i always loved the 4 all together.. i duno i dont like how first turns more into battlebots every year..
think:
2000- needed to be able to manipulate different colored small balls in and out of trophs that were up high
2001- needed to pull around goals and put a BIG ball on top of the goals and work together with any other type of robot.
2002- Needed to be able to push ALOT and pull ALOT while just grabbing up as many balls as possible and running back to home zone.. (balls never really that important only power and speed)
2003- pure brute force was important and less precise pushing of blocks around..
maybe its just me.. but i liked when teh drivers needed to be more skilled at working together and the robots needed to be more dexterous and be able to manipulate complicated objects around.. im thinking a robot with like 12 drive motors and big $@#$@#$@# wheels would have just won this years competition no matter what..
ps- not knocking anyone just my 10 cents..(i know alot of teams build great robots that very well did manipulate the field in interesting ways to their advantage)
i think teams are able to develop robots capable of manipulating the field better and FIRST should progress to make the robots better every year, instead of turning into a sport where speed and power are the most important..
just a trend i see FIRST has started..
watch, next year we will be able to use weapons..
l8r