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Unread 26-01-2004, 22:34
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JVN JVN is offline
@JohnVNeun
AKA: John Vielkind-Neun
FRC #0148 (Robowranglers)
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Re: Robots by committee

Paul and Ken covered pretty much everything I would say, but I just have one thing to add.

In my experience, every major robot design has one "driving force" behind it. Be it one or two engineers working together on a concept. The actual robot usually ends up turning out similar to the "vision" of this "driving force".

Design by committee, hasn't worked out for me. Instead of an awesome unified robot system, you end up with a collection of systems. Sometimes they don't even integrate well together.

With one major "vision" systems can be combined, one mechanism can accomplish several goals. The collection of parts becomes -- "An elegant merging of form and function" (I love that phrase).

$.02

John
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In the interest of full disclosure: I work for VEX Robotics a subsidiary of Innovation First International (IFI) Crown Supplier & Proud Supporter of FIRST
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