Poll: Views on the 6 Week Build Season

[Carl C]

Any longer than six weeks, and we would get even more burnt out than we already do!

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by EricLeifermann

Having a build season that doesn't have a stop build day would just represent what many top level teams area already doing with practice bots, extending the build season way past the 6 weeks.

You say that kind of as if it were a desirable thing for the majority of teams to do....even though they haven't got to where the top teams are in terms of number and dedication of mentors, finding monetary and build space resources, etc.

The poll results are telling, a 70% majority of responses are 6 weeks, and my wild guess is that the top teams are over represented in the poll response.

[BBray_T1296]

Originally Posted by MrForbes

The poll results are telling, a 70% majority of responses are 6 weeks, and my wild guess is that the top teams are over represented in the poll response.

I would think it is safe to say "top teams" spend more time on Chief Delphi in the off season, for one reason or another.

[Clem1640]

There is a lot of wisdom to having a hard stop to build season. One is that I (hopefully) get to keep my day job, sanity, etc.

More seriously, it imposes a sense of urgency not shared by other robotics programs. It is part of what makes FRC both as challenging and as rewarding as it is.

Also, in real life real projects have real finish dates. Get used to this!

[Ed Law]

I voted for 6 weeks. There is no good reason to change it. This allows us to "lie" to sponsors, potential mentors, people you want to impress that it was all done in 6 weeks. Technically we are not lying because the robot is there after 6 weeks. For many teams, it just usually doesn't work very well if at all. After the 6 weeks, it is not part of the "build season" any more. We got to spend more money and work on the practice robot for as long as we want, sometimes even spending more hours per week than the build season.

Some people are talking about a hard deadline of 6 weeks, adding rules to disallow practice robots, or anything that is used to get around the rules. That will really let people relax and happy after 6 weeks. (please note sarcasm)

[Steve W]

Deadlines are a part of life. Challenging ones self to meet the deadline with the best robot one can build. Every team has the option to build a second robot. Can that be stopped? No, people will just call it another project. Right now I believe there should not be a hold back rule and that no additional mechanisms be brought into events. If you want to design, fine but build at event from raw material.

As an aging mentor I find it harder to go 6 + weeks and then volunteer at events. We all get tired and as was said earlier we will fill any time given and will still want more.

Accept the challenge, be proud of your 6 weeks work.