Team's Kick off strategies

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

If I could conjecture a bit: some people have suggested that the game may radically change this year. I think perhaps they're right (crosses fingers). I think that when teams can start selling pre-built chassis, it's a pretty fair bet that the game design is in a rut.

Tom, there is a difference between selling pre-built chassis and selling the optimal chassis for the game. I view it as helping out teams so they don't need to focus on that. How many teams have I watched as the struggled to move with a chassis they made themselves. Moving should (in most cases) be second on anyone's list. My generalized list would be:

-Develop strategy (auton and tele-op)
-Moving chassis
-Prototype manipulators
-Wired chassis (for programmers to start doing auton with and drivers to practice with)
-Prototype some more manipulators
-Decide on manipulator
-Build manipulator
-Mount manipulator
-Soft stops (if necessary)
-Drive practice
-Auton

I think it shows why I support teams who use pre-built chassis. If you have the resources to build a stair climbing swerve drive that is AWESOME, but I have seen too many teams struggle to move not to understand that not all teams have that sort of ability.

That being said, Tom does bring up some good points, if you see you will need 2 CIM motors in your manipulator then your drive train would need to be modified so always keep that in mind.