[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Abra Cadabra IV

I very much agree with all your points. Vex was making things too easy. I'm not saying that the new kit doesn't need better or more varied parts, I'm saying that there were too many easy solutions the old way. Case in point: tank tread conveyor belts. Designing a conveyor belt this year took lots more creativity and engineering than did last year, and I'm absolutely sure that FIRST did that on purpose.

Carrying this argument to its logical conclusion, FRC is the worst of all because of its almost unlimited parts choices. You want tank treads? Just buy a set meant for a snow blower. You want a chain? Just buy one out of the McMaster catalog. Building an FRC robot is way too boring -- all the parts are out there just waiting to be bought.

I reject this argument. I prefer the kit to offer a selection of the sorts of parts available in the real mechanical and electrical worlds so that our students get to experience typical mechanisms scaled for the competition.