[ToddF]

Thanks for the info, Paul. We'll take a close look at your stuff for next summer. I somehow missed your vex pro product line until the start of this build season, but I like what I see.

We are attempting to move into the mode of students and mentors working during the summer on drive train development, using as much COTS parts as possible. During the fall we work on skills training for new members, and getting everyone intimately familiar with the hardware. We also pre-purchase all the COTS stuff we think we may need, to avoid the build season rush. Then when build season hits, we tweak our previously developed drive train to work with the game and execute as quickly as possible. This year, we will have a running drive train in less than 50% of the time it took last year, even with the smaller size limitations.

We are trying to raise our level of competitiveness by taking FIRST robotics from a build/competition season activity to a develop/train/build/compete activity that engages students year round.