[Jared Russell]

Just read through the RFP. Looks like they aren't asking for much in the way of increased functionality over the current control system (other than a USB 2.0 host on the robot controller...and I'm sure I've overlooked other small details). I think that is smart - the current system is very, very powerful.

There aren't a lot of set-in-stone requirements when it comes to user friendliness/simplicity, packaging, environmental robustness, physical connectors, etc. Let's hope that the proposers really knock it out of the park in those areas.

The other interesting thing is the projected number of FRC teams each year, which to me is comically optimistic:
2015: 3,600
2016: 4,000
2017: 4,700
2018: 5,400
2019: 6,200

Then again, I'm sure these err on the high side just to make sure a supplier can hit "worst case" volume demands.