[PayneTrain]

The product of FIRST is not necessarily the robots. It's the teams behind the robots. FIRST wanted to expand their program almost two decades ago beyond its very narrow scope of industrial partners adopting schools and turned the relationship almost entirely upside down.

There is some sort of spectrum that every aspect of FIRST operates on. While expansion definitely has its own spectrum and I have my own opinions on it, let's talk about a side effect of the current level of expansion.

You may believe that the line has been crossed in terms of the relationship suppliers have with creating specialized products that cater to FRC teams, and you are right to have an opinion on it. One of the great things about FIRST is that I really think it can be all things to all people. The goals one team has may not just be different in sheer scope or difficulty, but may diverge at an even earlier fork in the road. Some teams do not operate under the idea that FIRST trains the next generation of engineers. Some teams recognize it as an opportunity to show kids the potential of STEM fields. Some teams find FRC to be one of the most high profile and effective programs at the high school level that can build teamwork and leadership skills. Others find it a great enabler of community service.

Sure, FIRST has a crafted mission and vision for its program, but teams should also have their own mission and vision for their own program. The meaning of participation in FIRST is whatever the participant defines it to be, which is why it can be all things for all people.

In terms of the spectrum of the relationship suppliers have with FRC teams, they really are not crossing a line for me until they are boxing up MCC kits and selling them as a separate SKU. Even then, the construction of an FRC robot can very well be a tiny fraction of the execution of the entire technical division of the team.