Our strategy for 2025-26

-What is our strategy?-

Based on this year's game, Decode, the Metal Knights are using the following strategies.

1. Consistent Artifact Intake and Shooting: The primary scoring mechanism is shooting the 5-inch artifacts into alliance-specific goals. A robot should prioritize efficient collection from the field and the loading zone, capable of handling the slight variations in ball size, and scoring them quickly and accurately.

2. Reliable Autonomous Routine: A strong, simple autonomous period provides essential early points and ranking points (RPs). Focus on:

   1. Leaving the launch line.

   2. Scoring pre-staged artifacts into the goal.

   3. Attempting the Autonomous pattern alignment for extra points.

3. Gate Management: Artifacts are scored as either Classified (high points) or Overflow (fewer points). When goals fill up, an overflow gate can be triggered to release artifacts back onto the field for more scoring opportunities, contributing to cycle efficiency rather than direct points.

4. Endgame Maneuvers: Teams earn bonus points by parking their robot completely within the base zone at the end of the match. Points can also be earned if one robot assists an alliance partner into the base zone.

5. Advanced Pattern Scoring: For advanced teams, designing the robot to consistently align artifacts in the specific Motif pattern (read via AprilTags or an Obelisk in autonomous) throughout the match yields significant bonus points, which are assessed at the end of both autonomous and teleop periods.