Building more than one robot / expanding the "season"

[Jon K.]

Originally Posted by ngreen

Our programmer has been working from day one. We switched out RC's on last years bot and he has programmed several options for competition. It takes more time to switch the battery on our robot than it would to make a new program.

Work from week one and you won't need the extra time.

RAGE has for a long time now made two robots that were as identical as possible. We are also lucky enough to have a space donated to our team in which we can build a full size playing field every year and we have always been willing to open it up to other teams in the area if they wanted practice. All you would have to do is ask our team leader Mr. Nystrom and he would be willing to set something up with your team. I have found that have the second bot gives your drivers a feel for the robot, but not always an advantage. Last year we still had mechanical issues that were not encountered while practicing, like our arm chains breaking all the time. So just becuase you are able build a second robot doesn't mean you are able to account for everything that might happen on the field at a competition. And it definately doesn't prepare a rookie team or a rookie drive team in general for the pressure placed on them during a real life competition.