Five Tips for FTC Scouting

by Bob Howard, Coach Team #4997, Masquerade; Paul Bresnan, Coach Team 6433, Neutrinos; Caroline Bresnan, FTC Alumna, Team #2868, Smoke and Mirrors 

Scouting is the art of gathering information about your fellow FIRST Tech Challenge teams and their robots. Knowing your opponents� strengths and weaknesses is critical for a team�s success. The following simple tips are designed to help your team begin the scouting process.

Tip #1 � Visit the Inspection Field

As a part of inspection, all teams are required to test their robot on the field. Watching these test drives is a great way to gather information on a team�s autonomous programs and scoring capabilities before the tournament has even started! Be sure to take detailed notes. The practice field is also a good place for pre-tournament scouting.

Tip #2 � Print Out the Field Diagram

Field Diagrams are great for scouting. Print our several copies per page and use them as a way to draw out autonomous paths. They also come in handy for planning strategy with an ally.

Tip #3 -  Scout from the Stands

Assign team members to the stands during the matches. Have one group watch the red alliance and the other watch the blue alliance. The groups should take notes on each match. By the end of the day you will have collected a lot of information about all the teams at the tournament. This data will be extremely useful for devising strategies in the finals.

Many teams use Excel Spreadsheets as a easy way to organize scouting information. Download a sample Scouting Form and a Scouting Spreadsheet from Team #4997 Masquerade.

Tip #4 � Picking Your Ally

If you are one of the top four teams after the qualifying matches, congratulations! You are one of the Alliance Captains, which means you get to choose who your alliance partner will be in the finals. Study your scouting data carefully to choose which team you would like to be allied with. Rank those teams. If there will be two teams per alliance, make a list of at least four favorite teams. If there will be three teams per alliance, make a list of your top eight teams.

Tip #5 � Advertise Your Team!

 If you are not one of the Alliance Captains, don�t worry! You still have an opportunity to be in the finals. Use your scouting data to make a list of your top teams, and design a strategy that maximizes both of your strengths. Send a representative to present this strategy to your top choice alliance captain teams; make a case for why you would be the best ally. An enthusiastic and sincere proposal will help your team stand out as a great choice during alliance picking.