Limitations too far?

[Laaba 80]

Originally Posted by Alexa Stott

It's similar in FIRST. As a senior programmer on my team, I have worked for the past 4 years to learn the best way to code certain functions on the robot. I have learned how to work with sensors, etc. The same goes for the members of our build team. They have worked over many years to try and build "the perfect drive train."

Now, they want to punish people like us who have worked through mistakes to make their robot better? Teams are good because they have experienced downfalls and failures; it's a part of the game. Nobody expects you to pick up the KOP as a rookie and build 1114 or 254-quality robots. Those teams have worked very hard to build their programs. Isn't the idea behind FIRST to inspire students to pursue careers in science and technology? To give them real-world experiences in those fields? A company is most certainly not going to start restricting their older employees just to let you, "the new guy," have an advantage.

Basically, it can all be summed up in the worn adage: Life isn't fair.

You got to use those "perfect drivetrains" other years. Its now time to try to try something new. They want people to step outside their comfort zones, not just do the same thing every year. You got your advantages in past years, now they are leveling the playing field a little bit. You say life isnt fair, and you are fine with it when you beat all the other teams, yet you complain when this goes against you. Seems a little contradicting to me.

Also, whats stopping you from using knowledge from past years? You need to change it up a bit, but you can use similar concepts.
Joey