[ManicMechanic]

The FVC bundle kit is a bargain, and I'm not complaining about the price or the components. But I think there are ways to make it even more useful to a startup team.

First, I would take out the extra transmitter -- with only 3 motors, one seems like plenty, and if you get a bundle kit 2 years in a row, you have 4 transmitters, which is really overkill (while 2 kits for a team is NOT overkill). By the time you add in the extra motors, gears, metal, etc. that would justify a second transmitter, you might as well buy another starter kit, which would give an extra microcontroller, adding flexibility -- it could be used for a second robot while students are in the learning stage. During competition, the small kit could be cannibalized for parts.

I would use the savings on the transmitter to add in:

an extra motor (or 2)
a gear kit (or 2)
a few more 12" square bars (in addition to the extra metal already included)
a few more 15" angle bars
a few more shaft collars
an extra PWM extension cable (or 2)
a pair of omniwheels


In addition to the bundle kit, I have a wishlist for Vexlabs to market:

1) A variety pack of PWM cables (one each of 6", 12", 18" and 24"). As it is, you have to buy 4-packs of all the same length.
2) Separate battery packs for 7.2 v or 9.6 v (able to buy, say the 7.2 v pack only) without the charger. Batteries tend to die more quickly than chargers, and a 2nd battery is essential if you don't want to wait 2 hours every time it runs down.
3) FVC compliant nylon rope (I know it's a little thing, but I've had a hard time finding it at local stores, and it would be nice to add it to the shopping cart along with non-skid material to save time).

What would you add?