[Foster]

I agree with the comment that none of the FIRST robots have pushed what could be done from a computing standpoint. But I applaud the people that are trying to push the edge with other languages, co-processors, other sensors, etc. From everything they learn pushes all of us along.

I'm working on a Vex based robot for a mini-DARPA road like challenge. One thing we want to use is a GPS to figure out where we are and where to go next. Rather than tying the main processor up talking to the GPS and doing the calculations, we are going to move it to a second Vex controller. The two controllers will talk across a serial connection. This knowledge will help other teams that want to do co-processors.

So don't discard the efforts in Python or OOCobol or additional hardware, next year YOU might be using that neural net interface to find the IR beacon.