Teams missing matches, something must be done

[Dan Petrovic]

You are right. Something must be done.

However, nothing will be done.

FIRST challenges the students to make a functional and robust robot. Obviously, some teams do it better than others and robots break. That is all a part of the challenge.

Why do you think there is a 6 week time period? Why do you think there is a 120 lb weight limit, minus battery and bumpers of course. Why do you think there is a 28x38x50 size limit? It's all a part of the challenge. Robots breaking is not only a challenge for the alliance partners, but a challenge for the team with the broken robot.

Nothing is learned without challenges and mistakes. A missing alliance partner helps you learn how to accommodate for the detriment.

You are right. Teams who can put a robot on the field every match shouldn't suffer. But the teams with the broken robots are suffering as well. It's not like they were off having lunch while their fully functional robot sits in their pit.