[TroyCDH]

Being this is FIRST, I am not going to compare other CAD programs that are corporate sponsors and are trying to help students learn CAD for robot design.

Those programed situations are usually for a large companies that make expensive goods that are similar but need customization. Some individual examples that come to mind are elevators, escalators, conveyor lines, and industrial freezers. So for example, a company designs an elevator. They spend CAD "program/custom" time so the size, WxLxH can easily vary and change all of the related parts--doors, sill, handles, trim, number of fasteners etc. The number of floors in a building will vary so that is an input that drives changes- cable lengths, brakes and even the number of push buttons for the rider. The input of a weight limit could call for extra supports, different cable diameters, pulleys, counter weights etc. But this is a ton of work in either system. But then offers many custom (but similar) elevators for the company.

So I suggest you first look at the scope of your CAD robot. If it is simple perimeter frame and bumpers that can be driven by a couple of dimension inputs that is great. If you plan on inputs to select the number wheels and diameters, not to mention choice of chain, belt, gears etc you will be spending hours for choices might be determined verbally days after the 2012 game is released.

Hope my comments help. Troy