Sustainability - 2014 - COTS parts

[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.)

[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.

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^* 3620 didn't start until 2011.