[Joe G.]

Originally Posted by DampRobot

I'd much rather have a non-profit like USFIRST organize my robotics competition that a company like IFI.

Just to clarify, VRC is run by a non-profit organization, the RECF. VRC is run by IFI in the same way that FLL is run by The LEGO Group.

Originally Posted by ttldomination

Not quite sure I agree on this accord. I see no reason why the FTC program is established as a "feeder" program vs. a VRC program, but perhaps that is a conversation for another thread.

The FIRST/VEX rift has been growing, and it only stands to expand with the launch of VIQ. At this point, I'm not even sure it's possible to bridge the divide, but competition is good for the community and watching VEX/IFI rise to challenge FLL/FTC has been exciting.

- Sunny G.

Nowhere did I say that this would happen due to some kind of reunification effort. As I implied in my first post, I think one of the greatest things about VRC is that it gives the competition the grandeur it deserves, with much more generous advancement rules than FTC can have, and their own world championship on the scale of FRC's. I simply think that this is the direction the FTC and VRC programs will naturally gravitate towards over the coming years, due to the nature of the programs. Recent changes by FTC seem to suggest that FIRST is actively trying to fill the niche of feeder programs, by making robot rules more comparable to FRC and giving students FRC-relevant design experience, at the expense of program cost and accessibility.

However, if anything, "the rift" as you call it seems to have actually been narrowing in recent years (the low point to me was FRC 2011 Team Update 4). Some examples from the past few years include the VexPro launch and its embrace in the KOP, and IFI being given the Jaguar development by FIRST. I don't see VexIQ changing things that much either. It makes sense as a feeder program for the non-feeder VRC teams I outlined above, for many of the same reasons that FTC makes more sense as an FRC feeder. FLL, meanwhile, not only makes sense likewise as an FTC/FRC feeder, but is a veritable 20,000+ team juggernaut, with much more mass appeal than any other robotics program out there at any level, and one of the world's most recognizable brands behind it. It isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

I'll end with this very wise post from Mr. Dave Lavery from a few years back. Even though we've grown, it still very much applies.

I have said it before, and I will say it again: If between them FIRST, IFI, BotBall, BEST, and PLTW are collectively dedicating even a single neuron firing to the contemplation of how to beat the "other guys," then collectively they are all fools.

Let's look at some reality. TSA will reach 150,000 students this year[1], the FIRST Robotics Competition will reach an estimated 41,000 students[2], Project Lead The Way manages to contact 500,000 students[3], BotBall touches approximately 5,000[4], and the VEX competitions add about 6,000 more[5]. That is a grand total of about 700,000 students involved in these programs today.

As of 2007, there are an estimated 16,400,000 high school students in the U.S.[6]. So collectively, these guys are affecting a grand, whopping, huge 4.2 percent of the U.S. high school student population. That is right – 4.2 percent. Over 95% of the current high school students in the United States are not engaged by any of them.

Given a potential market that is 25 times larger than the entire population currently served by these programs – and remembering that it has taken nearly 20 years for them to grow just to this point – the ONLY focus that anyone should have is how to reach that larger market.

The publicly-stated goal of each of these organizations is to provide inspiration and education on STEM topics to those that have not yet "seen the light." You don’t do that by trying to convince those already converted that your particular phrasing of the message is better. You do it by reaching out to those that have never heard the message in the first place. A little less time spent on turf wars, and a little more time spent on reaching the 95% of students who are oblivious to your existence, might be wise.

FTC and VRC will both grow to fill their niches, rather than one "beating" the other, I guarantee it. My post simply outlines a likely way in which I see that happening.