[Matt Adams]

I guess I'd like to throw in a few comments on this...

When you look at the weight of a FIRST robot, much of the weight is non-negotiable. Things like the drive motors, battery, chain, wheels, controller, speed controllers and wiring, (and everything the electronics mount to) are all very steadfast items. Even a drive frame, in whatever form, is something that every machine must have. I think that I could conservatively say that 40 lbs of a robot is absolutely non negotiable.

With that said, adding another 10 lbs would really be like adding another 11% to your robots' weight.

And when you really think about it, there aren't a lot of teams that are at 160 lbs (after their rookie year) who are trying to cut down to 130.. they're at 136 or so trying to make it.

I think another 10 lbs would make the game a lot easier for rookie teams. I also think that the powerhouse teams would dominate that 10lbs much more than any rookie team ever could.

And hence I don't like the idea.

Matt