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Poll: What Motivates You to Apply for a RoadTest?

The end of 2020 is nearly upon us. In the roadtest program that means planning for next year.

 

I have been thinking about the types of products that will be offered in 2021 for roadtests.

 

We've always had success with test equipment and maker boards. We've also roadtested some of the most cutting-edge, high-end dev boards. In 2020, we even roadtested some industrial automation products. And, of course, I better not forget cool hand tools and soldering stuff.

 

I personally think for each of these products, roadtesters have their own reasons why they apply. For myself, it is important to get your input to understand why you apply because your motivation can influence what products we roadtest and/or emphasize over the entire year.

 

 

Poll Question: What Really Motivates You to Apply For a RoadTest?

  • Like others, I would have wished I could check several boxes because there is not just one main reason that I apply for a RoadTest as it can depend on a multitude of factors.

     

    I apply to a good fraction of the RoadTests purely because they seem interesting to me and the fact that it costs nothing to put my hand into the ring means that (at most) I would lose my time and effort put into writing up an application. But I don’t apply to just any RoadTest, as what is interesting to me usually has to relate to either what I am doing, what I have done, what I am interested in and what I have some capability or expertise in. While I agree that RoadTests often will build technical skill, I try not to take on RoadTests which are too far beyond my comfort zone as I am less likely to be awarded the product or be able to deliver a solid, credible and meaningful review. New products which are just being released to market definitely are attractive (especially if it happens to be one I’ve been aware of already), even though sometimes this means potential issues with the product or documentation.

     

    I don’t usually see RoadTests as a way of getting things for a project or prototype, as the schedule of award can be very unpredictable time-wise and many of the items are not really intended for integration (e.g. evaluation boards usually aren’t in the friendliest of form factors). Likewise, if academic research is intended, usually the institution would be willing enough to purchase the kits out-right.

     

    As for having fun … I’d have to say that this is not a primary reason for deciding to apply for a RoadTest either. I’ve had enough experience with them to know that it’s hard to predict the fun factor upfront – some have been more of an arduous slog, but either way, it is usually hobby time being passed in a productive manner so I suppose that’s something.

     

    As for being a hardware collector, which is something I’ve been accused of, my personal take on it is that it doesn’t really factor into my decision. I have never seen the RoadTest program as a way to “build a lab”, but it seems to have happened organically over the many years I have participated. Hardware is nice and I often do apply for it (sometimes indiscriminately), but I know from experience, the demands for testing are quite a bit greater and I am willing to put in the effort and expertise to see it through. I also don’t find myself being all that successful with RoadTests where I’m looking at comparing items of a similar type or class, so to collect a single class of hardware doesn’t seem likely. Instead, I tend to see the hardware that I have as an asset to test and review other items with and which confers to me a duty to deliver more detailed reviews. There are no excuses of not having equipment for most basic tests, so I can deliver detailed reviews on even seemingly simple items (often at a great time expense). I couldn’t see myself being able to do it any other way.

     

    One factor which was not mentioned is perhaps free time – if I see myself having some free time, then I am usually more inclined to put in more applications for a wider variety of products compared to when I am busy and otherwise occupied.

     

    - Gough

  • For me it's mostly time related right now.

    I'm not applying to anything because life has been overwhelmingly busy, especially for the last 4 months. Major milestone just cleared last weekend, so a huge sigh of relief there!

     

    So for me to be motivated to try something right now, it would have to solve an immediate need. For example, I'd apply in a heartbeat for a small USB powered thermostat/heater as we head into winter-hummingbird season image

    Or something that will clean my gutters image

    At the same time, if I have a need for something, I might not wait for a RoadTest process if I can buy one more quickly.

     

    The contactless AC power detector currently in RoadTest is very tempting, as I do use a more basic version of it all the time. But... the more basic version does the job well enough for me right now and I don't know if the extra effort required for the RoadTest review fits my schedule.

    I also noticed plenty of people have already applied so I feel that they likely need it more than I do.

     

    Given the time, generally anything cool and interesting for hobby use would do the trick for me. Maybe leaning more towards automation, robotics, and small drones (large drones require a licence here, and I live near an airport).

     

    Cheers,

    -Nico

  • actually most of the options apply to me, except 'Something I can use as a learning aid in the classroom' and 'I'm a hardware collector'.

    Also to keep up with the newest devellopments.

  • Yup.  Several reasons.  pretty much nailed it.

    Let's acknowledge the 800 pound purple gorilla in the room - free stuff is cool.

    BUT... the roadtest has to excite and inspire me.  It's got to be something that I want to pour my energy into with reckless abandon.

    I don't know that I have to have a particular skill or expertise as much as I have to have an application or a vision of how to apply the item.  Cool stuff is exciting but a roadtest = doing.  Gotta have a plan that can overcome my lack of expertise.

    For the scoring matrix:

    Free ProductGetting a product for a hobby projectGetting a product for a prototypeBuilding my technical skillsHaving fun

    *Trying out (ala Michael Kellett)

  • For instrumentation road tests I apply either to fill a gap in my instrumentation suite or to improve or upgrade my instrumentation capabilities.

    For tools I apply for similar reasons - it is hard to resist an opportunity to acquire more tools.

    For dev boards, I might apply to learn about a new product or to defray the hardware costs of a project I want to use it for.

    For other components or technology I might apply to stay current and learn about the technology or simply because there is some attractive kit that comes with the road test, that I can use later.

    Sometimes it is just because I like to challenge myself and do something I have never done before.

    Sometimes it is just something I have a keen interest in.

     

    I tend not to apply for high end dev boards and FPGAs because there is a huge learning effort required with little in the way of interesting publishable results and sometimes there is an expensive tool chain needed that I cannot afford to support. So investing the time to learn is a waste. Or the product is too new to have the kind of support and examples I would need to pave the extensive learning curve.

  • I wish I could've checked multiple boxes.

    I'll apply for a Road Test if it has some unique skill set needed or insight that I have, that can be leveraged.

    I'll apply for a Road Test if it has a maker board, maker kit, or a project I can share as a fun and interesting lesson for my robotics & makers club.

    I'll apply for a Road Test if it teaches me a new skill, or is a challenge, but not so much of a learning curve that I fail to give a proper evaluation.

    I'll apply if the Road Test looks fun or particularly inspires me.

    I'll apply for a Road Test if I'm sure I have all the test equipment and the parts to build a test application or at least minimal investment in extra support hardware.

    Arduinos, Raspberry Pi, MicroBits -> I apply for nearly every Road test opportunity.

  • I selected Building my technical skills

    I'd also like to add other: curiousity , other: validate a product according to its specs and having fun.

  • I was already eyeing the nRF52840 to explore its capabilities when the PAN1780 roadtest came, so I thought it was a great fit for my own personal plans.

     

    In the future, I think I'll be applying for roadtests that would be in line with what I'm already exploring; that would make it easier for me to do a good road test as I'd be truly exercising the product and using it in an actual use case.

     

    For many of the roadtests I've seen, if I really wanted them I can probably just buy them from the online store (except for the oscilloscopes -- those are super expensive). So at least for me I don't think the prospect of a free product by itself is tempting; rather it's the opportunity to try out a product that would have otherwise escaped my consideration is what's attractive.

     

    I also think I won't be immediately applying to roadtests that require specialized equipment to produce a good review; I feel that would just be unfair as I wouldn't be giving the product its due consideration.

  • I'd apply for a road test for the following reasons:

     

    Something interesting but with some relevance to current work or projects.

    If I feel I have particular skill or experience with the type of device.

    Trying out (looking more for interest than necessarily cutting edge) things that I couldn't justify buying.

     

    I wouldn't apply to road test if I just needed or wanted the device in question - because one may not be selected.

     

    And always I have to be sure I'll have time and the necessary skill - so I've never applied for the RF type stuff because I don't feel qualified to test it.

     

    So although I'm interested in FPGAs I don't apply for FPGA related road tests (so far) because I don't want to put the required time into things that are too far away from my work.

     

    MK