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Unread 07-11-2011, 15:00
de_ de_ is offline
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AKA: Dave Edwards
FRC #1310 (Runnymede Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 256
de_ is a jewel in the roughde_ is a jewel in the roughde_ is a jewel in the roughde_ is a jewel in the rough
Re: Ethics of 2 teams building 2 identical robots

I can't say if this scenario applies in this case

Lets say you are a super team and you build (or help build or direct the building of) an identical robot for a non-super (say rookie) team and the 2 of you form an alliance that wins not only your local regional but you go to say 3 other regionals and win all those as well.

If the second super robot did not exist, at 4 regionals another 4 (deserving) teams would have virtually certainly been in the winning alliance and would have received:
- a permanent very desirable trophy
- a highly visible regional championship flag
- a very limited availability invite to the championship (a huge growth experience for students)
- substantial recognition in their school, mentors, sponsors, students etc
- substantial improvement in funding opportunities to go to the championship (versus if they had come second place with no invite, no trophy etc)

This may not break any current FIRST rules but it is clearly inconsistent with the goals of FIRST and the student base overall are the losers.

Clearly its okay to help a junior team get a basic robot to a regional. To help them so much that they get into winning regional finals in my mind crosses the line.
Update: clearly the above scenario is extreme and I won't comment if this scenario has already happened (or something close to it) but clearly there is some gray areas in the issue especially when super teams are involved.

Last edited by de_ : 08-11-2011 at 12:30. Reason: clarrification
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