30 Bonus Points Pre-Autonomous?

[Travis Hoffman]

Interesting development at Midwest - a robot started out on top of another robot before autonomous. 111 went 1 on 3 the entire match (kudos to little ol' 2041 for their incessant defense - my new favorite robot), but the Stang alliance ended up winning anyway. The bonus points counted, but the robot "tandem" was kept inside the home zone. I couldn't tell from the webcast - were they disabled? If so, what was the reasoning? Sounds like a fun YMTC....

[ChuckDickerson]

You are saying the robots were setup that way at the beginning of the match? One on top of the other? Any it counted? Darn, why didn't we ever think of that!

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by DeepWater

You are saying the robots were setup that way at the beginning of the match? One on top of the other? Any it counted? Darn, why didn't we ever think of that!

Yes it counted, but I still want to know why the robots weren't allowed outside of their home zone. Maybe they didn't want to move?

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by T. Hoffman

Yes it counted, but I still want to know why the robots weren't allowed outside of their home zone. Maybe they didn't want to move? Maybe due to S01? Who knows?

I think they chose to just sit there to guarantee the 30 point bonus.

[Ricky Q.]

Rumor has it Raul came up with this strategy.

[Starke]

That is an awesome strategy. I have thought about that tatic, but never decided to implement it. Great job Wildstang and alliance!

[MariaChristineK]

kudos on the brilliant strategy! Our team never even thought of that! However, one reason they may not have left home zone was because it was too risky driving a robot around with another on top...I know I have seen robots that would be "safe" doing that!

[ChuckDickerson]

Since I didn't see it I assume the robot on the bottom didn't violate the starting size (28" x 38" x X") restriction? Anyone grab a picture that they can post?

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by DeepWater

Since I didn't see it I assume the robot on the bottom didn't violate the starting size (28" x 38" x X") restriction? Anyone grab a picture that they can post?

No pictures, but that is correct - all robots have to fulfill the starting dimension requirements.

[teenmisfit]

This is absolutely crazy... u get points for people placing a robot on top of another robot before the match starts? isnt the point of the bonuses for robots to get themselves up? I totally do not approve of this rule and am astonished it was allowed by FIRST

[slickguy2007]

I smell an update coming....

[Pavan Dave]

Originally Posted by teenmisfit

This is absolutely crazy... u get points for people placing a robot on top of another robot before the match starts? isnt the point of the bonuses for robots to get themselves up? I totally do not approve of this rule and am astonished it was allowed by FIRST

I agree with you here. The only time I would not mind this is if one of the robots was "piggy backing" another robot the whole match. Like a scorer secured to another bot so that the team still had a chance scoring. I think that is what the ultimate test would be. But think about how good those teams have to coordinate the effort.

[Travis Hoffman]

7.3.3.1 Starting Conditions

 
 
<G26> 

Starting positions - At the beginning of a match, the three alliance ROBOTS must be placed
 
entirely inside their HOME ZONE. It is the responsibility of the head referee to verify that this 

rule is satisfied prior to the start of the match. The match will not be started until all robots
are in the starting position.
 
<G28> Starting size - At the beginning of a match, each ROBOT must not exceed the maximum
volume specified in Section 8. The ROBOT'S maximum starting height is proportional to its
maximum weight. It is the responsibility of the head referee to verify that this rule is satisfied prior to the start of the match. The head referee may call for an inspector's recertification of
the ROBOT size and weight prior to the start of any match.
 
 
 

I believe both robots satisfied the above rules. This strategy has a lot of risk attached to it - you are basically removing 2 of your alliance robots from performing any *useful* activities for the bulk of the match.


I want to see an alliance make a robot 3-stack, just for the heck of it.

I predict Dave will celebrate this strategy. That's all he can do given the current rules, which are clear.

[Mike Soukup]

Originally Posted by DeepWater

Anyone grab a picture that they can post?

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/27756

[The Lucas]

Very interesting strategy. It allows a broken/disabled robot to score 30 pts in some situations, which is more than many working robot alliances can score. However, it is very risky. All an opponent would have to do is push the robot tandam out of the endzone and the bonus points would be negated. Considering how precarious this robot stack is balanced, I don't think the bottom robot could drive around much to avoid defense without spilling its "cargo".

Props to Wildstang for pulling this strategy off, and with a 46 -10 win, they didn't even need the 30 bonus points.

EDIT: Even if the opposing robots did come after the "robot stack", anyone who has seen the 2003 "Stack Attack" game knows how good Wildstang and their crab drive is at defending stacks.