What do YOU want in the Kit of Parts?

[Lil' Lavery]

Globe Motors

[IKE]

Allow larger quantities of whichever motor is allowed possibly with a maximum overall limit. This would allow for better standardization and fewer spares. Larger servos.

I am hoping to get a 12V _18V powertool allowance. This would allow the usage of any 12-18V cordless powertool as a motor and gearbox. Hopefully this would create better options for mechanisms, and reduce some of the supply side burden for companies like banebots. Plus there are many great little gearboxes for cordless scredrivers and drills that currently require removing 1 550 motor to install a "legal" 550 motor.

[Boe]

How about a van door and some fisherprice 0673's. Actually more motors in general would be nice. Also more victors would help a lot, and maybe a radio. (basically any electronics that we need on a yearly basis, no more cannibalizing old robots)

[MattC9]

Assortment of gear boxes??? Maybe banebots per chance? I would love for the kit to come with 1 or 2 BB gear boxes.
Battery charger in veteran kit, you can never have to many Battery's charging at once.

[CalTran]

To everyone who answered a variety of motor controllers (victors please) plus the assortment of other electronics - I agree. That would be quite appreciated. Although helpful, I do see how it would be difficult, as victors run $84 a pop, and d-links running $80... but who wouldn't want to see a bunch of high schoolers smile

[Meshbeard]

More Victors please.

[Bryce Paputa]

More victors would be cool, and maybe less jaguars. Of course there are other teams that would say the exact opposite, so maybe an option to get a kit with victors only or one with jags only? I guess this is what FIRST Choice is for

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Globe Motors

Is there something unsatisfactory about the AndyMark PG-71?

I agree Globes were great, but I think PG-71s are better. Easier to mount things to their shafts, slightly more metal mass to absorb heat, and very similar characteristics for power and efficiency.

More CIM motors (still gonna use them for the drive )
More victors (we spent more money on victors last year than any other part)
More batteries are always a blessing

[rachelholladay]

Alright lets see if we can summarize the input from thus far.. (That way Marina, myself and the other DL winners have a better chance of remembering everything)

- Improved / standardized motor mounting and chain equipment
- More victors and jaguars (although heavy emphasis on victors)
- More vouchers to companies like AndyMark, Banebots, Digikey, McMaster Carr, Home Depot
- Less fans or more useful ones
- Battery for Radio, more robot batteries and battery charger for veterans
- Microcontrollers for testing items
- A larger and more varied motor selection (including but not limited to Globe, van door, fisherprice 0673's, cordless powertool, AndyMark PG-71) especially allowing for CIMs on the robot
- More electronics in general
- The old compressor
- More PWMs and of varying lengths
- Game pieces if they are specialty
- FIRST advertising print material, i.e. brochures, stickers, etc

So far there is mixed opinion on software distribution. And FIRST has signed a contract with NI to use the cRIO through either 2014 or 2015 (my memory lapses..) so you won't see it replaced in till then at the earliest.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Richard

Is there something unsatisfactory about the AndyMark PG-71?

I agree Globes were great, but I think PG-71s are better. Easier to mount things to their shafts, slightly more metal mass to absorb heat, and very similar characteristics for power and efficiency.

We didn't end up using the PG-71 last year, and the biggest reason I love the Globe Motor was reliability. No offense to the fine folks at AndyMark, but I'll only believe any motor is as reliable as that work horse of a motor when I see it.

[IndySam]

Just an old man $0.02 on the list.

Globe motors are done, no point in asking for them. The PG71 is a great alternative and you can bet AM will be providing more options for these in the coming season to make you forget the globe ever existed.

Last year was the most quantity and most diverse motor selection we have ever had and you guys want to ask for more

We would all like more speed controllers, batteries and chargers, maybe it would be wise to ask for these all to be in FIRSTchoice for those who would like to select which speed controllers they want or maybe chargers or batteries instead.

I have no idea why anyone would want that heavy old compressor over the new one, please don't ask for it to come back.

Always can use more game pieces but they were available in FIRSTchoice last year and I was shocked that every team didn't choose them.

The FIRST advert/info is a great idea and every team should get a bunch in every kit.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by IndySam

I have no idea why anyone would want that heavy old compressor over the new one, please don't ask for it to come back.

Some of us have more weight to spare and less tolerance for an overheating compressor.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Some of us have more weight to spare and less tolerance for an overheating compressor.

Well we have used the small one for two years and never had a single problem with it and I challenge you to find many teams that use more pneumatics that us.

[apalrd]

A couple of notes:

-Like others have said, we find ourselves turning down the window motor couplers in various ways every year. We almost always end up turning down the funny tapered shaft to be straight round, and using a plastic bushing to support the other end of the coupler. We then usually turn down the coupler to allow us to use the smallest size of AM plate sprocket without the chain hitting the coupler, and drill more mounting holes for the sprocket. Specifically, things I would change to make the coupler more generic and useful:
--Change the shaft size to 1/2" or 3/8", possibly keyed or hexed.
--Outer portion of the shaft coupler should be a standard size and straight (not tapered), allowing a team to use a plastic bushing to support that end of the coupler
--Change the bolt pattern to 1.875" #10 6-bolt circle
--Change the outer diameter of the part so you can use the smallest AM sprocket (32t for 25 chain) without turning down the part

-I really like Victors.

Suggestions:
-Move everything except the required electrical components and CIM motors to FIRST Choice. Possibly throw in some of the strange new motors as well, but the 550 and Window motors are good candidates for outsourcing to AM or Banebots, with provisions for every team to get the legal amount via FIRST Choice and buy more from Andy/Banebots.

-Release all software prior to kickoff, via download. With the changes that are made to the library every year, it would be very nice to not have to learn all of them in the days following kickoff, or waste many hours installing LV on all of the team computers after kickoff. Leave out the vision examples if you want, but provide them separately (as a ZIP of just the vision files, not as part of the library or other example code)