Quote:
Originally Posted by 2544HCRC
I'm seeing the same people post that if you can't build a second bot, tough, go do what it takes to build a second bot, and at the same time are saying it isn't really an advantage. If it wasn't an advantage, why do it?
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Anyone who says it isn't a serious competitive advantage is definitely wrong. It is a huge advantage. It isn't an end all though, there have and will continue to be pretty successful teams that don't build two robots. My HS team only built one and was a picking team or first round pick for 5 straight years. Definitely not "elite", but we marked that down in the success column as we were more successful than any of our high school's sports teams.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2544HCRC
I'm not saying that rookie teams can't be successful or that some teams don't do all of the right things without big budgets or machining or that some teams don't miss the mark with all of the right things. I am saying that from my experience, teams that consistently do well have these three things: ability to quickly produce parts, mentor support, and a substantial budget. If you don't have those things, you are going to have a difficult time of it in FRC.
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I agree with this. I think where we differ is the viewpoint that if you don't have those things you can't get them. I grew up in a rural fishing community with no real industry, and it was our experience that over time our resource net kept expanding and we got those things. My first year we once left a copier on at the school and got a 3 page complaint the next morning, by the time I graduated we had full run of a machine shop with students running most of the machines (under supervision, of course). I recognize not everyone's path to success will follow that pattern, but I think if you keep pushing you'll find you will continue to meet people that can help you in their own way, and by using them you will find sustainable success.
That has been my experience at least. I'm sure my experiences aren't the only way that things can turn out.
