Quote:
Originally Posted by fox46
I think this new rule with respect to demonstrations violates FIRST's own "third party observer" rule. How would you explain it to your grandmother that you can't keep working on or testing the robot because it's beyond "stop build day" and in its bag...... Then you turn around and unbag it to drive it around. I miss the days when a FedEx truck would show up and take the robot away from you. Much less chance for teams to pull post-stop-build-day shenanigans.
Seems like FIRST is getting easier and easier every year. All you really need to do this year is pick-up and throw a ball- half of the robot pictures I've seen on CD here look identical. The only real part of the robot being built anymore is the frame which holds all the COTS items together and even those can be purchased "off the shelf". (Veterans- remember trying to mount drill motors? Or having a 20000RPM motor with no clue how to use it?) Between the number of COTS items available from awesome vendors like AM and VEX, three different groups posting videos and instructions within the 1st week on "how to build your aerial ascent robot", the ever-increasing withholding allowances, being allowed to unbag in order to drive your machine around... Yes it is his 10th demonstration this week but no no grandma- I assure you our driver isn't getting any experience. Anyone know where to get more lockup tags? 
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I know right! This is going to make things so much more unfair. What if one team likes to gain more recognition for STEM than all the others, does that mean they have a right to get more driver practice? I guaruntee you that all the teams that do this are just going to abuse it to get in like 2 more hours of drive time, because they aren't graciously professional. Now I'm going to have less of a shot a winning, because I try to do things the right way...
Oh wait. It's not about winning. Oops.