2012 Lesson's Learned

[LeelandS]

Something my old team does at the end of every season (After the last regional or championships) is review what to do better for next season. The whole team sits down and discusses what they liked about this year, what they didn't like, and what they think they could do better in. Though I'm not part of the team anymore, I still follow a similar habit, and review the things I've learned about robotics over the course of the season. I'm compiling all these lessons, but that's a post for another day.

So, I'm asking, what have you guys learned this year? What did you come into the season thinking, but ended the season thinking something different. This could be anything from events you went to, team organization, or robotics.

Being not on a team, here are a few of the lessons I learned about robotics:

• Don't take the type of drive system you use for granted. Consider it's effect on every aspect of the game.
• Make whatever you can multipurpose. Use all of your resources as efficiently as possible.
• Don't overburden your programming team. Having them take on two complex software projects causes those projects to come out weaker.
• When it comes to collecter mechanisms, if you are allowed to have it leave the frame perimeter, make use of that. Make it wide, and have it act as a funnel.
• Beware the center of gravity of your robot in relation to the game. Don't let it be too high if you're going to be climbing obstacles.

So what have you guys learned?