2012-Greater Toronto Regional East

[remulasce]

Both teams don't design and manufacture their own robots. They have professional engineers and mentors do it for them.

That's a pretty serious allegation. Do you have evidence of this, and what standard for "student designed and built" do you hold to be un-GP? I think we all agree that mentors are essential for FIRST teams, can you identify the point at which other teams no longer have an obligation to be GP to them?

I personally see no reason why teams should not get parts sent out for manufacturing. This is a robotics competition, not a metalworking competition. Every team that can get access to professional machining uses it. There's no reason not to.

Now coopertition. 2056 and 1114 always pick each other, and end up winning each time. It's not even a surprise anymore, and I doubt you feel accomplished.

To clarify: The point of this competition is to do the best. That's what motivates people. If 1114 and 2056 always pick each other, and then always win, do you think maybe the reason is because 1114 and 2056 are the best? The idea is for you to do better to beat them, not for people to actively sabotage them. 1114 and 2056 have no responsibility to pick teams they think are worse, just because those teams don't get a chance to win. There are only 3 winning slots at each competition. Nobody deserves a better chance to get them than what they get.