[Paul Richardson]

I've seen a few responses mentioning design convergence if we were to eliminate robot bagging. While I'm not necessarily against this, I do see a way to put a bit of a damper on it. We are already required to submit a Bill of Materials, though it's not looked at too closely. If you wanted to limit in-season changes, implement a "feature-freeze" using the BOM.

Teams would submit a BOM online after 6 weeks listing the normal stuff, plus a short list of their robot's subsystems and 'Planned Additions'. These would need to be specific (say "Floor pickup for Game Piece A" and not "Change robot to be better"). Basically, you can make additions, but only if you came up with the general concept of it on your own. This doesn't really prevent copying subsystem designs so much as copying strategies.

This would not prevent can-grabbers from 2015 or minibots from 2011, because everybody would have put those things on their Planned Changes list. It was obvious from the design of the game that those mechanisms would be important. I see this as more of a game design flaw rather than something the rules need to address. Even if we had strict bag rules and no practice robots allowed, teams would just make them at competition.

This would not prevent redesigning existing subsystems (copied or otherwise). Teams routinely redesign intakes, shooters, and such, replacing their original designs under the existing withholding allowance rules. This wouldn't change.

This would prevent a team from copying something like 118's bridge hanger from 2012 (had it been legal). If you don't declare at 6 weeks that you might build a device for hanging from bridges, then you can't add it later. Similarly, probably a lot fewer teams would have had stingers.

This would also prevent a team from copying something like 71's unique drive system from 2002. A team would have to have planned to build a high traction 'walking' drive. If they simply planned to 'drive' they'd be able to change wheel types/sizes, gear ratios, and other tweaks. Switching from tank to H-drive would also need to be declared ahead of time. Teams would be limited to functionality improvements for their existing subsystems, not functionality additions.

Minor Bonus Effects: Encourages stopping design in favor of drive practice/polish, discourages overworking after 6 weeks, and encourages teams to take a better look at the rules.

My Personal Opinion: No bag, no limits. My BOM system would be harder on the bottom group of teams than the top because of the experience difference. Many teams didn't think about can-burglars at all last year because running out of cans was so far off their radar. It'd be frustrating to see all these designs you aren't allowed to build. That's not inspiring or fun.