[Ken Leung]

Originally Posted by Amanda M

Ken, will you exlpain to me how this is going to be an issue... I am in need of a little clafirication.

And I would like to say the following. Please don't hold any of it against, me I'm not trying to be rude.

...

As I said before, do not think less of me. This is my third year on this team, and I have been educated this year, far more than the last two combined.

Putting all other issues aside, I think KenW is just trying to address the issue of the letter of the rule, and that is, the robot can only use parts build by your own team, and parts that isn't built by your own team is limited by the $3500 rule. So, it is OK if you use parts not build by your own team, as long as they are within the $3500 limit. Otherwise it is against the rules.

I have a feeling that it would've been ok if your two team designed the robot together, but manufactured it separately. After all, people use other's designs all the time. It is a part of engineering. Just look at so many teams benefiting from technokat's transmission design. But when another team is building some part of your robot for you, then it is not your work. What's made by Bellarmine is Bellarmine's work, and what's made by Kingman is Kingman's work. No matter how strong the partnership is, you are still 2 teams entering the competition under two names. But FIRST didn't say that's not allowed, they addressed this with the $3500 rule. It is ok to use parts made by others as long as you count the cost of making it. But I think that's FIRST's call. I have a feeling they haven’t considered this when they wrote the rule.

I have been there all the years when Kingman's robot designs were challenged every year. And from time to time, your team suffer not because a decision was made on the issue, but the fact that FIRST change their ruling from events to events. That is something I do not wish to see happening this year. Your team deserves a fair review and a fair decision. And you deserve that decision at ALL events. In fact, I would recommend your team talk to FIRST about this, ask them to make a decision, and make sure ALL the FIRST staffs running the regionals you are going to KNOW that decision. And make sure you get a FINAL decision from FIRST so they won’t change it.


And Amanda, I think no one who has read this thread will think less of you, or hold anything against you. You have done a tremendous job representing your team and its image. You were very well spoken in your post, and because of that, the posts I've seen in this thread is much more level-headed and thought through than most I've seen in the past. Keep up the good work. It is under these stressful times when you should keep a leveled head at all time. Be profoundly understanding of other’s point of view, but stand your ground if you believe it’s a right one. Good luck with the challenges ahead of you and your team.