What we expect to see from FRC/FIRST in the next 5 years

[Foster]

Originally Posted by Joe G.

I'll end with this very wise post from Mr. Dave Lavery from a few years back. Even though we've grown, it still very much applies.

FTC and VRC will both grow to fill their niches, rather than one "beating" the other, I guarantee it. My post simply outlines a likely way in which I see that happening.

Yes! Never too many Roboteers!

Along that line I'm excited about the new VEX IQ, radio controlled robots built with parts that at a distance bear a resemblance to Lego. For $300. So places that were/are under served by cost limits can now get into the game. Places that are limited by mentor skills in design and programing can now get into the game. More Roboteers!

Schools are facing a crisis with rising enrollments, plummeting budgets, teachers not being willing to put the 3.2 million hours of extra time in so after school programs suffer. So parents need to fill the gap.

I see FIRST (and RECF and the people that run all the other programs, BEST, Bunnybots?, etc) to start a 2 pronged approach:

1) Start a better innovation program with the new "soft" industries. Traditional mfg is down, there are lots of workers in the information processing companies. I have limited build skills, 2 years ago would never be able to build an FRC robot. Now with Andy Mark/IFI and others selling parts, I can take my trusty crescent wrench, two screw drivers an a ball peen hammer and off we go. This new set of parts allows FIRST to go into a "keyboard" companies and show them they can build robots too!

2) Districts, districts, districts! More competitions! Key is I think some bright person is going to figure out a way to allow cross district team events. (think Ed Law and Ether coming up with some 3D OPR calculation math magic)

Then I'm not always stuck in MAR WEST, getting crushed by Miss Daisy event after event, but I can go to MAR EAST and get stomped by the Pi-oneers as my "third district" event. Or make the big leap and go to the Toronto district and get schooled by Simbotics. Or I can stay home and drive 90 mins to my events. I get the best of districts and the adventure of travel.

More events means more robot play time for the dollar and adds value to the roboteer experience. And it also gives the public more of a chance to come see whats going on.

[Michael Hill]

I think we will eventually get into a "conference" or "league" type setup. Have an "Eastern" and "Western" (or however they decide to break it up) Conference. The top 100 teams from each conference goes to worlds making it a much smaller event with 50 teams/division instead of 100.

They could even break it up into 4 conferences (1 for each division at worlds) and the top 50 go on to worlds to compete with each other then with the other conferences.

[Dale]

There's been a few mentions of BunnyBots in this discussion which is gratifying. We've worked hard over the last five years building this program into what it is. BunnyBots is, however, very much a part of the FRC world. It's role is to be an engaging, low pressure introduction to FRC for new members in the fall by building FRC-class robots for an original game played on FRC-size fields using FRC legal parts and rules. The idea is that once you hit build season all of the team's members know what they are doing. It's been working exceptionally well in Oregon which is why other teams are exploring hosting one in their area.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Foster

2) Districts, districts, districts! More competitions! Key is I think some bright person is going to figure out a way to allow cross district team events. (think Ed Law and Ether coming up with some 3D OPR calculation math magic)

Then I'm not always stuck in MAR WEST, getting crushed by Miss Daisy event after event, but I can go to MAR EAST and get stomped by the Pi-oneers as my "third district" event. Or make the big leap and go to the Toronto district and get schooled by Simbotics. Or I can stay home and drive 90 mins to my events. I get the best of districts and the adventure of travel.

That is FIRST's plan, during partner conferences this year a group of people worked on a unified district points and advancement system. One of the goals of that system was to eventually allow playing in other districts, because they are aware that some teams like to travel outside their area to play with a greater number of teams.