[Zuelu562]

If the cycle is implemented incorrectly, we will very easily see what many are predicting, the same exact bots year 3.

EX: Year 1 of 3: Team YYYY, a veteran team, feels no challenge in the new competition and finishes their bot week 3 and tests for the remaining 3, and take home 3 regional wins and a championship division.

Year 2 of 3: Team YYYY uses the exact same build technique as last year, with any minor things they found useful. 80% of the robots at their events look like theirs did a year earlier. They take 3 regionals and the world champion title.

Year 3 of 3: Again Team YYYY uses almost the exact same bot and techniques as they did in the previous two years. They take world champion again. ALL of the robots at their events look like a version of theirs that participated in the previous two years.

You see my point? FIRST needs to either prevent this type of thing from happening or make it so that innovation in technique or build is rewarded.

See my thoughts on the pros of this cycle.