Does <R14> preclude you from practicing after the Fix-it Window

[Mike Martus]

I did read the rule careful, I was taking an extreme position, almost the what if........

I do however stand behind my point regarding students learning from making an additional robot of any kind to drive and practice repairs. Skills are only learned through practice.

On very often heard complaint is that students do not repair their own robots in the pits. In many cases it is because they do not have or have never been taught the skills to do so.

[Joe Johnson]

From the text, I think it is an open question as to the status of practicing with practice robots.

From what I know of FIRST and the context of the rule, I highly doubt that FIRST ment to disallow practicing with practice robots (discourage, yes, perhaps, but not an outright ban). In any case, if this was their intention, I think they should say so in plain language.

The question has been asked, we can just wait for their input.

Just for the record, long practice sessions (with our practice robot, which we have built over the last 2 years and with our real robot after the regionals when that was allowed) have provided some of the best bonding experiences I have ever had with our students.

Seriously, some of my best memories of FIRST came in the quiet hours waiting for motors to cool or for a part to get re-welded.

I would not like to see that time limited.

Just my 2 cents.

Joe J.

[Raul]

I have to agree with Mike and Joe on this one and disagree with my good friend Andy. Andy, your team can choose to put down everything if you like. I know that our students continue to get inspired as much and learn more during our practice sessions than they do during the incredible rush to finish a robot for shipment.

Just think of it this way - if we do not give the students more opportunities to work with the robot it gives them more opportunities to go watch TV, play video games, watch the NBA, football and get influenced by those rather than get more inspiration from FIRST. I know what you are thinking - but we have a huge team and only so many can work on the other aspects of FIRST (fund raising, etc.).
And yes, I may be wrong, that may also be my selfish view.

Raul

[Marc P.]

Originally Posted by Mike Martus

I do however stand behind my point regarding students learning from making an additional robot of any kind to drive and practice repairs. Skills are only learned through practice.

As Jon said, this is more of a mercy rule than anything else, to encourage teams to take a step back from the machines for a moment and ponder what has happened and what's been learned over the previous 6 weeks. My feeling is the rule was designed to prevent work done on actual competition pieces and parts, and it does not apply to any sort of non-FIRST related robotics. If a team is building a robot to do other things non-FIRST for experimentation and learning, I'm pretty sure the FIRST rule wouldn't apply (as the robot itself is not a part of the FIRST program). There's just as much to learn with that sort of robot than a FIRST practice robot.

On very often heard complaint is that students do not repair their own robots in the pits. In many cases it is because they do not have or have never been taught the skills to do so.

Any students actively involved in the building of the robot should have a pretty good idea of how to repair the robot should anything fail. If a student is taught during the 6 weeks how to assemble and disassemble pieces of the robot, they'll have no problems doing it in the pit at competition. I just don't see how an extra 48 hours post-shipping or post-regional would be any more beneficial toward teaching repairs than the 6 weeks of actual build time.