[ebarker]

maybe no one wants to hear it but i will tell a story.......

Once upon a time I fancied myself a classic guitar player, a lousy one indeed. I set off on a quest to purchase the 'perfect guitar'. I visited the classic guitar dealer and the salesman immediately spotted me, a middle aged man with money in the pocket.

So I was sat down in the showroom with attendents bring me guitar after guitar to try out. Eventually I settled on three beautiful guitars. There was no single perfect instrument. It was like having to decide between a beautiful blonde, brunette, and redhead.

All were unique, all perfect in their own way. What I really wanted was all three guitars.

Obviously the point I'm trying to make is there is no perfect robotics program. There is a best fit solution for each individual.

Setting aside the FTC/VEX debacle for the moment, there is IMHO no useful point in saying that FTC, VEX, or FRC is 'the best' in general. It depends on your specific circumstances.

My team and I do a lot of presentations and the recommendations we make differ from crowd to crowd. We ignore the fact that VEX isn't part of FIRST and make the recommendation when necessary. Ditto for FTC. FRC is what the doctor ordered for other audiences.

In other threads there are comments about the the wisdom of changing control systems in FRC. I can tell you without reservation that the control system changes has opened the doors to new and important audiences.

But the FTC/VEX debacle, that is another story.

And to put a fine point on the issue.... If your team mission is to "change culture and inspire students" then that mission trumphs a lot of things, including promoting a specific brand of robotics, or when necessary even robotics itself. We have to drink our own kool-aid and be an honest broker...

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