Sustainability - 2014 - COTS parts

[Foster]

One of the constant threads here on CD, and in the competitive robotics world, is the sustainability of teams. We have great plans, we will change the world, we get some money, we get roboteers involved, we play, we get crushed, we do a second year, we get crushed, everyone is disenfranchised, things fall apart ....

We've all seen this or have lived this. We track teams through the data (thanks Mark for your magic): birth, life for a year or two, death.

The purpose of this note is to ask about the sustainability of teams with the new COTS parts. Great teams have closed due to the loss of the lead / major sponsor. But most teams have closed because of the technology. They build crappy robots and loose interest.

I'd like to look back 5 years (don't want to back to the early days of "we had corn to drive on and we were happy to have it") of the technology, and forward to the next few years. I've watched/been part of the advance of commercial off the shelf parts (yay Smallparts!) in the last few years. IFI controls, Kitbot, Kitbot+, all of the AndyMark parts, Banebots, NI, new AndyMark, VEXPro line, assorted "maker parts" new NI controls, etc.

Last years epiphany was the multiple "robots in less time than you can imagine". Robots by the 3 days guys, IFI/VEX engineers and others. COTS, lots of smarts and *poof* there is a competitive robot. Teams followed that lead. And at events, there were no longer "deadbots" but robots that moved and scored. While some derided the clone bots, there were teams that would not have been competitive, were a good asset in alliances and overall had a good season.

So this bring me to my point (finally!!), does the huge improvement in COTS parts improve the possibility of improved sustainability? While FIRST has never been about building a robot, does the ability for new teams to use COTS part and build a successful robot get them on the path of being sustainable?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Foster

So this bring me to my point (finally!!), does the huge improvement in COTS parts improve the possibility of improved sustainability? While FIRST has never been about building a robot, does the ability for new teams to use COTS part and build a successful robot get them on the path of being sustainable?

Has that ability of new teams to use COTS parts been improved?

That's my question. I think the improvement in COTS parts, and demonstrations of their proper use, has potentially improved sustainability. That hasn't been shown yet for sure, though--we'll see in a couple of years.

But can a new team obtain those high-quality, with a price to match, parts? That's a tougher question. I'm definitely not saying the price is too high, or that they aren't worth the investment. But trying to convince a rookie team with limited funds to plop down the money for some of those COTS parts is going to be like pulling teeth! The Kitbot has improved, true, but still, it's generally near the bottom end of the useful COTS spectrum (not that that end is all that low!)

And you still have to use the parts properly. That's even trickier.

[magnets]

Having moved from team to team, I've noticed that teams that end don't end because they get discouraged from loosing. I've been with a team that built a box on wheels and only won one match, but we still had an awesome time, and the kids couldn't wait to play next year. I've also been with a team where we became quite competitive one year, winning our regional, but then not competing next year to the lack of interest. Teams quit because they either cannot get funding, permission from school, a place to work, mentors.... or because the students just aren't into it. If you don't have a group of 3 or 4 super dedicating team-running students, or if you don't have a few mentors who really love the team and inspiring students, then there's a good chance that your team might not last long.

That being said, it is much easier to rope newer students in when you can demonstrate a robot other than a box on wheels. Also, I've noticed that in the past 5 years, there's been a HUGE increase in how much students care about winning. Sure, the teams were always SUPER competitive, but when we lost, we weren't mad, and we still had fun even if not everything worked out perfectly on the robot.

I believe the quantity, quality, pricing, and availability of COTS components for competitive robotics teams directly correlates to the sustainability and success of many teams.

For example, our offseason robot was 80% COTS parts, and it was one of the best robots we've ever made in regards to what we had to work with. Because of all of the COTS components, we were able to put the robot together with very few meeting opportunities, very little machining resources, a small amount of time, and a small team of students. The only thing that held us back at competition was a terribly mounted pneumatic cylinder (which I take the blame for) that kept falling off. Everything else worked flawlessly and beautifully, and more importantly, the reliability and success of the COTS components inspired my students to utilize more COTS components in the future as well as got them excited for the new season.

With all the amazing COTS parts available to teams, I'd say a team is at a disadvantage if they *don't* abuse the COTS opportunities available to them, especially with the new VEXPro lineup coming Wednesday, which I'm sure will only prove this statement further.

With this improvement to the average team's success, the average team is going to be more inspired to continue on in FIRST, and will feel more capable of their abilities to design competitive robots regardless of resources, which will definitely keep them in the game for longer.

[SenorZ]

I think it helps a lot. Instead of seeing just the superbots made by the power teams, new teams and low funding teams can see what everybody else is doing with materials at hand.
The 3 Day Robot might have inspired a lot of clones, but the students doing the building were still inspired! And that's the most important part.

A side question: do the power teams like this too? If there are fewer teams DOA during matches it is easier for the we-need-to-go-undefeated teams to get wins/points.

[Qbot2640]

I'm not sure I really understand the focus of this thread. There has been so much talk lately about COTS parts, and I really can't see how these parts are making that significant of a difference. The real difference, from my perspective, is something like a "virtual prototyping" that is being done through videos...and whether the source of those videos is the Robot in Three Days project, other teams showing their accomplishments early in the build season, or just similar systems that clever teams find doing searches - the information is going to be out there.

Unless I missed the Andymark item "Frisbee Shooter Assembly" or the Vex "Pyramid Climber Mechanism" it still looks to me like teams have to cut and shape and drill and screw - there's no COTS short cut for that.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

I'm not sure I really understand the focus of this thread. There has been so much talk lately about COTS parts, and I really can't see how these parts are making that significant of a difference.

How long have you been with FRC? Ten years ago, the list of off-the-shelf gearboxes was essentially DeWalt drills. Omniwheels were totally custom components. If you've only seen the program in action for a few years, you don't have a long enough view to understand how significant the existence of robotics-focused suppliers is for most teams.

Being a part of the team which was essentially the launching pad for AndyMark gives me a different perspective on things, to be sure.

[DampRobot]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

I think it helps a lot. Instead of seeing just the superbots made by the power teams, new teams and low funding teams can see what everybody else is doing with materials at hand.
The 3 Day Robot might have inspired a lot of clones, but the students doing the building were still inspired! And that's the most important part.

A side question: do the power teams like this too? If there are fewer teams DOA during matches it is easier for the we-need-to-go-undefeated teams to get wins/points.

I wouldn't call us a "power team," but we had a few matches in the offseason that we needed to win to go undefeated. I'd say unless a team were a team with "rookie-ish" resources that ended up building a quite good bot (like 2813), we cared far more about the strength of their drivetrain and drivers than their shooter (which is what Ri3D likely effected the most). Auto shots were basically the only other thing on their robot that was important, even hanging wasn't that important.

If we were with 41xx and 43yy against an alliance with a few good bots, we'd (ideally) want them to make their auto shots, and then go right to preventing the opposing robots from getting from their feeder station to their pyramid. Even then by hanging, these robots could add more to our alliance by shutting down other teams that trying to score. If they tried to cycle, they probably wouldn't score more than a handful of discs and would likely just get in our way.

I don't doubt that Ri3D has made rookies more competitive, I just don't really care about how good their manipulator is (as long as we've got a much better one). If I want to win my next match with two rookie teams, I'd much rather the kitbot get a lot better (like, 4 CIMs in the KOP and a non-floppy frame) than have Ri3D improve their scoring mechanisms.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

How long have you been with FRC? Ten years ago, the list of off-the-shelf gearboxes was essentially DeWalt drills. Omniwheels were totally custom components. If you've only seen the program in action for a few years, you don't have a long enough view to understand how significant the existence of robotics-focused suppliers is for most teams.

I remember in 2003 or 2004, someone at HQ decided to show how easy to assemble the kit drivetrain was. Bear in mind that the Kitbot did not debut until 2005. They had a small group of average Joes assemble it during Kickoff in another room. The problem was... All 3 or so of them had advanced degrees, and as I recall, they didn't actually get it driving. No joke.

In 2005, there were a lot fewer immobile robots, something about a pretty bulletproof transmission and an easy-to-assemble frame included in every KOP. AndyMark also started at about that time, so more teams were able to get shifters and omni wheels. (AndyMark has since grown, to say the least.)

[Justin Montois]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

Unless I missed the Andymark item "Frisbee Shooter Assembly" or the Vex "Pyramid Climber Mechanism" it still looks to me like teams have to cut and shape and drill and screw - there's no COTS short cut for that.

I completely agree. Most of the COTS items available are for drivetrain components. Most teams can now at least drive. And sure, COTS components and community resources have helped on that front.

However, the main reason teams exist for a year or two and then get discouraged and fold, is they simply don't have the experience to tell themselves they need to limit themselves. It doesn't seem to matter how often we talk about 'building within your means' and 'have an appropriate understanding of your teams resources' it doesn't seem to get through.

Looking at 2013 for example, if you're a rookie team and you see the pyramid, you might have an understanding for it's difficulty but not nearly the understanding that a 5, 10 or 15 year team does. So they try it, and in most cases fail. They don't have the experience to recognize how difficult some tasks are.

It's like applying for a credit card and you get declined because you don't have a credit history. A vicious cycle.

A possible solution (there are many), is during the presentation of the game at kickoff, FIRST should specifically outline that some of the tasks in the game are meant for teams that are new or lacking resources. This might limit the amount of teams that attempt strategies that are way outside their teams ability....which seems to lead to discouragement....which may lead to the team folding.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Justin Montois

Most of the COTS items available are for drivetrain components.

I'd call them powertrain components. Things like planetary gearboxes tend to be useful more for manipulators than for driving, for example.

Originally Posted by Justin Montois

However, the main reason teams exist for a year or two and then get discouraged and fold, is they simply don't have the experience to tell themselves they need to limit themselves.

Wasn't there a recent survey/study that suggested the principal reason for new teams folding after a year or two was lack of funding? I don't think discouragement is all that big a factor -- many of the people I talk to say that a "bad" year is more likely to encourage them to try harder the next time.

[Justin Montois]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

I'd call them powertrain components. Things like planetary gearboxes tend to be useful more for manipulators than for driving, for example.

You're right. That's why I said most components, Not all.

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Wasn't there a recent survey/study that suggested the principal reason for new teams folding after a year or two was lack of funding? I don't think discouragement is all that big a factor -- many of the people I talk to say that a "bad" year is more likely to encourage them to try harder the next time.

While I'm sure funding is an issue, the focus of this thread seems to be on the competitive aspect of FRC, not all of FRC in general.

I also completely disagree with the notion that there is somehow a lack of trying that's contributing to the downfall of some teams and somehow failure will encourage them to "try harder". Let's stop promoting failure as the means of motivation to getting teams to a higher level.

In most cases, these teams work very hard, they just choose something outside of their ability. A little assistance focusing these teams on appropriate strategies in the first few years is a good thing.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by EricH

I remember in 2003 or 2004, someone at HQ decided to show how easy to assemble the kit drivetrain was. Bear in mind that the Kitbot did not debut until 2005. They had a small group of average Joes assemble it during Kickoff in another room. The problem was... All 3 or so of them had advanced degrees, and as I recall, they didn't actually get it driving. No joke.

Your memory is pretty good. That was the 2004 Kickoff. Those guys were not Average Joes.*

And although they didn't succeed in getting the kit drivetrain to move during the live video feed, that drivetrain was nevertheless a significant improvement over previous years. Some good ideas take more than one try to reach their goals.

-----------

^* 3620 didn't start until 2011.

[Foster]

Originally Posted by Justin Montois

You're right. That's why I said most components, Not all.

While I'm sure funding is an issue, the focus of this thread seems to be on the competitive aspect of FRC, not all of FRC in general.

I also completely disagree with the notion that there is somehow a lack of trying that's contributing to the downfall of some teams and somehow failure will encourage them to "try harder". Let's stop promoting failure as the means of motivation to getting teams to a higher level.

In most cases, these teams work very hard, they just choose something outside of their ability. A little assistance focusing these teams on appropriate strategies in the first few years is a good thing.

I'm the original poster, so let me try to put some of my questions out a little clearer.

I know there is more to FRC than the robot, got that years ago. But a lot of new teams are focused on building a robot first, doing other community things later on.

And I understand that most of the COTS parts are drive train oriented, so some scoring method needs to be designed/built. I didn't mean to imply that there was a "Andy Mark Climber" or an "IFI Shooter", but I did say that with the better selection of COTs parts, scoring devices would be easier to build.

My theory was that COTS parts, would make it easier for teams to get over the initial hurdles of getting a robot pulled together. And if it's easier to build a more competitive robot (vs Dewalt days) will we start to see more teams become sustainable.

It sounds like from prior posts that my theory is flawed, the lack of constant funding (and/or not having a multiyear funding source in place) and the lack of high caliber mentors will still be the biggest failure points.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Foster

My theory was that COTS parts, would make it easier for teams to get over the initial hurdles of getting a robot pulled together. And if it's easier to build a more competitive robot (vs Dewalt days) will we start to see more teams become sustainable.

It sounds like from prior posts that my theory is flawed, the lack of constant funding (and/or not having a multiyear funding source in place) and the lack of high caliber mentors will still be the biggest failure points.

I think the theory is for a large part, true. If we consider that any increase in sustainability, whether it be one team per year, or one hundred teams per year, is an increase in sustainability, then it would remain true. COTS parts alone are not going to 'solve' all of the sustainability problems in FRC, but they do make it a heck of a lot easier to remain competitive (as in, can execute the game challenge) without overtaxing already limited resources. With limiting resources, human and financial being the root cause

As an example, I look at all of the teams this year, that were able to take the AM Kit Bot, and use it right out of the box. Sure, it's not the perfect drive train - but if you want something that isn't going to break (when properly assembled) and is easy to use at the lowest level (learning to drive) but also isn't all that limiting at the highest level (you can build a $@#$@#$@#$@# good robot on the Kit Bot) then there's little out there that will beat the C-Base when all things are taken into an account.

In the last two years, I've seen a handful of rookies pop up within MAR, most of which use the Kit Bot, or a drivetrain derived from it, and regardless of how well their mechanisms work, the fact that they can drive without struggling usually allows them to contribute to the alliances overall efforts, which gives them the feeling of being a part of whatever successes that alliance may have.

The same is true for a lot of 'also-ran' veteran teams, that essentially 're-rookie' every so many years due to the loss of student knowledge, or the loss of a mentor, or just from years of 'not caring about winning'. I've seen and been a part of veteran teams that built 'not so good' (being nice) robots using questionable custom drive trains and under planned manipulators for years and years. Those teams then switch to the c-base (either as given in the KOP, or modified similar to the KBOS method) and their performance seems to improve dramatically. Part of this is due to the reliability of the Kit-Bot/C-Base, but another part of it is that they've now wasted little, if any time on their drive train and can concentrate all of their limited resources on some sort of scoring device.

This sort of mentality applies to other basic robot mechanisms as well, but not to the same extent that it does a drivetrain, since no one (as of now) offers a complete solution to building an arm, roller, elevator, claw, etc - but most of the hard bits are either commercially available or well documented enough that a team can get relatively close without trying all too hard.

All of that being said, I do agree with a lot of the posts above saying that there are other issues that play into the sustainability discussion, especially those regarding funding, and mentor time/lack there of. The only real way to fix either of these seems to be a two-fold approach, on one side we need to emphasize to new or struggling teams the need and benefit to getting out into the community (world) and finding new resources - both financial and human - but also stress the importance of effectively utilizing what they've got.

IMO, from what I've seen, it seems like the easier of the two points to get across to someone is the need to 'have more', since most teams will acknowledge when their resources are lacking. Changing a teams methods or ideology regarding robot planning and construction seems to be something that is either really easy and well received or something that is basically like beating a dead horse. There are a lot of reasons behind this, some of which make more sense than others, but one of the primary roadblocks seems to be that a lot of teams don't really care about being 'competitive', or at least in the traditional sense. So many teams out there are happy to field a robot that makes an entire competition without breaking, or are used to making it into eliminations one year out every four or five, that they just don't see the need to chase that next echelon of performance. Fixing this might require some sort of 'FIRST-wide' commitment to being 'competitive' at every level, which can be/is interpreted as not necessarily being part of the message of FIRST. depending on how you define competitive

In any case, one of the many blessings of the District system is that it seems to do a much, much better job of 'lighting the fire' when it comes to engaging both rookie-ish and veteran teams. The combination of smaller events, and more of them, increases a struggling teams odds to have a 'good' competition experience, which I think most people can agree that a single 'good' or 'great' competition experience (i.e. winning an event with a powerhouse or something, or even just making elims) can be the single event that serves as a catalyst to years of improving performance both on the field, and off.