Long Island Regionals: Results, "Story"

FIRST General Forum
#1

Posted by Kyle Hill at 03/10/2001 9:26 PM EST

Student on team #311, Red Jammers, from East Islip High School and FTK Foundation, Computer Associates, Keyspan.

Here’s a recap from the SBPLI-Long Island Regionals. We call it “The Hail Mary”.

Day 1 was a wash, and due to an extreme lack of luck or teammate ability, we finished 29th out of 33. Day 2 saw VAST improvement, as we scored 255 in the first match of the morning, breaking the record (previously 176). While our single-match record later fell, we somehow made it onto the 3rd seed alliance, and played…

Here’s how it went in the semis.
Match 1 (Them): 48 points. Nothing goes right.
Match 2 (Us): 50 points. See above.
Match 3 (Us): Everything goes right. 400.
Match 4 (Them): 408. One extra black ball was put in a goal. Without that ball, they have 399.
Match 5 (Us): We capped off both goals with big balls. 480 points.
(At this point, we’re celebrating like mad, because we figure that A- they can’t score 400 again and B- they sure as hell cant score 481.)
Match 6 (Them): They only put 6 or 7 black balls in the one goal, fetched both cylinders (one capped with a large ball) and pulled both up onto the ramp, and balanced it within 50 seconds. With a full goal, that easily would have scored them 550+, but the goal was half empty. Yet, as they timed out, one player from the station threw a “hail mary” ball into the goal on the ramp. It goes in. They got 490 points and won the semifinal.

The alliance then went on to win the championship over the 4th seeded alliance (nothing spectacular scoring-wise, the winning score was a little over 200).

The moral of the story? Luck means everything.

#2

Posted by Patrick Dingle at 03/10/2001 11:07 PM EST

Coach on team #639, Red B^2, from Ithaca High School and Cornell University.

In Reply to: Long Island Regionals: Results, “Story”
Posted by Kyle Hill on 03/10/2001 9:26 PM EST:

I did not have the pleasure of watching these matches, but as I looked at the scores on the website, I could tell how incredibly tense and exciting this particular matchup was. I didn’t realize about the hail mary. Keep in mind, there is no such thing as luck. Everything done out there by any team and human player is a result of stategizing, hard work, and practice. There is no luck involved in the game (except who you’re paired with in the qualifying matches). Everything else is completely controlled by the people in the controller stations. I commend the human player (or coaches) for realizing they did not have enough points to win, and shooting another ball in. (one thing i was wondering at UTC is why were human players just sitting there with balls lined up behind them???)

These types of losses can be hard to take, because just when you think the other team can’t beat your score, the robo-adrenaline kicks in and they do it. Congratulations to both of your alliances on the great robots and great competition. Remember – the competition isn’t about winning, either.

Patrick

: Here’s a recap from the SBPLI-Long Island Regionals. We call it “The Hail Mary”.

: Day 1 was a wash, and due to an extreme lack of luck or teammate ability, we finished 29th out of 33. Day 2 saw VAST improvement, as we scored 255 in the first match of the morning, breaking the record (previously 176). While our single-match record later fell, we somehow made it onto the 3rd seed alliance, and played…

: Here’s how it went in the semis.
: Match 1 (Them): 48 points. Nothing goes right.
: Match 2 (Us): 50 points. See above.
: Match 3 (Us): Everything goes right. 400.
: Match 4 (Them): 408. One extra black ball was put in a goal. Without that ball, they have 399.
: Match 5 (Us): We capped off both goals with big balls. 480 points.
: (At this point, we’re celebrating like mad, because we figure that A- they can’t score 400 again and B- they sure as hell cant score 481.)
: Match 6 (Them): They only put 6 or 7 black balls in the one goal, fetched both cylinders (one capped with a large ball) and pulled both up onto the ramp, and balanced it within 50 seconds. With a full goal, that easily would have scored them 550+, but the goal was half empty. Yet, as they timed out, one player from the station threw a “hail mary” ball into the goal on the ramp. It goes in. They got 490 points and won the semifinal.

: The alliance then went on to win the championship over the 4th seeded alliance (nothing spectacular scoring-wise, the winning score was a little over 200).

: The moral of the story? Luck means everything.

#3

Posted by Chris Orimoto at 03/11/2001 2:01 AM EST

Student on team #368, Kika Mana, from McKinley High School and Nasa Ames/Hawaiian Electric/Weinberg Foundation.

In Reply to: Long Island Regionals: Results, “Story”
Posted by Kyle Hill on 03/10/2001 9:26 PM EST:

I also did not get the privelage to see this match, but I’m sure it was a great one. (It would have been a much better championship match than a semifinal…that’s for sure). Well, call it a “lucky shot”, call it a “good counting strategy”, or call it pure CHAOS THEORY…either way, it doesn’t change anything. But like Patrick said, I do not believe in luck at this competition either. Everything is a direct result of the work put into it. I mean, even in the qualifying rounds…a good strategy with a CONSISTENT robot (notice I didn’t say anything like good, great, or even spectacular…) can make a decently high score out of any alliance. The real task is to keep posting that high score over and over again.

But in any case, congratulations on making it that far in that long, grueling regional. I also noticed the low scoring on day 1…Good job on the improvement for day 2.

Just my personal thoughts…

#4

Posted by JVN at 03/11/2001 11:54 AM EST

Student on team #250, Dynamos - Capital District Robotics Team, from Shenendehowa High School and General Electric and Verizon.

In Reply to: Re: Long Island Regionals: Results, “Story”
Posted by Chris Orimoto on 03/11/2001 2:01 AM EST:

As the person who threw that shot, I’d like to think there was SOME skill involved. But it was
mostly luck. The coaching (thanks Brad) was exceptional. We knew that to beat the clarkson
score all we had to do was balance 9 balls in under a minute. When the robot pulled away we
counted 8 in th basket. So we started shooting. Our LAST ball happened to make it in. It would
have been nicer if this was a final, and not a semi.

We were part of a GREAT alliance, and I’d like ot thank all our partners, especially WPI 190 for
giving us the chance to be their double-balancer.

~John “the luckiest human player alive” V-Neun
Captain team

#5

Posted by Shannon at 03/11/2001 8:48 AM EST

Student on team #250, Dynamos , from Colonie High.

In Reply to: Long Island Regionals: Results, “Story”
Posted by Kyle Hill on 03/10/2001 9:26 PM EST:

Congradulations to all the teams in the finals! and a special thanks to our alliance partners teams 190,263,353 and 533. we rocked and took home first! i guess that some of it is luck (like John’s shot to the goal that was described as “hail mary”), but driver talent helps too! good luck to all at other regionals and in florida!

~shannon
team 250

: Here’s a recap from the SBPLI-Long Island Regionals. We call it “The Hail Mary”.

: Day 1 was a wash, and due to an extreme lack of luck or teammate ability, we finished 29th out of 33. Day 2 saw VAST improvement, as we scored 255 in the first match of the morning, breaking the record (previously 176). While our single-match record later fell, we somehow made it onto the 3rd seed alliance, and played…

: Here’s how it went in the semis.
: Match 1 (Them): 48 points. Nothing goes right.
: Match 2 (Us): 50 points. See above.
: Match 3 (Us): Everything goes right. 400.
: Match 4 (Them): 408. One extra black ball was put in a goal. Without that ball, they have 399.
: Match 5 (Us): We capped off both goals with big balls. 480 points.
: (At this point, we’re celebrating like mad, because we figure that A- they can’t score 400 again and B- they sure as hell cant score 481.)
: Match 6 (Them): They only put 6 or 7 black balls in the one goal, fetched both cylinders (one capped with a large ball) and pulled both up onto the ramp, and balanced it within 50 seconds. With a full goal, that easily would have scored them 550+, but the goal was half empty. Yet, as they timed out, one player from the station threw a “hail mary” ball into the goal on the ramp. It goes in. They got 490 points and won the semifinal.

: The alliance then went on to win the championship over the 4th seeded alliance (nothing spectacular scoring-wise, the winning score was a little over 200).

: The moral of the story? Luck means everything.

#6

Posted by Peter Krumdieck at 03/11/2001 11:35 PM EST

Engineer on team #353, Pobots, from POB Central School District.

In Reply to: Long Island Regionals: Results, “Story”
Posted by Kyle Hill on 03/10/2001 9:26 PM EST:

: Here’s a recap from the SBPLI-Long Island Regionals. We call it “The Hail Mary”.

: Day 1 was a wash, and due to an extreme lack of luck or teammate ability, we finished 29th out of 33. Day 2 saw VAST improvement, as we scored 255 in the first match of the morning, breaking the record (previously 176). While our single-match record later fell, we somehow made it onto the 3rd seed alliance, and played…

: Here’s how it went in the semis.
: Match 1 (Them): 48 points. Nothing goes right.
: Match 2 (Us): 50 points. See above.
: Match 3 (Us): Everything goes right. 400.
: Match 4 (Them): 408. One extra black ball was put in a goal. Without that ball, they have 399.
: Match 5 (Us): We capped off both goals with big balls. 480 points.
: (At this point, we’re celebrating like mad, because we figure that A- they can’t score 400 again and B- they sure as hell cant score 481.)
: Match 6 (Them): They only put 6 or 7 black balls in the one goal, fetched both cylinders (one capped with a large ball) and pulled both up onto the ramp, and balanced it within 50 seconds. With a full goal, that easily would have scored them 550+, but the goal was half empty. Yet, as they timed out, one player from the station threw a “hail mary” ball into the goal on the ramp. It goes in. They got 490 points and won the semifinal.

: The alliance then went on to win the championship over the 4th seeded alliance (nothing spectacular scoring-wise, the winning score was a little over 200).

: The moral of the story? Luck means everything.

Kyle:

This was an awesome match. BUt I gotta tell ya. winning the Final felt even better.

The semi that you refer to reminded me of a poker game gone bad. first two guys were betting their stack of chips, then their watches, then their car keys in successive raises. And as with poker it turns out that for this particular match, we had the ace in the hole. (thanks John)

As part of the winning alliance for the first two FIRST Long Island Regionals I just want to say thanks to all who made it happen. Our out of town friends from teams 190 and 250 as well as the local guys from Sachem and Lindenhurst.

I’d also like to thank Team 514 for their support in the past two seasons. I’d also like to thank my company (Underwriters Laboratories - Working for a safer world!) for their support.

Most of all I’d like to thank all of the instructors and students on team 353 POBOTS.

UNDEFEATED LONG ISLAND REGIONAL CHAMPS!

Instead of “engineer Pete” I’m now called re-Pete!

-pete

#7

Posted by william swanson at 03/14/2001 6:24 PM EST

Coach on team #353, p. o. b. bots, from mattlin middle school.

In Reply to: Re: Long Island Regionals: Results, “Story”
Posted by Peter Krumdieck on 03/11/2001 11:35 PM EST:

  Let me tell you, as one of team 353s founders, re-pete can three-pete with us next year and any time he wants to play. Engineer Pete, you can park your train outside our shop any time. 
  Thanks for the help and thanks to Underwriters for the sponsorship. All our sponsors were great.
#8

Posted by control guy at 03/11/2001 11:57 PM EST

Student on team #250 from HVCC.

In Reply to: Long Island Regionals: Results, “Story”
Posted by Kyle Hill on 03/10/2001 9:26 PM EST:

Suddenly, a ball flies through the air, and miraculously, lands inside the goal.

Impressive perhaps. Luck maybe?

Standing next to two members of the Clakson team on the opposing alliance with one having trouble doing simple math in his head, perhaps due to the excitement, perhaps due to the stress, or perhaps due to the forces of unknown mysterious influences and myself, unable and unwilling to do the math in my head and simply waiting for the score to be announced was a terribly exciting and tense situation.

However, I was fairly certain our alliance would prevail. First of all, it was fated that we could not allow ourselves to be bettered by Clarkson (no offense guys, you did very well). Second, after taking second at Long Island the previous year, I had promised we’d make it up next year. Was I wrong?
I knew we had exceptionally gifted drivers who had been trained by the best (perhaps not in driving or other FIRST related things, but never mind that).
However, the most important thing of all, we did not use wheel chair wheels!
You may think this odd, but our drive system was not four wheel chair wheels run off of the standard drill motors. We had a very well designed track system off of custom gearboxes. Just so this is clear, this is a knock on the use of wheelchair wheels and the drill motors.
Since we must be positive about such things, I will note that, at least it is better than using, say, Fisher Price motors and gearboxes.

In closing, simply, woooooooooo hooooooooooooo!!!

“HAIL MARY!”

#9