[Andrew Remmers]

Originally Posted by chi-town-biker

No one has mentioned this but FTC lacks an equivalent to FRC’s R18 which states “Robot elements designed or created before the Kickoff presentation, including software, are not permitted.” The implication is that FTC teams can reuse any parts they build for multiple years. It hasn’t been an issue until now because what you could build was so limited.

I don’t think the missing rule is necessarily bad. I wouldn’t suggest it for this season’s game but I could see a team building mecanum wheels from raw materials next summer and reusing them for several seasons. That would be an excellent way to teach everything from drive system theory to machining skills.

I think they should allow teams to purchase parts from a third party company, now that the materials are unlimited. Someone could design and sell things like mechanum wheels and such to teams for teams who don't necissarily have those machining capablities, kinda like Andymark, and West Coast Products for FRC. That would be interesting.