Do you think a practice robot is needed to compete?

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by GreyingJay

For those that don't build a practice bot, do you have other "experiment bots" that you can use as a drive platform for testing mechanisms, drive trains, autonomous modes?

My team hopes to build a practice bot if for nothing else than to have something for the programming and controls teams to have something to experiment with in parallel with other stuff being developed. And then for next year to have something driveable during the pre-season.

We build a practice bot, but we also find lots of value in building an "experiment bot" out of an old chassis. For example....

(There was also a 2015 version of Skystalker, but it was far less comical to watch).

If you are lucky/guess right/use a similar chassis and drivetrain every year, there is nothing to prevent you from having a rolling base ready to go at kickoff. This (along with the ability to have design, fabrication, and driving experience carry over from season to season) is a huge reason why many successful teams do not tend to deviate a lot in drivetrain design from year to year. A "free" facsimile on day one!