[Ebolagirl]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I know BEST has done such a thing in their game a year or two.

BEST has done stationary robots for the past two years. http://www.capitol-best.org/home.php We compete in BEST, and frankly I don't think stationary robots would work for FIRST. Teams in BEST came up with some amazing, amazing designs that completed the tasks super efficiently. But it almost seemed as if the stationary tasks were too "easy" because the number of high scoring teams was much larger the two years that they have done stationary robots than in years past. Because of this "the heat of competition" is reduced to something more like a simmer, especially this year.

My teammates and I have thought about the possibilities of stationary robots, we've even poked fun at the thought of aquatic or hover bots. But in all reality I don't think stationary is the way for FIRST to go. The challenge of designing a drive train, then actually operating it in competition along with designing and operating a manipulator simultaneously adds and extra challenge to the competition that a stationary robot cannot provide without very meticulous designing of the game.

I will be interesting though to see what FIRST comes up with. Who knows, they may unveil a super innovative stationary game...