[Billfred]

In 2004, 1293 pretty much built on the fly. We didn't know squat about preseason mockups, what was in the kit (beyond "motors"), or planning what we were going to put on top of the robot before putting together the bottom. And the result was just as you described--a rectanglar prism with wheels and a stick it can wave around. (Although, given our 3-4-1 record at Palmetto, that was one heck of a rectangular prism with wheels and a stick to wave around.) We weren't overweight, mainly because we didn't build too much on the robot.

In 2005, we know what we're doing--but still didn't do up much in Inventor. Before Kickoff, our grand scheme was to use 8020 to build the frame, but JVN and Paul Copioli changed that plan quickly. The robot is a lot better--but we're fighting the weight war (currently losing by about five pounds).

In 2006, I suspect that 1293's Inventor folks will be sleeping as much as 1293's college student did in the late part of the 2005 build season. (I kid, I kid.)