*To start this off I believe I took my time to step back and form a very honest and true opinion of the format that FIRST follows and the general problems they seem to have. This post does not represent the views of team 151 but of a concerned participant in a competition with issues to resolve*
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Originally posted by Alavinus
The motors are donated by companies that FIRST has asked to donate. In order to keep the costs of the kit low, the motors that are used are the ones that have been donated. Unless First gets more generosity from the suppliers these are the motors that you will get.
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Bill Clinton was quoted to say that Dean Kamens energy and enthusiam about the FIRST program was the single most inexhuastable energy source this nation has. If Dean Kamen asked for more fore the FIRST program and really put his best efforts into improving the motors (while keeping the cost low)
Quote:
Originally posted by Alavinus
As for the robot's weight- Your robot does not have to be 130 lbs. That is a max, your robot could very well be thirty pounds. FIRST used to have a featherweight in the finals award. Maybe it would be a good idea for that to return.
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The biggest issue with this is that your pushing power is relative to your coefficeint of Friction and your mass IE less mass = less pushing power
Quote:
Originally posted by Alavinus
On the 24 volt system- A lot of people have been throwing that around lately and it would require a major changeover in the kit of parts. Most of the motors that we receive are designed to run off of 12 volts. Over volting the motors will make them put out more power but it will also wear out the motors much faster.
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In most other common robot applications not overvolting motors is unheard of. A motor can usually handle at least 1.5 times the voltage. Also Dewalt has 18 volt drills so Kamen could get 18 volt drill motors that can easily handle 24 volts. Also IFI already makes 24 volt products so it would be a simple change of type in the next kit.
Quote:
Originally posted by Alavinus
Also, a 24 V system could be very intimidating for rookies. After seeing some of the wiring schematics this year, I am not sure that moving up to 24 V would be a wise thing.
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As far as it being intimidating the entire thing competition can be intimidating for rookie teams. Simply changing voltage to 24 would not have a significant effect on any "intimidation" factor.
Quote:
Originally posted by Alavinus
With some of the motors pulling the juice they do, 10 gauge is not really a bad idea.
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When i was refering to the 10 gauge wire it was just using that to the globe motors which have a very much smaller gauge wire that it comes with (this wire stays there and you hook the 10 gauge to it)
Quote:
Originally posted by Alavinus
In my opinion, FIRST is more about unique design rather than brute strength. FIRST seems to prefer a mechanism that accomplishes a task in a different manner. While brute strength is always nice, it is not a necessity in FIRST competition.
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My suggestions lend more torwards a more marketable program that lends itself to higher comercial value and a faster overall growth rate. FIRST tried to get a television deal wth Viacom in like '96 (i believe that was the year) Viacom even made a pilot but decided the robots were not impressive enough and it didn't make good television. Making some of these changes would lend more torwards a comercial product which would help the over all growth of FIRST. More comercial equals more media equals more participants which is exactlly what Kamen wants.
Also, as a reminder, anything I have stated here is simply my own opinion and does not reflect the views of my team(s).