[gblake]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

I pointed this out in the other topic and one of the posts I linked above touches on it:
http://blog.idonethis.com/two-pizza-team/

I alone can build a robot with the FRC parts in my barn in less than 1 day.
Then again I have significant automation experience, deep knowledge of my tools, control over my shop and I would be answering to - well - me. I also won't make a unique website. Write a thorough business plan. Do any community outreach. Give me 10 days for that - all by myself. Heck I can create a LLC in NJ with a website in 24 hours and with what I have now be in business in <45 days complete with IRS information for that business. How? I bought all the FRC droppings off eBay. I hit the Andy Mark Tuesday 'Deals of the Day'. I've been a: FRC-mentor, CSA, FTAA, small parts, FTC-Judge, FLL-Judge. Little by little...step by step...I've made this possible. Just my professional robotics experience alone would not be enough.

Now put 75-125 students in a room who don't have intimate knowledge of: their shop, their tools, each other, the history, have to interact with the school, a control system that doesn't mirror their PC programming experience (if they have any), limited knowledge of control theory, limited funding, limited business experience....

Heck I can see a school that gets otherwise high marks for 'No Child Left Behind' not finishing a robot at all in 45 days. That's the whole point for me at least. What the schools are teaching - does not cut it. Worse no teams are more impacted than the new teams. At least after a few years with some luck most people figure out they can literally buy themselves extra time with the practice robot.

Go through the build-process once per month (August, September, October, November, December, ...) for those 75-125 students in a herd or in small groups. Re-use a single modest collection of parts and scrap lumber each month to keep costs down. Re-use past games if you need sample problems to solve.

Ask a mature team to help if your group needs a dose of wisdom.

Then use the results of your preparation/practice/training to build one or two prototypes, followed by a good-enough robot, during the 44-day build season.

After a year or two, use the parts you have accumulated to keep a driver-practice robot on-hand all 365 days of the year.

The bottom line remains that time exists, before each build season begins, to prepare the students, and that enough time exists to put that preparation to good use.

Neither the length of the build season, nor current bagging rules, prevent building second robots, or building a decent primary one with time to spare.

Blake