[FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

http://www.firstinspires.org/robotic...m-kit-of-parts

Good link...

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

For reference, last year's kit was:

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

I can't believe I got roll'd in 2017. 2017!!!!!

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

So.. apart from the totes being a few pounds lighter or heavier, add one very small item. It must be a packet of instant steam!



Seriously, it is probably just something that came in too late to pack in the tote, otherwise it would be in there, right?

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

One set of items, collectively, 27 in. x 17 in. x 13 in., 50 lbs.

That's probably the tote

One set of items, collectively, 2 in. x 2 in. x 48 in., 5 lbs.

Aluminum tubes.

One item, 8 in. x 3 in. x 7 in., 14 lbs.

Battery

One very small item.

I have no clue what this could be, or why it can't go in the tote. Maybe the KOP is locked this year and this is the key?

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

The predictions our team came up with were:

Regular Kit:
One set of items, collectively, 27 in. x 17 in. x 13 in., 50 lbs. = Tote
One set of items, collectively, 2 in. x 2 in. x 48 in., 5 lbs. = 4 aluminum tubes like last year
One item, 8 in. x 3 in. x 7 in., 14 lbs. = Battery
One very small item. = A button with Frank Merrick's face on it.

Rookie Kit:
One set of items, collectively, 27 in. x 17 in. x 13 in., 30 lbs. = Rookie Tote
One item, 8 in. x 3 in. x 7 in., 14 lbs. = Battery

Drive Base Kit:
One set of items, collectively, 7 in. x 7 in. x 34 in., 25 lbs. = Drive Base

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

While comparing between 2016 and 2017 kit announcements, I noticed that except the minor changes of totes' weight, the only change is the add of "one very small item".
We can't know if it's a game piece or not, because the game piece can be inside the tote.

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

At first glance the optimist would draw the conclusion that the small item was the game piece and would point towards the "coal" theory on game pieces (small and non-spherical). But I think it is unlikely they would pack a game piece outside of the tote, as the game piece is probably the first thing to be accounted for in terms of space in the tote.

I can hope though right? :p .

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

It's entirely possible the "very small item" is a gift for teams and not at all related to the game, like the 2015 Behind The Design book last year.

Then again it could be Minibot train wheels. Let the wild speculation continue!

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

I remember when my team first started, we would get an envelope with the KoP - I think it had the accelerometer/gyro board in it. That went on for a number of years, too... but not for the past few years. It could easily be something like that!

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

Anyone notice the weight difference on the kop drive base box

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

Nice catch!

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

I wouldn't read too much into that. It's lighter than last year's (AM14U3) by 3 lbs, but the 2016 KOP drive base was 4 lbs heavier than the 2015 KOP drive base (AM14U2), and the only substantial difference was the gear ratio and larger wheel size (there were some minor updates to the inner frame rail to accept more gearbox options). There may be some changes to it in 2017, but it also could be pretty much the same as the 2016 kit base, but with 4" wheels.

2015 KOP Chassis (AM14U2) - 24 lbs
2016 KOP Chassis (AM14U3) - 28 lbs
2017 KOP Chassis (???????) - 25 lbs

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

The new q&a system will be supported by the small item. Powered by Google Assistant, your team's very own talking 8 ball can be shaken when asking a question about this year's rules, with Frank Merricks voice responding to you in real time!

Hopefully they fixed all of the bugs since the beta, especially the one where the ball kept responding with "yes, chute door" no matter what you asked.

Re: [FRC Blog] 2017 Kit of Parts
 

The small package could be our drive team buttons