Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Line
The usage of school-grades as a metric is an exceedingly poor one, and it should be done by ages. At the same time, why deny high schools that may not be able to participate in FRC the opportunity to participate in FTC if they want?
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So I think that it's age / ability. Since I'm in the alternative universe of VEX (Come to the Dark Side Luke, we have cookies) the two programs are VEXIQ and VEX. I've seen younger roboteers that would be VEXIQ are bored by it and so they can do VEX. You can always move up early.
One thing that may stop younger roboteers and FRC is liability for power tool usage. When I was doing direct teams the insurance underwriter was unhappy about roboteers less than 14 using power tools. We worked out a "they will go through training and we will have proof" and they agreed to that. (And for the 4 years I only had parent/mentor injuries
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Line
Parents can afford to run an FTC team. Few could financial fund an FRC team. So you've just denied ANY participation to students whose high school/area doesn't support an FRC team.
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Right, start your own team and events. I tell parents all the time, it's cheap, start your own team. Unhappy with the events in your area, I can come with a field and game elements, run your own event. That is one of the things I love about FLL/FTC/VEXIQ/VEX, easy peasy events. There are NEVER enough competitions.
I don't live in Michigan, so I'm not going to throw rocks. But I follow the following: Don't like the rules/game?
-- Follow the rules.
-- Break the rules but be prepared
-- Make or change the game/rules and see if you can add followers
But there are a ton of really cool robotics things you can do, FIRST isn't the only robot game!