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Unread 28-08-2008, 07:32
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GeorgeTheEng GeorgeTheEng is offline
Former Lord of the Vex
AKA: George Marchant
FRC #0087 (Red Devils)
Team Role: Mentor
 
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Re: [FTC]: Tetrix structural components @ Pitsco

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Needel View Post
Maybe I am mistaken but wasn't the original idea of FTC to be the low cost prototyping for FRC?
Actually no. The original purpose behind the program was to be act as a program with less barrier to entry. Not just lower* cost, but also requiring less resources and reducing the need for large numbers of mentors. Here I'm talking specifically the FTC program, not the Vex kit (2 different things entirely).

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Needel View Post
Also it would be interesting to see what new accessories they come out with, as right now they don't have some of the things I know I would need for a competitive robot ( rack and pinion for example)
Interesting, but consider that for the 2 years of FTC (or FVC at the time) those things didn't exist for Vex either and teams made very competitive robots.

While I agree that some of this is expensive, before deciding too many things (like number of teams you can support) wait for the rules to be published. I don't think anyone outside FIRST HQ and the FTC GDC know for certain whether extra parts will be allows and if so what kind of rules govern them. There could always be discounts or bundles offered to teams. I'm not saying any of this may happen, but I'd tend to hold judgement until we know for certain.


* Note: I specifically chose "lower" instead of "low". "Low" is subject to vastly different opinions. "Lower" in relation to FRC is easier to quantify and justify.
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George Marchant - Lockheed Martin Engineer & General Nut Case
FIRST Credentials: Team 87 Mentor | Former Director FIRST Vex Challenge
NJ FIRST Planning Committee Member & NJ FVC Committee Member
Philadelphia Alliance Regional Corporate Advisory Board Member |
FRC and FTC volunteer at too many places to list (NJ, VA, DE, PA, NY, Championship)|


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