Since everyone should be off on the building phase of this competition, and there should already be a hammered out design for every bot, I think it’s safe to see what the ‘competition’ is up to. 
Does anyone think they have this year’s ‘Super Bot’? If not, what do you think the national champion will have to do in order to come out on top? Are there any predictions as to who will take the gold at nationals this year? 
Let’s see what comes up…
We won’t be at the nationals but if we were I think we have a good chance of winning.
To win part 1 you need to seed very high. get lots of ponts with out the help of your team mate.
Part 2 finals you need to have a strong robot. control all 3 goals
I think both part need two different robots.
I love the rule you can change your robot between matches. as long as you weigh in all the different pieces and the weight of any configuration is not more than 130lbs.
we can turn into 3 different robots
Ball handler, goal handler, or the best one robot handler
each one of these configuration is a great one but to try to do all these and stay under 130lb now that I would like to see.
If you can do all 3 thing you have to be giving up something.
we figure change the robot when we have to and do the task at hand better than anyone else.
Ball handler picks up to 40 Balls
Goal handler grabs three goals but is great with two. and be able to pull anything around.
Robot handler. Beware this robot will take control of your robot.
It’s too early to know what will win this year. Why? Because no one has played this year’s game yet at full speed & full contact. I remember watching the Saturday KSC feed last year and thought the scores & strategies were pretty good, but when compared to the scores & strategies at Nats, they were pretty poor. It takes time for the game, the strategies, the robots, and the drivers to mature before the winning strategy is known (if there actually is a guaranteed winning strategy which I sincerely doubt).
If we (general we, not my team) can learn a team’s strategy, tendancies, strengths, and weaknesses, I’d bet that we can beat that team. Throw a good ball handler on the field and someone will take the goals or play defense on you & not let you score. Try to grab all 3 goals and someone will get one before you do or steal it after you have it. Try to capture other robots and you’ll find some are too maneuverable to catch.
Strategy is key. This year’s ‘super-bot’ will be a top notch machine paired with good scouting & strategy.
Mike
I agree with Mike that there isn’t going to be a super machine this year like last year due to the fact that there is now an opposition. Therefore you can make a super robot but be manhandled by a box on wheels that does nothing but push you all over the floor! So please build robots with strategy in mind.
I believe this year’s game will bring back the excitement of the 2000 game. Last year, too many times we could tell what the result of the match was going to be based on the types of robots and how well they complimented each other. This year, we’ll have to develop strategies based on our potential allies, what we believe our opponents will try to do, and how to maximize our qualifying points.
I don’t believe that the robot design will be as big a factor as it was last year. I believe this year great strategy and execution with good robots will triumph over great robots with good strategy and execution. I’ve seen a number of different types of robot designs / features mentioned on the forums, none of which were too much of a surprise. I think the real fun will be watching what each of these robots decides to do based on who they’re matched up against. First you have to determine what your opponents’ strengths and weaknesses are, then you have to figure out how to play to them.
I can’t wait.
start rant/
i hate to be akill-joy but
i heard and read all the bragging about how good thier robot was going to do in last year comp
but when i came time to to kick that pig
very few of the bots managed to live up consistently to their
boast
jut thought I would throw our that sobering thought
(even though in a couple of matches we relied on what people siad thier robot could do and ended up with less that 20 points for that round)
end rant/
wooot were almost done building
dahl
record
1994 ? can’t remember
1995 ? can’t remember
1996 ? can’t remember
1997 ? can’t remember
1998 round of 16 at the national
1999 6th place at national
2000 6th place at national
2001 round of 16. Penn. State robotics Champion. Tyngsboro robotics Champion
I would say that we have been good in the past and plan on being good this year.
I also agree with Mike and believe that we wont know if there are any “super bots” until well after the first competition…
Norton: I think your pushing yourself into a very tight corner that might be pretty hard to get out of…also i think your statement that since you’ve been “good” in the past, it doesnt necessarily mean you are this year…
Also how do u know your bot will be the “super bot” when u probably dont have the slightest clue what other teams are doing???
You have nothing to compare yours to…right?
strategy and a machine that is very durable and repairable, I see one that is built like a tank and does 1 or two things well. Ours I believe will fit this bill - we are trying to keep it as simple as possible do to the more contact expected.
KY
Also how do u know your bot will be the “super bot” when u probably dont have the slightest clue what other teams are doing???
Super Bot I do not think I said our robot will be a super bot but a robot that can do alot of things.
You could have a super bot but if you get paired up with poor robots you could lose very quick.
our track record will speak for itself. If you think a team will go from being in the top 10% in the last 4 years to fall down pass 50% in one year then I would say the team went through alot of changes.
We might not win but we will be there to the end. with a running robot. made by students. Being in a Vocational Technical school this helps out alot.
Having a few engineers is a big help. They don’t get in the way of the students. 