Hello CD,
I know many teams like to build their own scouting systems and in most cases the “forms” that the scouters fill during each match are sent via wifi. As you all know the wifi access is blocked at the dome and I was wondering how other teams overcome this problem?
Thanks in advance!
Our scouting app uses bluetooth to send the data.
Wifi is not allowed in the stands at any event. Our team uses wired networking for scouting, but we haven’t been to CMP since we started this scouting method. The trick is finding power outlets.
Paper!
We do paper + one LTE station to send the data online, then we download the data in the tableau station in the pit.
We are happy with our system, but in the CMP we won’t be able to have a scouting team, due to costs traveling from brazil, we probably will have only 5~8 members total.
Does anyone already tried to scout trought the webcasts or with the archived regional matches? I know that this wont be good and accurate as scouting from stands, but may worth and we are considering. Thanks
Our most reliable scouting systems always involved paper scouting sheets and manually entering the data into a spreadhseet.
It isn’t the most efficient way to scout, but it has very few points of failure.
Could you tell me more about this method? How does the scouters send their data?
6 laptops for collecting data, one desktop server as the web page host, and physical ethernet cables tying them all together. There is one 8 port network switch in the middle.
Personally, i think paper and pencil with data entry at the end of the day is the way to go, but the all computer method can be done with enough extension cords and patience.
We get past the Wi-Fi issue by using a carrier data plan. We have a tablet with data access for each scout. Any device, such as a personal phone, could also be used so long as it has data. Each scout uses a Google form in which they enter team number, match number, and match data. Each submission ends up in a Google spreadsheet. Time we would use entering data at the end of the day becomes time we can use to analyze the data. In the end we achieve the same goal as if we did paper scouting, which we did for two years, just with a little less time and hassle. I also agree with the many voices here on CD that have said not to discount paper scouting. It can be extremely effective if your scouting team has an organized process and forms. Just my 2 cents, hope it helps.
Use team 2729 android app solution. Our app system uses 2 android apps to scout and form strategies, one being used by the scouter for data, generating a QR code at the end and the other used to scan and perform data analysis. Our system does not require wifi as we use a camera for data transfer
Master:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.lrhsd.storm.master16
Scouter:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.lrhsd.storm.user16
Last year, we used Android tablets with micro SD cards. The app would output a CSV (comma separated value) file. A CSV is basically a text file with different values separated by commas or tabs. For example, if you were collecting team number, alliance, and points total (just for example) the file would say something like “1836,blue,120” or “1836 blue 120”.
We would grab the files off the SD cards and put them on one central computer. You can then drag the files into an Excel document and it is automatically sorted in to the columns based on the commas. Learn more here.
This year, we decided to move away from the digital scouting and go back to paper because we found that it was more reliable to promoted more detailed data collection – team members took it much more seriously when they actually had to actively fill in “No” or “0” rather than just selecting a box. This way, it is just as easy to collect accurate data.
It wasn’t our original plan but since we scout with 6 chromebooks, we wanted to have a wired data network. That didn’t work so we transfer data via flash drives. Simple but affective.
Our team has the scouters fill in circles on scan-tron sheets which then go through a scanner onto an excel spreadsheet. The only time our lead scout needs to manually do something is whenever there are comments made on the sheets by the scouters.
Our team logs in our data on excel and transfers and compiles data through USB sticks
Does anyone have any tips on how to send scouting data to the drive team in the pits?
We used slack. Drive coach (me) and backup drive coach (for when I’m inspecting) are both on it, as well, as student strategy lead, and student scouting lead.
IMHO, most of the scouting data is for generating pick lists for eliminations. All I need as a drive coach (for my team, anyway) is data about what defenses to select for the opponent, and what defenses my partners can’t do, to aid in discussion about who gets what.
If there is a particular note that is important, it will be passed along as well, like a particular robot liking to play defense, or being vulnerable to a corner tap when they line up to shoot.
We used slack because it is device agnostic, and our programming team uses it anyway. Also notifications for it show up on my Pebble Time, so i don’t always need to take out my phone. one of my drivers also has a time hooked up to slack. We both have to remove our watches when in the driver station, though.
Here is something we’re investigating for Champs since a version of it worked well at DCMPs:
6 Scouts with paper -> 1 person to enter into Google Spreadsheet via single 3G/4G-connected device. Requires power in the stands or 2-3 battery packs that are charged in the pits when not in use. Tricky to use if the ‘device’ is a phone, but easy if it’s a tablet or USB-tethered laptop.
The drivers and I create a phone-friendly ‘view’ in the Google spreadsheet ahead of the competition, then populate it from our phones for an upcoming match. We use fake data ahead of time in order to conditionally color-code cells on the view.
The data-entry guys can make their entry stuff user-friendly based upon what they think is user friendly. The drivers and I can make a view that suits our needs. No one has to make sure a web server stays running on Amazon (etc), and there are no other tools to purchase or download to each client/platform. The data is live and accurate whether we have a 3-match or 30-match turnaround at champs (i.e. even if we can’t walk back to the pits).
How do you read the scantrons? I’ve never even heard of that before but it would be awesome for the setup we’ve been trying to reach!
some ideas (mostly serious):
Facebook messenger or an equivalent (on data, of course)
During breaks, have the drive coach come to the stands (especially during lunch or before matches start - just give them the information multiple matches ahead on a piece of paper)
carrier pigeon
If you have a guy on your team who really enjoys walking, you could send him down repeatedly
texting, if you can find a place where you get service
just yell really loud :rolleyes:
I wasn’t on the team when we went to champs two years ago, but for almost every tournament I’ve been to we’ve used a 3 ring binder that had a sheet for every team. I think paper and pencil is the best way to go. Now if you’re handwriting is bad, that’s a different story…