Scouting the Scouting Apps

Competition Scouting
1

I’ve seen a number of posts on various scouting apps/systems that teams have made (thank you!), and was wondering if anyone has done some sort of comparison on the different systems? I’m imagining a spreadsheet or similar with some key parameters:

  • Scout App Platform (Android/iOS, etc)

  • Server Required?

  • Server Platform (Android/iOS/Windows, etc)

  • Connectivity Method

  • Built In Scouting Criteria

  • Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes

  • Picture Capable?

  • Match Score Capable?

  • Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data (TheBlueAlliance, etc)

  • Up to date and Method for Updating

  • Whatever other key criteria are helpful - feel free to add more bullets…

Different teams want and need different ways of scouting, so I wanted to have a single comparison point for what’s available today. I can run around the internet and gather some of that data, but I didn’t design the apps and don’t want to publish the wrong info.

So, if anyone else wants to contribute the characteristics of what they have done (or a system they have used) and respond here that would be helpful and I will post a spreadsheet comparing the various systems.

And - please feel free to post or send a link to your favorite system, I may not find them all in my searches!

2

I hope some teams will succes the Scouting Apps

3

I’m going to shamelessly self-promote WildRank here:

Scout App Platform (Android/iOS, etc): Android (needs computer to setup)
Server Required?: Just a flashdrive
Server Platform (Android/iOS/Windows, etc): n/a
Connectivity Method: usb/micro usb (usb otg)
Built In Scouting Criteria: can be easily customized (match + pit)
Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes: yes
Picture Capable?: yes
Match Score Capable?: no
Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data (TheBlueAlliance, etc): gets event data and teams from TBA
Up to date and Method for Updating: will release a completely new version by competitions
Whatever other key criteria are helpful: it’s awesome

Edit: link: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=129763

1 Like
4

You SHOULD shamelessly self-promote here - it makes all the data easier to find.

And thank you for your input. We will compile it :slight_smile:

5

Of the apps that I have tried Wildrank has the most flexibility. 'nuff said.

6

FRC Krawler has some pretty neat goodies.

Check it out http://www.team2052.com/frckrawler/

Scout App Platform Android
Server Required? Yes, but not required to scout if connection is lost.
Server Platform Android
Connectivity Method Bluetooth
Built In Scouting Criteria You can create your own. It’s highly flexible
Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes Yes
Picture Capable? Will be soon. (Working out some kinks)
Match Score Capable? It scrapes the scores off TBA (Manual)
Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data The Blue Alliance.
Up to date and Method for Updating Just updated on January 3rd, but new features still needed to be added for 2015
Whatever other key criteria are helpful Highly flexible and fast

1 Like
7

Take a look at the new kid on the block: GMS

Scout App Platform (Android/iOS, etc)
— Android (tablet or phone)
Server Required?
— No
Server Platform (Android/iOS/Windows, etc)
— Not needed, but uses Windows PC for exporting spreadsheets
Connectivity Method
— Android Beam (by far the most convenient)
Built In Scouting Criteria
— Yes, default criteria included
Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes
— Yes
Picture Capable?
— Yes, and video, and text, and finger drawings
Match Score Capable?
— Yes
Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data (TheBlueAlliance, etc)
— Scrapes info from FRC pages, and contains extensive team data
Up to date and Method for Updating
— Google Play :smiley:

Other: includes Data analysis, Match schedules, Game manual, Pit map & Pit admin msgs (if enabled), …

http://gms.pejaver.com (Click on Team Scouting)

8

I have found using a Google spreadsheet is the best way to go. Its free, easy, powerful, and customisable for each year. And it can be shared among all of those doing the scouting.

9

I’ve just posted the thread for FRCScout. Here’s our info.

Scout App Platform: Android
Server Required?: No
Server Platform: N/A
Connectivity Method: Cell Signal
Built In Scouting Criteria: Yes
Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes: Sadly, no.
Picture Capable?: No
Match Score Capable?: No
Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data (TheBlueAlliance, etc): No
Up to date and Method for Updating: Yep, Google Play. I’ll release updates as I make them.

P.S. This app was meant to be minimalist, so it sends a text message of the results to a free 3rd party system that puts the result in a Google spreadsheet. It can actually be operated by two scouts with Android devices (the app features an alliance mode where you can enter data for each team on an alliance at once). After setup is done, I feel it’s the easiest app out there to operate at the regional (you enter data, push send, and it’s in a google spreadsheet, using only cell signal).

10

The problem with Google Docs is that you can’t sync at the event. It is a violation of Admin Rule 4.14 to have an internet connection at the event.

11

Depending on the way they scout they may only need to sync up at the very end of the day. And all they would have to do is work in offline mode during the event.

12

Team 1501 will be publishing a pit scouting app on the google play store for free by the end of February. More info on the app will be posted towards the end of the month.

https://rrpitscout.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/team-1501-presents-rr-pit-scout-a-teaser-to-the-soon-to-be-free-android-pit-scouting-app/

13

Hi all - We just released our final version of our scouting app and created a thread for feedback on it here. We gave QR codes a try for transferring data between devices. Let us know what you think!

14

Scout App Platform (Android/iOS, etc)- iOS
Server Required?- yas
Server Platform (Android/iOS/Windows, etc)- Mac OS
Connectivity Method- bluetooth
Built In Scouting Criteria- yes
Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes- no
Picture Capable?- no
Match Score Capable? - yes
Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data (TheBlueAlliance, etc)- no
Up to date and Method for Updating- kinda

We use apple’s low energy bluetooth to connect to a central computer to put the data into a spreadsheet so we may sort and filter the data as we please. We are working on making this app accessible through the app store but have hit a couple road block we are trying to get through.

15

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/3101

Scout App Platform: Android
Server Required?: No
Server Platform: N/A
Connectivity Method: USB or bluetooth
Built In Scouting Criteria: Yes
Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes: No
Picture Capable?: No
Match Score Capable?: No
Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data: No
Up to date and Method for Updating: I will upload a new APK to chief delphi.

This app is only used for collecting scouting data. It works best when paired the excel database included but can be used on its own with a little bit of work.

16

http://FRCscout.com

  • Scout App Platform: Any web browser. Designed for smartphones and tablets. Smartphone’s built in 4g connection avoids internet issue. If you can tether a phone to a tablet (or buy a sim card for them), the tablet’s large screen is useful.

  • Server Required: Users do not need a server

  • Server Platform (Android/iOS/Windows, etc): N/A

  • Connectivity Method: Internet Connection needed when loading the page for the first time and when submitting data. Can scout an unlimited number of matches offline before sending.

  • Built In Scouting Criteria: Default + Comments

  • Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes: No but teams can make private comments

  • Picture Capable? Yes. Part of pit scouting.

  • Match Score Capable? Yes.

  • Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data (TheBlueAlliance, etc) Yes.

  • Up to date and Method for Updating Connection to server always has all data that has been pushed. Push to server over internet (3g or 4g is already in most phones)

Link to thread: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135218

17

Just found this thread, so I’ll post my submission as well.
FRC Scouting

Open source on github:

Scout App Platform (Android/iOS, etc): Android (Working on a web applet as well, hopefully by next year)

Server Required?: no, but recommended

Server Platform (Android/iOS/Windows, etc): LAMP webserver

Connectivity Method: Internet connection (plans to add Bluetooth support). Can sync data to server later as well. If not using a server, data can be exported to CSV, and combined manually.

Built In Scouting Criteria: Yes. But there is a comments field.

Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes: Each team can define a list of “Common Notes” to make comments entry easier.

Picture Capable?: Planned feature for pit scouting

Match Score Capable?: Depends on the game. Data is more capability-driven than score-driven.

Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data (TheBlueAlliance, etc): FIRST Community API

Up to date and Method for Updating: Published on Google Play store, up-to-date. Server updating must be done manually via ftp (or similar). Link to server source is provided on github and in google play store description.

Provides match and pit scouting

18

GearScout 2015

Scout App Platform (Android/iOS, etc): Android, no outside config necessary
Server Required?: A laptop for the spreadsheet
Server Platform (Android/iOS/Windows, etc): anything with MS office
Connectivity Method: USB
Built In Scouting Criteria: everything necessary for effective 2015 scouting, including optional auto-submitted notes
Flexible System to Allow Team Defined Scouting Attributes: Yes
Picture Capable?: yes, just change the directory in the formula
Match Score Capable?: no
Interfaces to Any FRC Databases for Data (TheBlueAlliance, etc): In development
Up to date and Method for Updating: updates to the spreadsheet are posted regularly on http://www.oswegofirst.org and the app is updated on google play.
Whatever other key criteria are helpful:
-it is all based on CSV files exported from the app, which are then imported into the spreadsheet using excel’s import tools. All data filtering and lookups are done by the spreadsheet. MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS USE THE MOST UPDATED VERSION OF THE SPREADSHEET! Some old versions were deep in development, and did not work properly. I can only guarantee the functionality of the latest version.
-data validation in pit scouting makes sure all data is standardized and easily understood.
-advanced lookup capabilities allow comprehensive data filtering by team or match
-printer-friendly “Alliance Lookup” spreadsheet allows for rapid, effective strategy development.

Attached is the latest version of GearScout 2015’s spreadsheet system. The app is available for download on Google Play!

Base_Midwest.xlsx (233 KB)


Base_Midwest.xlsx (233 KB)

19

I think it is worth mentioning that with FRC Scout you are provided information to directly access the database backend and subsequently you can write your own queries to extract data from it. This will allow for powerful data processing.