[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by pacoliketaco

I read most of this thread already, and as soon as i saw the picture, i was practically disappointed. I know that is not a very nice thing to say, but i dont see this at all to be in the spirit of FIRST. as far as i can see, swerve drive is very complex, and should only be attempted by teams with the capabilities to make one themselves.

Want to wind your own motors?

Cut your own sprockets and gears?

Build your own computer?

Design your own ASICs? (FPGAs are too "COTS.")

Mine your own copper ore, refine it, and draw your own wire?

There is nothing mystical here. Some parts are in the KOP, others are available commercially, and some have to be custom-made. There is nothing magical about any of those categories, and the appropriate allocation of parts across those categories is whatever the GDC says it is. There is no revealed truth here -- just various mechanical and electrical bits and strategies for their acquisition or construction.