[dtengineering]

While I am sure this would help some rookie teams, and it is possible that from my read of your post that I am missing some essential element of the concept... it is just that this idea seems a bit too... "cookie cutter", or homogenous, to me.

While the intent is good, each rookie team is going to have (hopefully) a different strategy in mind, and will be designing a different drive base, and hooking up their electronics in a slightly different way and slightly different location. Some may still be waiting for the wheels (or other parts) that they have ordered to arrive.

I think it is also fair to say that building the drive base is not always the time consuming part of the project... manipulators, mechanisms, and system integration and testing is. That is a somewhat more organic process that takes place over the entire build period.

Based on my experience... which may be different from yours... what rookie teams seem to appreciate most is someone who can help them out over the course of build, with ideas, insight and helpful tips. Visiting the rookies, in their shop, regularly throughout the build... and making suggestions that will help them build their design... is usually appreciated. If you can show up with a scale that can actually weigh their robot, that is often even more appreciated.

Perhaps a way to really kick-start build would be to do something like you describe... but in December, and walk rookie students through the processes of wiring, programming, and such, so that they are ready to go with their own designs.

There are certainly some teams who might benefit from what you describe (and naturally those who don't think it would be a benefit would certainly not be obliged to come), but I would be worried that it may also distract rookies from the bigger picture of building a team, and a robot as opposed to just a KoP drivetrain.

Jason