COTS: How far should it go?

mrnoble · #41 26-01-2016, 13:35

Personally, I voted only for item #1. I've always insisted on the following:

students must design and construct their own bearings, and
students must use only stone tools which they make from scratch.

Edit: no I don't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentos54

What if a weaker team wants to design their own bot? If other teams are using COTS parts, it forces everyone to be at that level or better (if they want any chance at all).

Oh NO! It means everyone has to try to get... better. Sorry for the snark, but if the goal is for teams to build things with no assistance or expertise, and out of hardware store supplies like string and pvc pipe, I recommend BEST robotics. It's also free to enter. My kids do it in the fall.

View Poll Results: What should be permitted as "COTS"? You may mark as many as you like.
Pre-cut metal with no moving parts, such as sprockets	155	76.73%
Simple moving parts - such as bearings.	157	77.72%
More complex moving pieces - such as gearboxes	159	78.71%
Motorized components - such as the Dart Actuator	134	66.34%
Basic Drive Train Kit - KOP Chassis	152	75.25%
More Complex Drive Train Kits, such as the Rhino Drive.	101	50.00%
Working Manipulators, such as AndyMark's Intake	59	29.21%
Full Competitive Robot	34	16.83%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 202. You may not vote on this poll

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