One thought... non-FIRSTer's dont realize how delicate these big hunks of machinery actually are. They are used to RC cars that can be run into walls, driven over sanddunes, and played with by 2-year-olds. So the concept of a big hunk of metal that you put your SOUL into for 6 weeks, but that isnt shock & vibe proof, hasnt crossed their minds!! Be wary!
Two "sorta" similar stories.
1. (my favorite): As I mention in this
Essay while I was still in HS, we were rushing around putting the robot back together before a match at championships, and before the days of the great amphenol battery connectors *gasp* (yes there was such a day!) one of our mechanical engineers threw the battery in, and wired it up backwards!! Luckily FIRST was smart enough to make us install master fuses back then, and we just blew that. But its why mechanical engineers should stick to mechanical things (and electrical engineers to electrical things!!)
2. An opposing story to what you wrote above... we gave two rookie teams robots for the Ruckus off season event, both drove the robots only once before that day... and BOTH made it into alliances opposing eachother in the finals!! Amazing job for not-yet-FIRSTers
