The notebook is a team effort — every role contributes entries. On kickoff day, the strategist leads the analysis: game overview, problem statement, criteria and constraints. These entries are written before any mechanism is chosen.
First question every match: What is the highest-value action my team can take in the first 10 seconds of driver control? Know the answer before queueing.
🎯 Autonomous Priority High Impact
A reliable 10-pt auton beats an unreliable 18-pt one across 12 matches. Use EV math (probability × points) to choose your routine. Track your auton win rate every practice.
👥 Alliance Coordination
Talk to your alliance partner for 60 seconds before every match. Agree on zones, scoring assignments, and end-game plan. Most alliances skip this — don’t.
📈 Points-Per-Second
Points scored ÷ time used for each action. Prioritize the highest efficiency actions first. In 1:45, efficiency beats raw score ceiling.
🚫 Defensive Decisions
Defense is correct when opponent’s expected score exceeds yours and you can meaningfully reduce their output. Decide before the match, not during it.
⌛ End-Game Planning
At 0:30, your driver executes a plan decided before the match — not deciding in real time. Know your end-game sequence cold before queueing.
✅ AWP Strategy
Know the exact AWP conditions. Coordinate with alliance to both meet them — one missed step forfeits the point for both teams.
Scout in every match you’re not playing. Watch and record: auton routine, cycle time, scoring positions, mechanism failures, defense capability. Two observations beat zero.
✍️ What to Record
› Autonomous: works / fails / partial + points
› Driver cycle time (estimate in seconds)
› Scoring positions they prefer
› Mechanism failures observed
› Defense capability: can they? do they?
› End-game: do they have one?
🏆 Alliance Selection Priority
Rank teams by: (1) auton reliability — consistent beats high ceiling, (2) average cycle time, (3) whether they complement your robot. Make your list before elimination rounds, not during.
Expected Value = probability × points. A reliable 10-pt auton beats an unreliable 18-pt one. Add up to 3 routines and compare.
Recommendation
🏆 Alliance Selection Tracker
Track teams you’ve scouted. Rank by auton reliability and driver score. Build your alliance list before elimination rounds.
🏁 Match Planning
📝 Pre-Match Plan — Fill Before Queueing
✅ Saved!
Summarize your entire plan in one sentence. Say it out loud to your squad before you queue.
This is the last thing your squad hears before walking to the field.
Recent Plans
📝 Engineering Notebook
✎️
Notebook entries are team-wide. Engineers log builds, Drivers log test data, you log analysis and decisions. Your job: make sure it happens. 5-minute rule: Write the session entry before anyone leaves. Memory fades fast.
✅ Today’s Notebook Checklist
Date, team members present, EDP step label
Every entry needs a header
What did we do today? (1-2 sentences)
Context: why did we do this? What problem prompted it?
Labeled diagram or annotated photo
Every mechanism change needs a drawing or photo with labels
Elimination strategy is completely different from qualification strategy. You are no longer playing for ranking points — you are playing to win a single match. Change your approach accordingly.
① How Eliminations Differ
› Single-elimination — one loss ends your run
› You choose your alliance partner — choose wisely
› Reliable beats flashy every time here
› Defense becomes a valid primary strategy
› Your opponent has also been scouting you
② First Pick Logic
› Pick the team with the highest floor, not ceiling
› Consistent 10-pt auton > unreliable 18-pt auton
› Pick a robot that complements yours — not a clone
› Can they agree and execute alliance strategy?
› Avoid teams with mechanical reliability issues
③ In-Match Adjustments
› After Match 1: what did you learn about their strategy?
› If losing by <8 pts — switch to aggressive scoring
› If winning — switch to defense and hold the lead