10. 1983 - Skunk Works Robotics
A lot of great teams competed this past week, but Skunk Works takes the cake at the number 10 spot. 1983 tore up the field at the Auburn-Mountainview district event in the Pacific Northwest region, clinching the number one seed. Their strategy revolves around the low-goal and being able to breach the defenses effectively, as shown by their 51.67 defense points average over the qualifications. 1983 invited teams 3238 and 3786 to complete their eliminations alliance, and their undefeated run through the bracket speaks for itself, scoring 112 points on average as an alliance. Using a bit of a unique strategy, they played a role we’ve seen previously played by teams such as 16, the Bomb Squad in 2012, where 1983 gathered balls and fed them across the outer works to their partner 3238 to score in the tower, before scaling the tower themselves. With stated plans to possibly add a high goal shooter and refined autonomous modes, 1983 has plenty of room to improve and move up the power rankings of FIRST Stronghold.
9. 4451 - ROBOTZ Garage
The number one pick at the Week 0.5 Palmetto Regional, the ROBOTZ Garage made sure that not all of the gold medals left the state of South Carolina. A consistent high goal shooter brought the hot rod themed team to the top seeds once the dust settled in Myrtle Beach. Accepting 179’s invitation from the number four position, the alliance roared through the playoffs setting high scores and only facing real competition in the finals, where they edged out the number six alliance in 3 matches. The Garage averaged 80 points in the qualifications (24.25 points on average due to goals scored), and their eliminations alliance posted 134.85 points on average. While the fact that they performed so solidly this early in the season is a huge part of why they made it to the list, ROBOTZ Garage will have to increase their shot volume to keep up with other teams both on this list and soon to compete in the coming weeks. This increase combined with their consistency will set them apart as one of the top competitors in FIRST Stronghold this year.
8. 2502 - Talon Robotics
To some, Talon Robotics may seem like a surprise to be on this list due to their seemingly mediocre qualification performance at the Northern Lights Regional, but one has to see just how efficient this robot is to understand their placement at the #8 spot. A low-bar capable robot with a front-loaded roller intake coupled with a catapult and a reliable batter shot, Talon utilized their strengths with an efficiency that most other teams would envy. 2502 would often score around 6-8 boulders per match, maneuvering around defense with ease. Despite being Rank 31, they still managed to have the highest points average from boulders of any team in FRC so far, at 25.13, and 2883’s good scouting recognized this, as 2502 became the first pick for the #3 alliance. This alliance proceeded to absolutely shred the eliminations, averaging 152 points throughout, never scoring below 125, and upsetting the #1 seed alliance to win the event.
7. 2883 - F.R.E.D.
F.R.E.D., or Fighting Rednecks Engineering and Design is a team from Warroad, MN that made their name known last weekend as they dominated the Northern Lights Regional, only dropping one match throughout the tournament and earning a 152 point playoff average, which just so happens to be the second highest average by an alliance posted so far. F.R.E.D.’s low-bar capable robot consists of an over the bumper roller intake combined with a powerful catapult, and exhibited an ability to traverse defenses extremely fast in addition to an accurate shot from multiple areas in the courtyard. Able to score effectively in all facets of the game (except climbing), 2883 showed an impressive aptitude for understanding FIRST Stronghold strategy and applied it effectively, winning their event from the third seed with their partners, 2502 and 5232.
6. 67 - The HOT Team
The HOT Team helped redefine dominance this weekend at the very competitive FIM Waterford District Event, ending their rampage with a 17-1-0 record, winning the event, tying the world high score at 185 points, and averaging 172.17 points throughout the eliminations. 67 approached this year’s game with a unique design, centered around one of their trademark “utility arms” that basically does everything, from housing their roller intake and flywheel shooter, to articulating their climbing mechanism and manipulating defenses. With a strategy focused around running high-goal cycles through defenses with an emphasis on breaching, HOT played their game very effectively and as a result served as an excellent counterpart to 33’s strategy of high-goal cycles with an emphasis on scoring boulders.
5. 359 - The Hawaiian Kids
One of the most consistent teams in FRC, The Hawaiian Kids once again proved that there is no off-year for the powerhouse from Waialua. Only dropping one match at the Lake Superior Regional in Minnesota, Motorola Quality Award winners 359 finished at rank 2, became the first pick for the #1 seed, and won the event in convincing fashion after averaging 90.75 points in qualifications and 146.67 points in eliminations. The Hawaiians arrived in Minnesota with a bevy of impressive capabilities, ranging from quick and efficient breaching courtesy of their articulating roller intake to a powerful, long-range shot that makes it into the high goal in both autonomous and teleop, courtesy of their catapult. Additionally, they are one of the rare teams with a portcullis autonomous mode as well, providing another example of their versatility. Barring some inconsistencies with accuracy, 359 has churned out one of the most well-rounded robots that this year has seen so far, and one can only expect improvement from here on out.
4. 3683 - Team Dave
The single word that describes Team Dave is efficiency. The team from Waterloo designed their low-bar capable machine with a clear strategy revolving around the low goal in mind, and this reflects in their robot functionality. A swift drivetrain with a wide-mouth intake means gathering balls is but a routine task, utilizing the same intake utility arm to deposit the balls into the low goal. This arm takes care of the portcullis and cheval-de-frise with ease, and tops off the match with a rapid-deploying mechanism to lift the robot up to the bar at the endgame. 3683, despite never scoring in the high goal, was able to average 95.5 points throughout their qualifications, locking in the number one seed at the Greater Toronto Central Regional. A consistent low-bar one ball autonomous complements their 86.9 teleop point average in the qualifications, the second highest of all teams to compete thus far. Their eliminations alliance, 3683-4001-5039 cruised through the bracket in 6 straight matches to their win at GTCR, posting an average of 131.17 points per match.
3. 5172 - Gators
Hailing from Greenbush Middle River, MN, the Gators may have not been the first name that comes to mind when thinking of strong to elite teams, but this might be the year they do. They have made a case for themselves as one of the best pure scorers out there, with the highest per-match aggregate points average of all FRC teams so far, at 96.5. 5172 put on a clinic at the Northern Lights Regional, averaging 24.88 points from boulders scored, and subsequently was the first pick for 2987, the #1 seed. Their design highlighted by a “low-bar challenged” robot and a quick, accurate flywheel turret shooter proved to be a difficult force to reckon with, but what elevated them higher on this list was their consistent ability to make shots all the way from the undefendable outer works. Once eliminations started, they showed why they had the third highest OPR in the world (53.10), as they proceeded to light up the high goal with one outstanding performance after another, often scoring upwards of 8 boulders and averaging 144.83 points per match. They ended up matching their 2014 and 2015 results at the regional and became finalists in the event, while setting the current high score (185) in the process.
2. 179 - Children of the Swamp
The Children of the Swamp have historically been one of the strongest contenders in Florida, but this year they’ve really elevated their gameplay. Competing less than a week after the end of the build season is a tough ordeal, but 179 made it seem like they were a seasoned veteran as they took the number one seed at the Week 0.5 Palmetto Regional. Boasting a vision targeting turret on a low-bar capable robot (though they never actually navigated under the low-bar), they coupled their shooting accuracy with a solid drivetrain and reliable hanger. This green machine found its way to the highest OPR so far this season (56.39) and selected teams 4451 and 1369 to join their alliance in the eliminations. While we have little doubt that 179 is a top tier team and deserving of the highest spots on the rankings, questions arise around their ability to shoot accurately under defensive pressure and to navigate some of the defenses, specifically the moat. However, their prowess claims the number two spot this week, scoring an average of 96.25 points throughout their qualifications and a playoffs average of 134.85.
1. 33 - Killer Bees
While not having the most successful qualification matches, Killer Bees showed killer potential at the competitive FIM Waterford District Event to earn becoming the first pick of the #1 seed alliance. Their robot consists of an efficient intake, powerful drivetrain, flywheel shooter with a consistent batter shot, and arguably the best climbing solution used in competition so far, having been clocked at sub-7 seconds, along with a 10, sometimes 20 point autonomous solution. Throughout eliminations, 33 showcased their blazing fast cycle times, often averaging between 7-9 boulders scored per match, along with a hang. They were able to easily maneuver around defense as well as display an awareness for the locations of boulders and other robots around them. The 67-33-4003 alliance also proceeded to consistently post some of the highest scores FIRST Stronghold has seen so far, averaging 172.17 points throughout their elimination matches, tying the current high score of 185, and proceeding to win their event. To provide some perspective, the second highest average score by an elimination alliance was posted by the 2883-2502-5232 alliance with an average of 152 points.
