[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Ed Law

The whole team should decide what the robot should do, not the build team.

I would argue on the contrary to this point. I think many teams have plenty of members who have no business deciding what the robot should do. Getting the whole team involved seems like a good way to throw your efficiency out the window, and end up with a result that doesn't please anyone.

I'm reminded of two things here
1. In a thread about a year ago, JVN said something to the effect of "We will never vote on a design. Voting is not an engineering decision making process."

2. The new Dodge Dart commercials - there's one line that says "Kick out the committees"

I do agree with the idea of "It doesn't get made without a CAD model first." That's how real engineering is done. The machinist doesn't just make it up on the fly.