I'm not so sure I've been sold on this whole secrecy idea. When I talk with other teams, I don't always voulenteer everything about the design. If they ask, however, I tell them. I tend to lean to the honesty side of this whole debate.
Really: I think that if people would stop keeping secrets, not just in FIRST but everywhere in life, people would find it much easier to co-operate and learn. Isn't the point of FIRST to inspire? Winning is great, *BUT*, that is not the sole way to inspire one's self. Last year I was on a rookie team. We seeded some 42nd out of 50. Not too great. Was I inspired? Heck yes! I'm back this year! Plese note, I'm not trying to say that winning isn't a good goal. I'm am saying, however, that using winning as a goal to the detriment of the goal of inspiration is wrong.
I urge those of you who support secrecy to think back to *your* first few years of FIRST Robotics. How did you learn what you know now? Do you honestly believe everyone should (pardon the cliche) "Re-Invent The Wheel?"
Yike, this is starting to turn in to a rant, so I had better stop there! Anyone intrested in talking FIRST Philosophy with me?
Regardless, this should be one of the most intresting threads to hit CD in a while. We'll see.
Just An Opinion...