[Lil' Lavery]

116 has been using removable electronics since the summer of 2004. In 2005 it was a key component in 116 winning the Xerox Creativity Award (Chesapeake), and in 2006 it was a key factor in 116 winning the Innovation in Control Award (Peachtree).

The biggest advantage was the ability to remove the electronics and work on them independently from the rest of the robot. It's quite often in the pits where some work is needed on the mechanical system and the electrical system at the same time, and the ability to remove the electronics makes it much easier as the workers won't interfere with each other as they work. Being able to work on the mechanical and electrical system simultaneously speeds up your ability to repair and modify the robot greatly.
There are several other ways it helps too. The ability to remove the electronics also means that there won't ever be a piece buried somewhere in your robot that really isn't accessible (ie that one spike that always ends up buried underneath a gearbox). You also don't have to work struggle to work through the mechanical systems to trace wires, test voltages, etc.

There are a few cons, namely that you have to buy more expensive connectors and it typically adds some weight (although, if done right, it is negligible).

My experiences with removable electronics has been very positive, and I'd highly recommend them to any team who's mastered basic electronics.