Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Needel
Change is scary, more now then in other situations. ... If I am interpreting this email blast correctly it leads me to believe that the RC, OI, Victor, Spike, Arena Controller, and field control software will be all be gone.
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Maybe not the field control software. I agree it appears that we'll be getting a new arena controller, RC, OI, motor controller, and relay for the 2009 season. The 2007 FMS is a major improvement over what we had; it should be improved further, not scrapped.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Needel
Now I do see the potential for this change which will enable established teams to do more with their robots, but my doubts stem from the rookie teams of 2009 and on. Rookie teams need support from veterans which will be a seemingly impossible task if everyone is in the dark. Utilities like easyC and the WPI libraries will all have to be redone. I know that there is better technology out there which could make things easier but how much harder will it be to run an event when the bugs are still being worked out.
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I agree there will probably be slowdown in new team development by existing teams; that may be offset by team development through new channels if the new control system offers a signficant reduction in learning curve.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Needel
I am happy that they decided to give this development over one year but it concerns me that FIRST might have cut their nose off to spite their face by locking themselves into a new system which as of now is probably just on the drawing board or early stages of development. I just hope that the people who make decisions know what they are doing in this situation.
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I hope so too.
Announcing the schedule for introducing the new system is really the only way FIRST can drive this to happen. 2009 will be a challenging target. I'm just happy that FIRST recognized they can't realistically introduce a new system sooner.
Yes, change is scary; however, this change can and should be a good thing. Many present FIRST participants and volunteers have skills and experience that enable them to help FIRST make that happen; I sincerely hope that potential will be recognized and used effectively.
__________________
Richard Wallace
Mentor since 2011 for FRC 3620 Average Joes (St. Joseph, Michigan)
Mentor 2002-10 for FRC 931 Perpetual Chaos (St. Louis, Missouri)
since 2003
I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.
(Cosmic Religion : With Other Opinions and Aphorisms (1931) by Albert Einstein, p. 97)