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I still don't like the rule. It is creating more problems than it is solving.
By making a rule that disallows repair of damaged or chronically malfunctioning mechanisms, there are going to be a lot of broken hearts.
I also don't think this is going to cut as many costs as some of you think. While there will be no more redesigning costs, some teams will forking out extra money to make spare robots and spare systems in the 6 week period so that they can continue if thier robot breaks at the regionals. This is yet another rule that favors the high budget teams.
FIRST should allow teams to reconstruct whatever is damaged or weak before the nationals but not allow redesign. I don't think this has to be monitored that closely (of course someone could go around and check up a little that the robot it pretty much the same), but if someone shows up with a totally different robot, whoever was at thier regional will undoubtedly notice and complain. With a threat of disqualification for infringing the redesign rules, I doubt many teams would even consider breaking it.
Becky
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