[dtengineering]

An interesting idea for the endgame... but technologically difficult to implement as far as measuring who hit last.

The top teams would have built the NXT controller into their minibot and synched the time on the minibot to the game clock. The minibot would slowly climb the tower, sense proximity to the top and wait for the clock to count down before tapping the switch.

Rather than having four minibots hit within tenths of a second, you could easily have had four minibots hit within hundredths of a second. Not difficult to time with optical sensors, perhaps, but minute variations in the construction of the touch pads could have significantly affected the outcome in the top matches.

I'll give the GDC credit for choosing the best option... and for contemplating that where two alternatives are possible that it would be a fun change up to have a vote.

Jason