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Unread 08-09-2012, 12:08
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LeelandS LeelandS is offline
Robots don't quit, and neither do I
AKA: Leeland
FRC #1405 (Finney Falcons)
Team Role: Tactician
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Webster, NY
Posts: 545
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Re: FRC Blogged - KOP Evolution

I think the main concern is this (indirectly) favors veteran teams, and leaves less experienced/ less advanced teams where they are.

Many teams in FRC rely on the Kitbot to have a functioning drive base. Those teams are almost definitely going to opt to hold on to the Kitbot. Other teams who don't use the Kitbot base and have an alternative (like sheet metal) can get a $450 voucher from AndyMark for a bunch of cool gadgets to use on the robot.

I don't know if this has been ruled on yet, but I've seen discussion that because the voucher is a KoP item, it doesn't count towards the Bill of Materials, effectively raising those teams' robot budgets to $3950 (or $450 than other teams if the budget isn't $3500 this year).

I love that teams now have the option, but I'm afraid, for the time being, there might be a larger gap between upper and lower tier teams.

That said, I'm hoping that if FIRST continues this, it will push many teams to find a way to evolve out of the Kitbot chassis and develop a new structure of drive base.
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