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Originally Posted by Descartes
...We had probably the best autonomous at Nationals last year...
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Wasn't at Houston last year, so I can't comment with first hand knowledge, but I don't think that this statement would hold up to a popular vote of those that were there.
More importantly, my continued point is not that teams cannot possibly make a competitive robot with out making two robots, IT IS POSSIBLE. Is it likely? I think not.
Here is an analogy: Is it possible that a team than uses nothing but wood and glue for their robot makes a competitive robot? Yes, it is possible. Is it as likely to as a team with assess to aluminum and welding? Definitely not.
I mean no insult to teams that don't build a second robot. My point is that FIRST needs to really think about what they are doing with the autonomous mode. The proof of the pudding is in the tasting. I would guess that prior to last year, fewer than 1 team in 20 made a substantially identical 2nd robot. Last year, I suppose that number jumped to something like 1 in 10. This year, I suppose that number is closer to 1 in 5.
I cannot stress enough how strongly I feel that this is not good for FIRST in the long run. It is a waste of resources, it stretches out the season, it wears out the worker bees on the teams and it adds very little if anything to the mission of FIRST.
Autonomous mode should be removed. There I said it and I am not sorry.
Joe J.