Innovations

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by dmitch

I am a third-year member of team 1997, located in Roeland Park, Kansas. Throughout my years I have seen a lot of great robots but nothing I would describe as truly revolutionary. So I was wondering what all anyone has seen that has been implemented on a robot, and went on to change the way that we compete in FIRST robotics.

Basically, what are the innovations that changed the game?

In my mind:

-Dr. Joe and the Chief Delphi swerve of 2000: One of the earliest, if not the earliest FRC swerves (and most successful of its day). Back then, allowed materials were infinitely more stringent than today--to pull this off was amazing.

-The 2005-spec Kitbot, a collaboration of JVN (frame) and Paul Copioli (gearbox): in one season, these guys changed what you got in the kit from a set of box tubing that required at least some welding and probably some milling to something a group of students could bolt together in an afternoon. Also one of the earlier coming-out parties for sheet metal in FRC robots.

-The TechnoKats dog-shifting 2-speed for two reasons: In the early 2000s, they threw the drawings on ChiefDelphi for all to see--one of the earliest examples of teams sharing designs freely. After the 2004 season, a commercialized version of this gearbox became the original AndyMark Shifter, which in and of itself changed the game by making it possible for just about any team that wants it to shift.

-From a different end of the spectrum: Team Hammond's 2002 robot. Those silver rectangular pieces on the end of their robot (that would hit the floor) contained file cards that allowed them to shuffle forward with all three goals but dig in when pushed backward. The result was one of the most dominant robots in FRC history--it took SPAM bending their rear axle in the Championship finals to sideline them, but their partners were able to close the deal. The rough treatment that their and other metal traction devices gave the carpet led FIRST to ban them in 2003 and onward.

I'm sure my list is woefully short--others will fill in too.