more control options

[junkyarddawg]

This is not a response to any one posting, just a comment on the issue. I even saw postings on another thread that wanted to outlaw using Engineers all together.

There are a lot of teams that don't have access to an Electrical Engineer, although we are not one of them and I too, a Controls Engineer, would like a little more lee way on the electronics. Over the seven years I've been participating, I have seen many teams that could not even deal with making a minor chage to the default program. Although we have access to CNC, EDM, Wire Burners and laser welders, I was really pleased to see them open up the rules on buying pulleys and gears. It is less expensive to buy them than to make them and it affords the team without those resources to compete on a somewhat level field. What if they decided you could not use any pre-manufactured systems or parts,in other words you would have to make your own wheels, gears, pulleys, no extrusions, just plain raw stock, etc..........

I think another programming language would make it easier for teams to program as well as allow teams to invest some time in something they could use in the work place. I think FIRST has done an outstanding job in adjusting the rules to level the playing field