Opinion Poll: Proliferation of Prefbricated Parts

[Brian C]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

The problem is that COTS can remove a motivator to understand how the parts are made. In fairness, in the other related topic, I voted for allowing COTS at every level.

This opportunity to motivate can be just as well served by offering award or reward to the teams that take the time to spin up their shops as it can by requiring it to compete. Requiring it to compete does on the other hand keep some people out.

Both approaches can coexist until the level of play gets so high that only professionally designed COTS parts are able to play - then it's a problem. Other than a shortage of tires and treads we haven't seen that yet.

I think this is a key point to all of this. I tried to touch on it somewhat but this helps to clarify much of what's being discussed.

COTS items can be used to help motivate teams with limited resources as a way to demonstrate design concepts to them.

Teams with more available resources are already going through the design process but more in a firsthand way.

And I think you're correct in that until it becomes an issue where you HAVE to actually purchase something that's professionally done then it's not a problem.

My hope is that we never actually see that time come.