blog; Motor Controller Options for 2015

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by mklinker

I would love to hear what procedures IRI and CTRE have in place for assessing demand and reacting quickly to the supply of the new motor controllers. Using the initial Talon release and the shortages that ensued along with IFI's struggles to match inventory with demand, motor controllers could be scarce this season. Vex shows no stock of the old Jaguar and Victor controllers to supplement. AndyMark appears to have some Talons.

I expect demand to be high for both of the newly designed controllers!

What will the restocking time frame look like? Is anyone else concerned?

I am looking forward to the new controllers!!!!!!!

I'm not concerned for a few reasons.

I imagine all parties involved have learned well from the previous events.

Another reason is essentially they are the only speed controller on the market for FRC. Predicted demand should be easier. It's not them predicting how many teams will reuse speed controllers, how many will buy the competitors, and how many will buy theirs. It's just them predicting how many teams will buy versus reuse.

When you compare this to the mechanical items it's not even fair. The purchase of mechanical components aren't an A or B or C thing, they're A1.... Z1242123. Even though Hex bearings are popular in FRC, I doubt anyone on chief would be able to accurately predict the amount purchased even IF they had access to all of the sales numbers from all of the venders (other than a lucky guess).

I don't think they owe a public explanation to us on HOW they plan to do it (such information is propriety and the kind of knowledge that is worth good money).

I'm pretty confidant it will be handled well.

Edit. Since the parties involved represent the combined only source for speed controllers for the last few years, they now have exact numbers for how many teams purchase versus reuse. Plus margin for teams upgrading.