is that we never got the chance to ally...ahhh, luck of the draw was not with us! ;-)

Lora

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Posted by Erin.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Student on team #1, The Juggernauts, from Oakland Technical Center-Northeast Campus and 3-Dimensional Services.

Posted on 6/7/2000 8:09 AM MST


In Reply to: Honorable mentions posted by Andy Grady on 6/6/2000 2:19 PM MST:



WOW andy, you thought we had 'defensive power'? I am pretty sure that's what we were aiming for, even though I don't know if FIRST was convinced, after those two darned best offensive awards.... lemme tell you, it was hard convincing strategists that we were defensive, even though we covered both areas pretty great

-Erin