Quote:
Originally Posted by gblake
Nah. They are neither weak, nor strong. They simply are what they are; and are part of a fairly well-integrated suite of parts.
Let's not disparage or diefy other programs. Let's suggest ways to improve FIRST programs.
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If what you took from that is that I'm disparaging VEX and deifying FTC, I don't really know what to say, because the first half of that sentence is literally saying that the VEX control system is just so much easier to work with than the current FTC control system (which I previously stated has major issues). Frankly the next FTC control system should take some hints from the VEX control system and the current FRC control system, both on the physical and virtual sides.
More to the point, the VEX motors ARE weak compared to most of the allowed FTC motors and the Cortex IS weaker in processing power compared to the phones used for FTC. This isn't disparaging VEX, it's stating a simple fact. The VEX components work well in the VEX system, which is exactly what they're designed to do. In the context of comparing them to FTC, they have some clear limiting factors that allow them to be so simple.
I'm not going to claim to be an expert on the engineering aspects of the FTC control system (though I spent an entire season as a CSA and FTA dealing with its massive issues), but the main point here is that future FTC control system rollouts need to be handled with the same care given to the FRC system rollout-- that includes beta and alpha testing with actual teams, and better communication about future changes. The way this last system rolled out rubbed a lot of people (myself included) the wrong way.