Goodbye IFI?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by EricH

e.g. the kitbot trannies to BaneBots trannies could have simply been trying something new or "advertising" for BB. Let's look at each piece of "evidence" and see what all the possible reasons could be and then see if it looks like IFI is stopping their support.

The kitbot point is misleading in the first place. While they may have been sold by IFI, they were the brainchild of Paul Copioli, not IFI.

[Adam Y.]

vex (vks)
tr.v. vexed, vex·ing, vex·es

2. To cause perplexity in; puzzle.
I believe this is the reason. And I agree with Bharat's assessment wondering why FIRST would change the name if changing to another kit was not eminent.

It's generally is a negative type of conotation within the context of frustration.

Have any of you noticed that FIRST and Microsoft are partnering for the 2008 season(1)(2)? BUT if many of you didn't know Microsoft has its own little robotics program called Microsoft Robotics Studio(3)? Now I don't know if I'm crazy or doing some math wrong but, Microsoft is HUGE and has the potential to invest a TON of money into the FIRST programs. Now for me, FIRST + Microsoft = A new tree of ideas, parts, and people = Smaller companies (IFI) will be kicked out.

Uggg... That's a horrible idea. Microsoft Robotics Studio is a great looking program but it's just way to complicated for FIRST. You would have to give out computers to every single team because it requires a computer to run the robot. It's just so much easier to use an embedded processor.

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by EricH

IFI developed VEX. Radio Shack just sold it. When Radio Shack quit, IFI sold the kits and parts online.

Together we got it correct:
http://www.ifirobotics.com/docs/vex_release_4-17-06.pdf

[dbell]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

Here's what i recieved a few days ago:


The FIRST Tech Challenge will continue to use the Vex Robotics Design
System for this coming season. After registration opens, FIRST will
make Vex kits available at a price that only registered FIRST Tech
Challenge teams will be able to access. Teams may also use their
existing kits from previous years' competitions. Things may change in the future, but for now the Vex Robotics Design System is the official tournament kit.

We are excited to launch this new FIRST program sure to engage a greater
number of students.

Very vexing!

From reading this I understand that the VEX control system will stay for this year, but it will likely not stay for long.
The reason for this might be because it is hard for FIRST to switch from the VEX control system to something else on such a short notice. But with another year they will be able to.
The reason for the name change may be because VEX will go bye bye soon.

i doubt that the reason for the name change is because of the meaning of the work vex. But i guess it could be.

just my thoughts.

[eshteyn]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Because Victors (883s, 884s, HVs and Thors) really only work well with IFI controllers... Any other pwm device and they are kind of jittery and unreliable. Dispute it if you want, but it is a common fact in combat robots. I hope FIRST is aware of this before they start the '09 season.

?

well IFI does offer a signal driver for non IFI controllers to be used with their motor control products.

[Billfred]

Going back to Bharat's original post, this email posted in a thread about FTC events in the Worcester area had me a little perplexed. There are lots of connections in FIRST across a lot of types of organizations (and I can't personally think of any case where those with such an overlap were misusing their position), but this seems odd.

Edit: It would be worth noting that the above-linked email is just one point of data. As with anything, one would be wise to get more information before taking a position on the topic.

[Tristan Lall]

From Billfred's link:

Originally Posted by Betty Lauer

Last week I recieved a telephone call from Steve Chism, Senior Director of Programs, at FIRST, and I was surprised and saddened to learn that FIRST had changed their mind and decided that they would not recognize our event as an "official" FTC tournament this year. Steve Chism explained that this decision had nothing to do with our very successful FTC (then FVC) Championship event last year, and acknowledged our event is a well organized, well run, high quality event for all the teams. Steve informed Quinsigamond Community College, via telephone, that the reason FIRST would not "allow" QCC, or myself, to be a Massachusetts FTC Affiliate Partner was that my son Brad now works for Innovation First. Needless to say, I was (and still am) troubled, perplexed, and stunned that FIRST would make a decision that negatively impacts teams, schools, and students based on that reasoning.

I'm a little concerned by what I'm seeing here. While I realize that this is only one side of the story, it seems to me that (short of an outright refutation of the contents of this correspondence) FIRST is exercising their power as the FTC Affiliate Partner licensor in a very questionable manner.

I have to wonder why FIRST, in dealing with QCC and Ms. Lauer, would choose to deny them the FTC partnership based upon her son's employer. While it's apparent that there has been some sort of recent change in the nature of the relationship between FIRST and IFI, to discriminate against an IFI employee's mother's employer (i.e. QCC), on no basis other than the identity of his employer—it's startling. I'm frankly having trouble concieving of a situation whereby that decision represents fair dealing. Is Brad Lauer personally involved in the Worcester FTC competition in such a way that his participation would threaten some interest of FIRST's? And if so, why can't he simply step aside? Has this possibility been addressed?

FIRST styles itself as a responsible organization with responsible values. So why are they making life difficult for the Worcester FTC planning group? Does it do the students any good to make this decision? Does it advance FIRST's standing and prestige within the community? I don't think so, but would love to hear FIRST's side of the story to understand their motivation.

If I had more faith, I might be happy to forget about this, supposing that FIRST's internal politics would work themselves out promptly. I don't think that will happen. But what I do still hope to see is an explanation of why FIRST is seemingly making decisions that appear at face value to be biased against IFI and IFI's interests.

[synth3tk]

That does sound a bit awkward. And I agree, why should all those teams suffer for this? To not recognize an event that apparently was very successful on the basis of a relationship, doesn't sound right to me.

[Andrew Bates]

It seems to me that it might be time for FIRST to fully disclose what's going on between them and IFI.

[Rosiebotboss]

Please close this thread.........too many questions are arising that can only lead to more dirty laundry being aired in a public forum and not contributing to the benefit of the either the FTC (or IFI's) program.

Thank you.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Rosiebotboss

Please close this thread.........

Agreed. I doubt that anybody with any real insight into what's going on is going to be able to say anything. If people who don't know the whole story speculate anyway, even if they guess right they won't be able to do anything about it, and if they guess wrong they'll be spreading bad feelings without cause.

[Mr. Van]

Please do not close this thread. This has been a reasonable series of questions. I am very concrned by what I have read here. I feel that those who devote countless hours in support of FIRST's programs deserve some answers as to what has happened in Massachusetts, and what is happening with the relationship between IFI and FIRST.

-Mr. Van
Head Coach
Robodox
Granada Hills Charter High School

[Beth Sweet]

Please do not close this thread. There is obviously an issue going on here, and those who know something about it, I urge you to step forward and educate the rest of us. To close this thread would be to cover up an issue that seems to be getting increasingly worse in this organization. As someone trained in journalism for 2 1/2 years, I would like to know the facts. I invite representatives from both FIRST and IFI to tell their sides of the story so that the FIRST public may know what is going on in the organization to which they send thousands upon thousands of dollars of hard earned money each year.

[wilsonmw04]

a web based public forum is not the place for the conversation that Beth has, in my opinion, correctly asked for. These types of talks must be done in private. Close the tread and start another one, in a moderated setting, where folks can urge the two parties to sit down and issue a joint statement.

[Andrew Bates]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

a web based public forum is not the place for the conversation that Beth has, in my opinion, correctly asked for. These types of talks must be done in private. Close the tread and start another one, in a moderated setting, where folks can urge the two parties to sit down and issue a joint statement.

I think that FIRST and IFI may have already done that or are in the process of doing it. The problem is no one but those in high positions know whats going on so what really needs to happen is for FIRST and IFI to tell us whats going on.