MyWhoosh has recently introduced version 3.5.1, bringing a significant enhancement – Controllable Companion Bots. In this update, MyWhoosh focuses on practical features that elevate the virtual cycling experience for beginners and seasoned riders alike.
There’s a bunch of new things in version 3.5.1. The biggest is the companion bots feature, but others include:
- Android 3.0GB Compatibility: MyWhoosh is now available on Android devices with 3.0GB RAM, ensuring a better experience for more users on lower spec hardware.
- Revamped Power Passport Test Protocol: The Power Passport Test, essential for MyWhoosh premier racing events, has been updated for more accurate fitness assessments.
- Extended Event Calendar: Next 30 Days: Plan your rides better! The updated in-app events section now allows you to view and choose events for the upcoming 30 days.
- Laps in Free Rides: Experience a more structured ride with the new lap system for free rides. Monitor your progress with the updated HUD, showing lap counts and distances, stay on the designated route path by default and earn new PBs for not just segments, but the entire route.
However this post is going to focus on the big new feature.
With Companion Bots, riders can now select and directly control up to four bots during special bot-enabled events. Each bot has a specialised cycling skill set, allowing you to assemble a diverse team and execute dynamic racing strategies.
The bots are only available during specific events. And you will be prompted to pick your bots when joining one of those events:
Key features of this system include:
- Event and Team Selection: Choose from special bot-enabled events, then build your team of 4 bots from 6 available types.
- Customised Performance: Bots act based on your FTP and their pre-defined personas, aligning with your cycling abilities.
- Intuitive Control System: Manage your bots during the event using simple controls on your rider HUD. Command them to sprint, lead or recover.
The immediate question I had was, well what are the six different types of companion bots?
Here they are:
- Sprinter Bot: Your go-to for explosive bursts of speed, ideal for final sprints or quick breakaways. Unleash their short-distance power to leave your opponents in the dust.
- Mountain Bot: This tireless climber thrives on steep ascents, offering sustained power and endurance where it matters most. Conquer challenging hills with ease and leave the pack behind.
- Flat Bot: Master of maintaining top speeds on flat terrains, the Flat Bot excels in long stretches without significant elevation changes. Keep your pace relentless and cruise past challengers on flat courses.
- Attacker Bot: This strategic mastermind specialises in making decisive moves that can change the race in an instant. Use their tactical expertise to launch surprise attacks, disrupt opponents, and gain a decisive advantage.
- Smasher Bot: Unleash raw power with the Smasher Bot, dominating the peloton and creating significant gaps. Their brute force can break away from any pack and leave the competition scrambling.
- Climber Bot: Grace and efficiency define the Climber Bot, making challenging ascents seem effortless. Navigate climbs with finesse and leave less skilled cyclists in your wake.
By strategically combining these different bots based on the course, your own strengths, and the race situation, the theory is that you can unlock a wide range of tactical possibilities. It will be interesting to see how that plays out.
You control the bots via a new button that looks a bit like the Reddit logo, which has been added to the in game user interface:
The big thing is they are controlled by us, whilst we are riding. This does mean you need to keep your keyboard handy.
Bots react dynamically to your individual FTP (Functional Threshold Power) and their pre-defined personas. This means their actions and energy expenditure are tailored to your abilities, creating a realistic team experience for your fitness level.
You can influence bot power using two methods:
- Command Buttons: Buttons on your HUD trigger specific actions like sprinting, leading, and recovering. Each action demands a certain power output from the bot, depleting their energy reserves – the battery icon / bar shown above.
- Power Slider: This manual control allows you to fine-tune a bot’s power output within a range depending on their type and remaining energy. Higher power output drains energy faster.
By default, bots will tend to stay behind you unless commanded otherwise. They maintain a comfortable distance while adjusting their speed dynamically to match yours.
There are a couple of ways to use the bot’s movements tactically:
- Leading: When instructed, a bot will move ahead of you, allowing you to draft behind them and conserve energy. However, their pace depends on your power output and the selected “Lead” action’s intensity.
- Drafting: You can draft behind any bot, gaining a speed boost and conserving energy. The effectiveness of drafting depends on the bot’s type and distance between you.
There’s also the concept of Energy Management to consider.
As we saw above with the battery bar, every bot action, including sprinting, leading, and sustaining high power output, consumes their energy battery.
- Recovery: After depleting their battery, bots automatically enter a recovery phase, gradually regaining energy. The specific rate of recovery depends on the bot type, with some recovering faster than others. You can’t control them or issue commands while they’re recovering.
- Instant Recharge: You have two instant recharges per event to give your bots a quick energy boost when needed.
- Recharge Amount: Each instant recharge restores a portion of the bot’s battery, not necessarily bringing it back to full. The exact amount varies depending on the bot type and your remaining instant recharges.
This is a really interesting concept and gives you a higher level, almost a team car like race management angle to factor in to your rides. There are extra dynamics to the instant recharging feature which I’d advise watching the video to get a full idea about:
Here’s the early feedback I’ve found on the new MyWhoosh Companion bots feature:
Positive feedback:
- Fun and engaging: Some users find the bots a welcome addition, adding excitement and competition to their training.
- Pacing potential: Users like the idea of bots pacing them on climbs or long rides as an alternative to erg mode.
- Training variation: Bots offer a way to add variety and fun to solo training sessions.
Negative feedback:
- Too complicated: Many users find the feature too complex, with too many buttons and settings to manage.
- Not for serious training: Some users prefer a more focused training experience and feel the bots are distracting.
- Technical concerns: Some users are worried about the stability of the feature and compatibility with their devices.
- Lack of clear use case: A few users don’t see the value of the bots and question their purpose.
Other suggestions:
- Improved workout builder: Users want more control over creating workouts and integrating bots for pacing.
- AI adaptation: Suggestions for an AI system that adapts training schedules based on performance.
- Platform improvements: Requests for stability improvements and wider platform availability (Xbox, PlayStation).
- Companion app: Preference for a simple companion app over complex bot controls.
Overall, it’s too early to draw definitive conclusions, but the feedback highlights potential areas for improvement:
- Simplify the interface and user experience.
- Focus on specific use cases like pacing and adding variety.
- Improve communication about the feature’s benefits and purpose.
- Address technical concerns and ensure platform compatibility.