New FTC Platform

[Joe G.]

FIRST did this a couple years ago with FLL, switching from RCX to NXT (which was promted by the LEGO Corp decision to change controllers). At that time a transition period was implemented, allowing either controller to be used. Teams and schools that had a significant investment in LEGO parts based on the RCX were allowed to continue using it. In fact, a point bonus was given to RCX users the last two years in recognition of the NXT's superior capabilities.

Actually, in more cases than not, the RCX-NXT transition backfired. Most "elite" FLL teams ran to the NXT all excited during the first year of it, and found it horribly inferior to the RCX. Teams were making drastic changes to their robots just to change it back to RCX parts, and there were a great number more RCXs in 2007 than 2006. I know that the teams that I have been involved with, and many others, have not invested in NXT parts at all since the initial release, and plan to continue using RCXs for as long as they are allowed to. The free points is just an added bonus.