Who is using the kitbot?

[MikeDubreuil]

We're actually working on two robots. One specially designed for the game and another make out of the kit bot. The kit bot robot will be a practice robot for software and student driving. It will also be almost entirely high school built.

We found the kit bot to be of very high quality. The frame is solid as a rock and seems like it could be used to make a Battle-bot. The drive train seems very nice, we especially like how easy the assembly was.

Even for a 8 year veteran team we had serious debates about whether to use the materials in the kit bot. The kit bot really levels the playing field between rookies and veterans.

Is FIRST making it too easy?
I would say the answer is yes they are making it easier than years past. But I would also say that does that matter? If students are still inspired to pursue more advanced designs and eventually a career in the technology sector we still have met our ultimate goal.

[ngreen]

I think more than making it easy, it makes it hard for veteran teams. This drive and chassis can compete with what many of the veteran teams have been using and allows the rookies to focus more attention to more difficult task such as tetra manipulation.

Looking at my team personally, we are a third year team that has done well the last two using a student tig welded frame and a chain drive with the drill motors. We don't have resources or experience on drives more than that right now and this year you can put together a comparable frame in several hours what has taken us around a week the last two years.

So I don't think FIRST has made it too easy. There will be several veteran teams use this drive because it is just as good as what they've been using. But meanwhile rookie teams will be able to spend less time getting their robot to move. I think in the end this move will make more of the veteran teams to make a greater focus in more advance drive systems, better manipulator design, and programming in order to gain back that advantage lost. I really hope this brings the end to the rookie one drive wheel robots!