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Unread 28-02-2004, 13:21
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Re: [moderated] Collaboration

With the collaboration issue now ruled on it will open up a new can of worms. I can't help but agree with everyone a little on this subject. Yes its a hard feat to accomplish, Yes if you build Identical robots its 50% the strategy, and yes you have to work hard at the infustructure to pull it off.

But now picture with me if you will. Teams will soon realize that to have any chance at winning it is almost nescessary to form some sort of alliance or a super-alliance. Everyone seems to believe that this would be a nearly impossible feat to accomplish, but think with me for a second. What if remote kickoff's turned into nearly ":Alliance Summits". Each team in the alliance ( maybe every team within 60 miles which in certain areas could be as many as 40 or more teams! )

Team sends delegates, maybe 2 mentors and 2 students to meet. Then those delegates present their ideas for strategies on the game. Depending on the game 2 or 3 different robots will chosen to be designed. Alliance appointed heads would then brake off and coordinate with each group to make robots that worked perfectly together. For instance, this year, if a 1 of the robots did the hanging and another robot latched on to it to hang. Or 2 years ago in 2002 2 robots latching onto eachother forming a super bot to push everyone and everything off the field. The possibilities are endless.

Each team leaves the summit with the plans in hand and begin building their bot. Now they only have to collaborate with the 8 or so teams that are building the same robot those 8 robots which work perfectly with another 8 robots, which in turn also can work perfectly with another 8 robots.

Regionals turn into basically giant practice matches, and with that many robots, the possibility that you would get a pair at nationals is huge.

Now this example is blown way out of proportion. But even if it is done with 2 or 3 teams. The odds of 1 of those teams to get into top 8 are pretty great. ( Even if they don't get into the top 8, what team in their right mind would not want to pick the 2 super alliance bots )They then pick the rest of the alliance to work with. Teams then start dominating regionals, which are quite possibly the most integral part of FIRST. Many smaller teams that make up the majority of FIRST would be discouraged from coming back, because the way they see it, the regional level is they only place they can win. But now they are dominated by super-allainces who rejoice in collaborated winning.

I am not worried about identical robot collaboration even tho it seems a bit unfair. I realize that 60 and 254 would have produced amazing robots anyways. Infact I never was upset with either of these teams.

I am worried about what ELSE can come from collaboration. Because FIRST ruled that teams can work like this together. This rulings allows teams to work together how I described. It gets rid of the uniqeness of FIRST, and creates a bland mediocrity in which superbly built robots crush the little guy. I've always enjoyed seeing 950 different robots every year. Now I imagine in the future I'll have to look forward to seeing 600 or 425, or 300, or 150.

However I still believe FIRST gave just reason for their rulling, so this is why I'll be doing a lot of talking regional events. Making friendships that hopefully will begin to form great partnerships. Now I could be wrong, the masses of FIRST might decide against such a route.

However I will not sit quietly and let my team or friends teams be pushed out of the competitive aspect of FIRST. I will take FIRST's descision and run with it. Even if it begins to make my worst FIRST nightmare a reality. I stand behind it and will work hard and continue to promote FIRST in its new avenue, where ever it may take us.
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