[EricH]

Originally Posted by boiler

For teams fortunate enough to do so, building two robots is certainly beneficial.

Definitely the case here. 330 built one in three weeks, even before the decision on how to work ramps was reached. (Accomodations were made in case we wanted to use them. We didn't.) The remaining three were spent in refining the design to perfection. Everyone was happier--programmers could test auto modes, drivers could practice, engineers could make small modifications quickly. Then, when we traveled, we took apart the running gear of the practice robot and removed the arm and brought those with us for spare parts. (Which is where our spare arm came from on Einstein.)

Four uses of practice robots: Concept check, program test, driver practice, and spare parts (if you do it right). Keeping your real design semi-secret at pre-ship events is another advantage--unless you do really well!