The increasing amount of pre-canned code

[mswalker]

I would like to add a vote for encouraging systems level design instead of low level programming. I believe this does more to inspire interest in science and technology than learning how to interface with a sensor. With the LabView and WPILib tools the teams can do cool things that might encourage them to pursue technology as a career. (And maybe then learn the details of how semiconductor gyros work.)

We might also be giving the libraries too much credit. Our team is using mecanum wheels this year for the first time. I don't think anyone said, "Hey, there is a holonomic.vi, let's go holonomic!" The team looked at the game requirements and decided that omnidirectional movement was important and besides, they always wanted to try mecanum wheels. No one mentioned the software, after all it's just a "simple matter of programming" to run the wheels.

We have a pretty lean team so our programmers are builders too. Having high level libraries allows us to try new sensors and equipment without learning the low level coding. Without those resources we would have to prioritize the work which would probably mean just getting a drive and kicker to work. Knowing that, we probably wouldn't even bother with the other sensors and thus miss the learning of how such devices might be employed in the robotic system.

I believe the cRIO and LabVIEW have allowed at least our team to get to the next level of design and understanding.