The 6 Week Build Season and 'Mentor Burnout'

[Nate Laverdure]

Originally Posted by EricH

So, let's assume that on 12/1/2013, FRC says "OK, folks, your base size for the year is a 160" frame perimeter, bumpers are between 2 and 10 inches, and you can start work NOW. The rest of the rules will be at your regularly scheduled Kickoff. Good Luck!" For the sake of example, I'll assume that the Kitbot/PDV option is applied such that the team will receive the Kitbot early in December, say as close as possible to 12/1.

I had a similar idea back in 2007 (I keep things like this in my "Bad Predictions" file):

Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure

Idea: Extend the build season by a week, and then kick off the competition in phases. My sample build season schedule:
Week 0 Sat -- Release VKoP; manual sections released: Communication, Team Organization, At the Events, Robot Transportation, The Awards, The Tournament, The Robot, Kit of Parts
Week 1 Ongoing -- Several game hints are released throughout the week
Week 1 Sat -- Kickoff presentation @ Manchester NH; game simulation released; manual sections released: The Arena, The Game
Week 2 Tue -- Supplemental KoP items may now be purchased and ordered
Week 2 Sat -- Physical KoP arrives; robot components may now be fabricated
...
Week 8 Tue -- Shipping!

That thread has some other relevant thoughts in it, also. It was about creating ways to force teams to design and THEN build, which I think is very relevant to the problem of build-season burnout.

Keep going with this thread-- the discussion is very valuable.