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View Poll Results: Would you rather have a nice looking robot or a winning robot?
Quality Robot 53 32.52%
Winning Robot 110 67.48%
Voters: 163. You may not vote on this poll

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  #16   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 05-02-2006, 16:47
KenWittlief KenWittlief is offline
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

what the Phront said.

quality is measured by how well a system performs its required functions

and BTW: REAL engineers dont care about appearances! [Ken dives under desk]
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Unread 05-02-2006, 16:50
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

Quote:
Originally Posted by KenWittlief
what the Phront said.

quality is measured by how well a system performs its required functions

and BTW: REAL engineers dont care about appearances! [Ken dives under desk]
Well, appearance could be a factor in achieving a goal. Part of winning a FIRST competition is getting picked for an alliance, and a strikingly attractive robot is a means to that end.

I can't wait to post pictures of our 2006 robot...
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Unread 05-02-2006, 16:53
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

I relly don't care how the robot looks. All that matters is that it works well and does what it is supposed to. Now both things would be nice to have a winning and good looking robot.
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Unread 05-02-2006, 17:15
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

I don't like it when people would sacrifice the ability to win to get a little bit more quality.

Quality is good, because it tends to have a direct correlation with success, which is what is really desired (heh).

If I can have a quality robot that can be successful, then that's my cake! If I can only have one robot, then I'll take the successful one.

"Look, I have the most well-engineered robot in the world!" -- then the robot can't do a darn thing to be competitive, or win. I don't like that.

But to be complete:

"Look, I have the most successful robot this year!" -- then a sharp edge slices someone's finger off. I DON'T like that.

I guess I'm looking at both types of robots with all else being equal.

1. Make it functional.
2. Make it elegant.
3. Make it look good.

That's the order I usually use to guide my thinking. Clearly, there are times when the only thing that matters is looks, and other times when all that matters is quality, etc.
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Unread 05-02-2006, 18:42
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

When my team does our PEW analysis of our goals and designs, our top two criteria are Simplicity and Reliability.
We have had several robots that we tried to make complex 2003 we tried to build a complex stacker that could stack bins right-side up and upside down, but we never used them due to our drive barely working ( it either fell over or blew apart a transmission in almost every match). In 2004 we spent so much time on our Tri-Star drive train that all we had were pneumatic roller wings and ball poker and in the end we ripped out the Tri-Stars and put in 4 wheels which still didn't work that well.

In 2005 we decided to keep is simple not only with our devices but in our machining as well (Hacksaw & Drill) And as a result it worked in every match (with the exception of one match where we forgot to engage the arm)

So to sum it up I think having a quality (reliable) robot is better.
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Unread 05-02-2006, 22:53
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

if you look at the extreems then I think the answer becomes obvious

we only have 6 weeks. You have to design in as many functions, debug and test them, and give your drivers time with the actual robot to practice

any time you take out of that schedule to paint, polish, chrome plate or change the design to make it look pretty is time you have lost to the primary tasks.

I wanna be there when you tell the drivers they cant practice with the robot today, because its being painted!
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Unread 08-02-2006, 23:33
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

It is all about choosing one main strategy and doing it consistantly well, usually you get a good quality robot from that strategy. All other systems can be integrated to work well with this main strategy.
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Unread 09-02-2006, 03:09
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

Quote:
Originally Posted by KenWittlief
I wanna be there when you tell the drivers they cant practice with the robot today, because its being painted!
You can swing by anytime tomorrow. I'll wait until you arrive to tell them.

I'd like to think that a quality robot has a lot to do with it being succesful, so I didn't vote.
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Unread 09-02-2006, 07:16
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eldarion
Why isn't there an option for "Both"?
I agree. The past two years we have had a quality robot that was winning all sorts of awards. It’s all about your design and even your drivers, because lets face it, you can have the best robot around but with bad drivers it’s nothing more than metal. The only un-quality thing we did was last year we were running a motor just below stall (van door motor) and it got really hot after about 10 min and wouldn’t function. Good thing the matches were only 2.5 min long!
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Unread 09-02-2006, 08:40
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

I've experienced being on a team with a "winning" robot at the top level (Team 45 at the 1998 Championship) and the team with probably the highest quality robots in FIRST (Team 233). Winning the Championship is much more fun than just having the highest quality robot.

That said, the missing choice of "both" in the poll would be my pick. I hope to have the experience this year of winning the Championship with a very high quality robot. Of course, a lot of other teams will be trying very hard to prevent that from happening.
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Unread 09-02-2006, 09:08
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

Where is the choice for "neither one is important" while i like wearing winning meals as much as the next one and getting complete satisfaction from seeing a beautiful robot. The real payoff for me is the kids faces when they get that spark and realize that they can do something. Winning a regional is a great to substantiate that feeling but in my opinion even if you have the worst robot on the field you can still have a winning season. Some of my best years with team 73 were ones when we didn't ever make the eliminations and it was all about how much the kids learned and how much fun we had.



What good is winning if all the kids get out of it is a metal?
what good is quality if all the kids get is a pretty piece of metal?


but along with this thread. I would rather have a winning robot because i know that if the robot wins the kids did alot of good work.
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Unread 09-02-2006, 10:30
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

I couldn't vote on this one. From my experience in FIRST, Quality drivers make a winning robot. You obviously need a robot that works well but it is the drivers who win competitions, not robots alone. I say this from personal experience.
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Unread 09-02-2006, 11:38
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bharat Nain
I couldn't vote on this one. From my experience in FIRST, Quality drivers make a winning robot. You obviously need a robot that works well but it is the drivers who win competitions, not robots alone. I say this from personal experience.
It takes a lot of things to win competitions and good drivers is one of them, along with strategy, a robot capable of playing the game well, and a robot of high enough "quality" to be reliable for the duration of the competition season. Then there is the element of luck which is a part of almost any type of competition.
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Unread 09-02-2006, 11:55
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bharat Nain
You obviously need a robot that works well but it is the drivers who win competitions, not robots alone.
"and the monkey throws the switch" -Major West (Lost in Space Movie) *

sorry, I could not resist that one :^)

dont rule out the importance that auton mode has gained in the last few years, and that a well engineered robot can be very easy to drive compaired to a poorly designed robot that lurches across the playfield like it has a mind of its own.

[ * in the movie the spacecraft was suppose to be fully automated, and West complained that his years of combat flight experience were being wasted on a ship that could be flown by a trained monkey ]

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Unread 09-02-2006, 12:54
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Re: Winning Robot or Quality Robot?

i would rather have a higher quality robot because it is a learning experience for us kids. I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to win the championship but my personel opinion is that i want to learn as much as i can while i am here, i would rather have a good time than win a championship but if you were to ask me if i want that championship i will not hesitate to tell you yes i do so it all depends on the person.
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