FIX-IT WINDOW Proposal

[JohnBoucher]

Eliminate the fix-it window. I presume we have it because some teams were not playing by the existing rules so FIRST bent them a little to satisfy everyone.

I presume that those teams will still do what they want. Allow the teams to decide what message they give their students. Play within the rules or win at all costs.

I don't think this is something FIRST can solve.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by JohnBoucher

Eliminate the fix-it window. I presume we have it because some teams were not playing by the existing rules so FIRST bent them a little to satisfy everyone.

I presume that those teams will still do what they want. Allow the teams to decide what message they give their students. Play within the rules or win at all costs.

I don't think this is something FIRST can solve.

I've never really been thrilled with the concept of the Fix-It Window, for similar reasons to the above. As written for the past few years, they've just been too inflexible to allow for a lot of otherwise-valid methods of getting things done.

That said, I can see the need for some kind of regulation to keep teams from shipping the RC and a kit frame, then prototyping during the regionals and bringing the whole upper half of the robot to the event with them. I propose the following:

-Teams may bring up to 25 pounds of fabricated items (as defined in the 2007 manual) to the event.
-Fabricated items brought to the event must have similar functionality to a component or mechanism shipped in the crate. (The tube gripper may look completely different, but it must still be a tube gripper.)
-COTS and KOP items are still allowed in unlimited amounts.