Quote:
Originally Posted by GeorgeTheEng
Hmm, honestly I disagree with this. Engineering isn't about reinventing the wheel. It's about doing things effectively, efficiently, and with the best design to meet the needs.
My feeling is that if it meets the needs and it is cost effective then use it. Spend the time you would have done making another part of the robot better, developing better code to control the arm, or working on more sophisticated strategies.
Most highly complex systems are currently build from a majority of of off the shelf parts with a minimal amount of custom parts and software to tie it together.
Using it and figuring out to best use it are two different skills.
|
You really think that? If so, then why are there huge arguments about Gracious Professionalism and about mentor/engineer built robots? If its made ina factory should you be allowed to use it? Would you use a prebuilt arm for FRC if you were allowed to? And if yes (unless you can't afford to build your own) then I think that that's really just sad.
Also, what if a team can't buy the VEXplorer kit due to a small budget such as most FVC teams? Frankly, I don't see why using it should be allowed. I'm with fredliu on this one.