Borrowing ideas (Core Values)

[MattJensen]

One the one hand, teams are supposed to do "all the work" themselves. On the other hand, there's supposed to be a lot of openness and sharing. I'm not clear what my team should or shouldn't do with regard to ideas from other teams.

We've got a local practice event soon, with twenty area teams. I'm sure my kids will see some ideas they like, but I want them to respond properly. What are the Core Value expectations about how they can use those ideas?

* Can they ask detailed questions?
* Can they see a program (maybe briefly)?
* Should they credit the other team? (I think that's a big "Yes")
* Should they ask the other team's permission to use it?
* Can they photograph/videotape the other team's robot?
* Other issues?

By "can they", I really mean "without bending the spirit of Core Values".

Thanks!

[timdavid]

In general, I believe many teams are happy and willing to share information about their robot and programs with other teams. We've had people ask to take pictures of our robot or see a program, and the team members have always taken it as a compliment.

If you look at the Core Values rubrics, there is a section on "Coopertition - Team competes in the spirit of friendly competition and cooperates with others". In order to receive an exemplary rating in this area, the team should "actively help other teams".

However, you should be respectful and considerate of the other teams time and their wishes. At a practice event, most of the other teams may be frantically trying to get things working, and may not have a lot of time to respond to questions. You may find it more useful to make contact with one of the more experienced teams, and see if you can discuss things with them at a later date in a less hectic environment.

[BlueCheesyFlamingos]

That's a really good question! I would say that most teams are happy to share almost everything you listed above. Taking an idea and growing it to make it your own is great and I know my team also takes it as a compliment when people ask the hows and whys so they can try it.

The only one I think that might upset some teams would be if you took a photo and copied the whatever exactly as they made it. I know for us each attachment goes through a few rounds of revisions to get it to work exactly the way we want. Knowing that someone took all your hard work and just plain old copied it might cause some hurt feelings.

[2009FTC3491]

Originally Posted by BlueCheesyFlamingos

The only one I think that might upset some teams would be if you took a photo and copied the whatever exactly as they made it. I know for us each attachment goes through a few rounds of revisions to get it to work exactly the way we want. Knowing that someone took all your hard work and just plain old copied it might cause some hurt feelings.

Or not.

At our qualifier last year, another team was able to use an idea from our robot in that tournament. They saw it in the morning, realized it would solve a problem they had, and competed with it in the afternoon.

Our kids were flattered to see their idea being used by another team.

I would encourage my team to ask before they used the idea at the same event.