Custom West-Coast Design Feedback

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by highlander

I'm going to assume it is the typical spiel of "look at/buy COTS options" before making your own. I don't mean to be a cynic here, but you learn a lot more from making and failing with your own than buying one off the shelf. Granted, for the first couple of iterations of the design, the COTS option would likely perform better, but it's not about the goal, it's about the journey.

During the season, the Vexpro option would be my top choice, but since this is an offseason project, I would fully recommend working on your own.

Well, it depends on the specific instance of the team though.

Resources aren't infinite. Time and talent are something all teams can't get enough of.

As Andrew pointed out, you're still designing some when you go that route. Configuration is the right word.

As an Engineer, I use configurable parts and assemblies all the time (misumi.com is AWESOME). Sure it's less design than if I didn't, but I learn just as much and dump less resources into it.

Team can take the time and talent they have left over by going with a less resource intensive drive, and focus on other systems.

For many teams I would argue there is a NET GAIN in learning by choosing to go with the configurable off the shelf option.

It should also be considered that for many teams it will likely be a higher performing and more reliable option, leaving them free to work on maintaining the rest of the robot, and winning more matches (or, with a bad schedule still losing, but having a much more competitive machine while doing so). For most students, this is far more inspirational. This inspiration often turns a kid that was a watcher into a do-er, and they might spend next summer designing a better custom option, as well as hunting down sponsors, etc... to make it happen.

Not so black and white.... much more grey...