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peartree423 wrote:Hey so what do you guys think some of the really competitive times will be this year? Any thoughts?

Honestly, I'm thinking under a minute and a half. Using two arms, it is certainly possible to get times down that low.

Look at your rules again. Time is only the 3rd tie breaker. You need to worry about getting the full 110 points first. Then getting all 5 die to have the 6 up.

retired1 wrote:Look at your rules again. Time is only the 3rd tie breaker. You need to worry about getting the full 110 points first. Then getting all 5 die to have the 6 up.

I suppose I should advise you to do the same. Maybe look back at 5e...

peartree423 wrote:

retired1 wrote:Look at your rules again. Time is only the 3rd tie breaker. You need to worry about getting the full 110 points first. Then getting all 5 die to have the 6 up.

I suppose I should advise you to do the same. Maybe look back at 5e...

Just a simple error, but the idea is right: a low time only helps if you're getting all the objects already. If you aren't, you shouldn't be stopping that early.

Note: peartree423 is referring to 5.e. because there are four dice, not five.

Based on the last Robot Arm cycle, I'd expect 5-15 perfect scores at nationals with time as the tiebreaker. There aren't any more tasks than then and I don't see the tasks as much, if any, harder. As such, I'd expect it to take a perfect score around 1 to 1:30 to win nationals. Note, I don't THINK the die tiebreaker will be that hard, I may be wrong on that. So I think most teams with perfect scores will have all 4 die with the 6 up.
State results. The larger more competitive states I'd expect multiple perfect scores, but probably less than 5.
Regionals, only a few with more than 1 or 2 perfect scores.

I may change that estimate as I see the invitational and regional results through the year, but that's my early prediction.
Now to see how clairvoyant I am!

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

My bad. The memory is getting old and I was hung up on all of the 5's.
Obviously, There are a few select teams with past experience that are confident of maxing the score. They are the teams that need to worry about time.
For the rest of us, time probably should not be a factor until you can max the score.
I am sure that Jander14 will agree that design is only 1 factor. Practice is probably a larger factor.

Agree, any new team should be focused on maximizing point score before they even pay attention to time.

In this event Practice becomes important after your device meets certain performance requirements. No amount of practice will overcome imprecise control, overly slow or week servos, or end effectors inherently unable to manipulate the objects. And for Robot, its not so obvious nor singular what device will meet those design minimums.

Once you have a device which meets the minimum requirements, then yes, practice becomes critical to execute consistently in the face of competition pressures. Practice makes sure that you score the maximum your device is capable of. You should focus on consistent execution before gold plating a 'good enough' robot design.

Of course that means its hard to tell if your design is 'good enough' if you aren't consistent (don't practice).

Hmm, sounds like a chicken and egg comparison!

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

jander14indoor wrote:Agree, any new team should be focused on maximizing point score before they even pay attention to time.

In this event Practice becomes important after your device meets certain performance requirements. No amount of practice will overcome imprecise control, overly slow or week servos, or end effectors inherently unable to manipulate the objects. And for Robot, its not so obvious nor singular what device will meet those design minimums.

Once you have a device which meets the minimum requirements, then yes, practice becomes critical to execute consistently in the face of competition pressures. Practice makes sure that you score the maximum your device is capable of. You should focus on consistent execution before gold plating a 'good enough' robot design.

Of course that means its hard to tell if your design is 'good enough' if you aren't consistent (don't practice).

Hmm, sounds like a chicken and egg comparison!

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

On that subject, How would you recommend to help with facing competition pressure? Practicing by itself surely will not be enough for many people who don't do well under pressure.
Practicing with audience? Noise canceling headphones at competition?

windu34 wrote:On that subject, How would you recommend to help with facing competition pressure? Practicing by itself surely will not be enough for many people who don't do well under pressure.
Practicing with audience? Noise canceling headphones at competition?

You could have a teammate time you, and as you practice, decrease the amount of time you're allowed (e.g. 2:00 to 1:50 to 1:40, etc.). If you're comfortable doing it quicker at home, at the competition you'll have some room to slow down if you need to. Also trying to get under the 'new maximum' times should give you some pressure. Of course you'll have to treat each practice as important.

If an audience makes you uncomfortable, offer to show your friends/family your project. That'll add pressure to do well to impress.

If you need to communicate with a teammate, noise canceling headphones might hinder that.

futaba wrote:Hello,

Have you had a chance to revise your PDF of the board set up? Also, does anyone know when the official one will be posted? we really need one to ensure that the boards are being set up correctly at each competition.

Thanks,

Layouts are posted on the event page of the national website: http://www.soinc.org/robot_arm_c