Ideas to move in the direction of making FIRST competitions 'fair'

[Rohith Surampudi]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

This is ridiculous.

For those of us who are on teams, provide material to the kit of parts, volunteer at events, and coordinate FIRST-related activities throughout the year, things are not random. I believe that you just insulted all of us who work hard to make FIRST what it is today.

From your outsider's viewpoint, things may seem random to you. How would you know any better? Join a team, volunteer at an event, or go climb another tree.

Andy B.

i agree with Mr. Baker 140% FIRST competitions are entirely fair, everyone is provided an equal opportunity to perform, everyone gets the same kit of parts, and FIRST has already laid down regulations on exotic metals in order to prevent wealthier teams from getting that far ahead of others. Look at this year for example, 1902(a rookie team!) worked extremely hard to be innovative, and they designed an awesome robot. by eliminating competition from the event, you are essentially capping the capabilities of some teams, if a random team was chosen, there would be no urge to make new and more efficient designs,the Ball drive system would have never come about, teams would have never pioneered the crab drive or the Mecanum drive. By designing your robots to be new and innovative to compete at higher levels than anyone Else's (or so you hope) is pioneering new designs, exactly what engineers do. Scientists ask Why, Engineers ask Why not. By having students why not, they are being trained to understand what engineers do daily. I am almost 99% positive that FIRST designs each game in an effort to keep competition high, fun and to test different aspects of engineering.

For those of you being dropped by sponsors, perhaps it may seem tyrannic and evil to you, however almost any company would drop a community service operation than to drop the jobs of hardworking employees who need that job to sustain their family.

As to Mentors and teachers, you must moderate how much time you spend, if you listen to Episode 4 of FIRSTcast you will learn how Mr.Baker has managed to moderate his robotics life, and his family life. As to being Burnt out, its a matter of over exertion, if at any point you begin to feel burnt out, please step back for a bit and take a breather.

So please consider this, when you limit competition, you limit the need for innovation, and by doing that, you limit the engineering experience students receive.

I'm sure there are many members of the FIRST community somewhat insulted by the contents of this thread, their hard work, pride, and joy all being insulted, so please remember Scientists ask Why, Engineers ask Why not. lets not limit their/our potential


just my 2 cents