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if we were to put it on, many teams would hate us because we would be using something that should be illegal. The reputation of 192 as a good, helpful team that follows the rules would be a risk. The decision to put this device on depends on what others think of this robot. We would like to do well in Florida but we do not want to lose the respect from others by using the tape measure.
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Tito,
I'm not quite sure what dilemma your team is having. It would trouble me if members of your team or any other "hate" another team period, but especially if they think a team should be "hated" or lose respect for adapting their robot to rules & updates. Do some on your team feel that the reputations as "good, helpful teams" such as 254 and other teams with tape measures, mini bots, tethers, etc...should be at risk or that other teams should not respect them? I certainly hope not.
192 is a great team, one of the best in the country - if you are able to make a tape measure work - great. If it is an improvement over what you currently use, then great - add it. That's good engineering. Your engineer contacted team 254 after the SV regional to get advice/help in adding a tape measure. The tape measure devices are more difficult to create (reliably) then people think, and 254 was happy to share everything they learned and the details of their design with your engineer - hopefully it was helpful.
Also, MOST extensions being used now were considered unusable during the 6 week build time. Tethers, cables, mini bots, tape measures, elastic, tent poles - ALL were considered "risks of entanglement" and many teams felt they would not be allowed. Tape measures are completely legal within the rules, as they are available in the Small Parts Catalog. Once tape measures and other extensions previously thought of as not usuable were allowed in the first week of regionals - MANY teams adapted and added things to their robots, and did so completely within the rules.
If 192 or any other team is able to improve their robot within the rules, you should be proud of it and do it. 192 has a great and well deserved reputation which would NEVER be hurt by better engineering their robot or doing things within the rules. Good luck in Orlando.