Kit of parts
 

My team is debating about declining the kit of parts however we were wondering if we would still receive a RobotRio if we decline the KOP? Do you think that this is a wise decision for this year?

Re: Kit of parts
 

You'll still receive the new control system. What you're opting out of is the KOP drivetrain.

Re: Kit of parts
 

This seems oddly hard for some people on my team to fully get that "kitbot" =/= "KOP". Declining the KOP is only equivalent to not registering your team.

Re: Kit of parts
 

You will get all electronics needed beside possibly the PCM because pneumatics are not necessary to the running of your robot. I believe that if you do so opt out of the AM chassis, you will receive extra FIRST Choice credits to be used on items they have on there.

Personally, our team is still debating on this. We are prototyping an off-season Drive train. If it goes successfully and the students understand all the design and concepts, we will opt out and be using that drive to get basic things together on code at beginning of season as well as get our hands dirty with the new electronics.

It can we a very good tool to get completely new students into the way things go with them being able to construct the KOP drive. BUT, if it was me making the decision, I would purchase another COTS solution such as the versa chassis or drive in a day. They offer more flexibility and more freedom.

Disclaimer: This info is based on what we know from the 2014 AM14U chassis. They will be coming out with another this season which could and probably will have major improvements, we just do not know for sure yet.

Re: Kit of parts
 

Which is a small part of the kit of parts. Every team, even ones that opted out of the kit drivetrain, received all of these items last season: http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...e_2014.1.7.pdf

Re: Kit of parts
 

While some people speculated this might be the case, FIRST confirmed that the PCM will be included almost a month ago. http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...Whats-the-Deal

This is also not true, you get $450 credit at AndyMark, not FIRST Choice Credits. http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...m-Opt-Out-2015

Re: Kit of parts
 

Ty for the correction.

Re: Kit of parts
 

Was there a seperate page on FIRST okaying the use of the new talon and victor? I know for sometime there was a period where new ones were not allowed yet and old ones were discontinued. I see that this said we will receive the 4 talons but just wan't to read post on allowing them. Thanks.
-Ronnie

Re: Kit of parts
 

FIRST has not yet confirmed legality of the new Victor or Talon, and the FIRST representative re-iterated this stance Wednesday on GameSense.

Re: Kit of parts
 

Teams, please be aware that any off season prototying of drive bases, while encouraged, cannot be used for your 2015 competition robot based on the manufacturing rules of 2014, assuming they are not being changed for 2015. You may design, CAD, prototype to your hearts content, but, the final design and manufacture of your competition robot must be within the build season commencing 3 Jan 2015. (Again, based on 2014 robot rules.)

Re: Kit of parts
 

I believe designs can be used as long as they are released to the public prior to the season starting , unless that changed this past year or it changes this year.

Re: Kit of parts
 

"Released to the public" would mean a full CAD release, not simply a screenshot.

Re: Kit of parts
 

Correct, and I take it as posting it somewhere and making it well known to people. Not just posting it on a back page on your website where nobody will find it.

Re: Kit of parts
 

quote that rule?

Re: Kit of parts
 

R13
ROBOT elements created before Kickoff are not permitted. ROBOT elements, including software, that are designed before Kickoff are not permitted.

Exceptions include the following:

BUMPERS,
OPERATOR CONSOLE,
battery assemblies per R5-A, and
software and designs with source files publicly available prior to Kickoff.

Which qualifies as example 5 from the blue box:

Example 5: A different Team develops a similar solution during the fall, and plans to use the developed software on their competition ROBOT. After completing the software, they post it in a generally accessible public forum and make the code available to all Teams. Because they have made their software publicly available before Kickoff, they can use it on their ROBOT.

Re: Kit of parts
 

The intent of item D is clear to me. The existence of the design must not give your team an advantage over any other team. Any team must have the exact same ability that you have to reproduce the design you've developed before kickoff.

EDIT: Brendan beat me.

Re: Kit of parts
 

True to a first-order approximation at least. The rules do not regulate the use of tooling, fixturing, procedures, etc. which may be created in the offseason.