[longhorns1771]

(Mentor Mike Reilly, formerly of 1771 responding)

Thanks Simbotics! Your world-famous status definitely lends legitimacy to your suggestions!

From a bare-bones rookie perspective, building a previous year will be a challenge. We have a drill, a hacksaw, some screwdrivers. I agree with you when we have more available. Most likely we're going to go with a blend of what you're proposing, with a low target (great bots cost great amounts of money). In other words, an "awesome third bot" approach first year.

What I would really like to do is build the most essential skills. I can personally teach Inventor and programming, and we'll most likely share ideas with 1771 and any other teams. Where I lack are the hands-on skills to practice, like tapping holes, cutting, basic part recognition like spacers, etc.

Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming, I'm finding there is a lot of experience out there, but we can do more for the low-income teams to get ready, and I'd like to make that happen for us and others to follow.