Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber
Tom, there is a difference between selling pre-built chassis and selling the optimal chassis for the game. I view it as helping out teams so they don't need to focus on that. How many teams have I watched as the struggled to move with a chassis they made themselves. Moving should (in most cases) be second on anyone's list. My generalized list would be:
-Develop strategy (auton and tele-op)
-Moving chassis
-Prototype manipulators
-Wired chassis (for programmers to start doing auton with and drivers to practice with)
-Prototype some more manipulators
-Decide on manipulator
-Build manipulator
-Mount manipulator
-Soft stops (if necessary)
-Drive practice
-Auton
I think it shows why I support teams who use pre-built chassis. If you have the resources to build a stair climbing swerve drive that is AWESOME, but I have seen too many teams struggle to move not to understand that not all teams have that sort of ability.
That being said, Tom does bring up some good points, if you see you will need 2 CIM motors in your manipulator then your drive train would need to be modified so always keep that in mind.
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Thanks for the compliment Andy. Don't get me wrong - I think what you're doing is awesome - giving people access to an absolute top of the line chassis is great. The kitbot was one step in that direction, and what you're doing is the next step for teams who are missing the time, technology, or manpower to do it all.
I just think that looking back over the last 4-5 years, the drivetrains are starting to look remarkably similar - and the bots are beginning to reflect that with more commonized parts. Even if the new game was to simply halve the allowed robot footprint, it would push innovation to begin again. But I'm getting off-course from the original topic.