Slip Rings

[jzampier]

My team was thinking about using slip rings in our design.
There are some commercial manufacturer's of such things:
http://www.mercotac.com/

My question is: Are slip rings allowed? In the past FIRST has explicitly prohibited the use of slip rings. This year I can't recall seeing such a rule in the manual.

Any thoughts?

(Side Note: We aren't using slip rings for other reasons, I'm just curious)

[KTorak]

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53054&highlight=brushes The above thread has some pretty good insight into this issue.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Jeffery,
The use of slip rings is allowed under the robot rules the last two years, but you should follow the flowchart for a start and you must include the part price in your BOM and it must fit the single unit price maximum. Please be prepared to show the specifications when you are inspected as this will be critical to the acceptance. Remember that the current in some of the motors is pretty high and although some electrical parts are derated for being in the open air, a closed slip ring assembly needs to be able to handle the current of the motor power passing through it. When you are not sure, a question to the Q&A will remove all doubt.