Re: Ramps
 

As a designer, yes. From the GDC's perspective, not so much.

The GDC has decided to require a few components be connected in specific ways. This does not mean that you need to connect them to any actuators, unless I really missed something. Passive components are passive components, and are, by nature, not susceptible to being disabled. Or, as engunneer has posted:

Re: Ramps
 

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My main question would be, and has always firstly been....Did you then put the REQUIRED Robot # License Plate(s) of appropriate size on your tethered ramp?

As FRANK posted as a clarification earlier in the season..."....If someone has to follow a tether to figure out which robot the additional robot pc. belongs to it would be deemed ILLEGAL per the blue box." (Not the actual direct quote).

It is a simple solution to a simple problem. All Robot sections must be identifiable to team # as one ROBOT (no matter how many pcs. that Robot consists of).

I never argued that static tethered/leashed ramps were illegal. (Unless of course they are not properly identified per the Robot numbering rules, or part of someone elses static set of pre-fabricated holdout wt. per R17 only useable on their robot, or a section of their original Robot per R1).

Made at the event by a single - or multiple teams, inspected & weighed w/ someones Robot who uses it, and identified properly by whatever robot it is tethered/leashed to, should certainly satisfy all those rules IMHO (but, I'm not the rulemakers/decider)...It appears that proper Jury is still out by the Q & A as it still appears unanswered by a check moments ago.
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That ramp appears to do the job perfectly as to getting the first tote on the field in a consistantly upright flat position. Good Job. (Still needs proper # plating though according to the published ruleset & supplementals).

Re: Ramps
 

Yes, we did add appropriate team number markings on all 4 sides of the ramp.
We also were allowed to detach the ramp for matches where we worked the landfill. We were told a simple re-inspection is required, but it's more of a formality.

Re: Ramps
 

Talk to your LRI about the implications of T9 (especially the second sentence) on that ruling. You shouldn't need reinspection AT ALL if you were inspected with the ramp and haven't changed anything otherwise.

Just sayin'.

Re: Ramps
 

Eric et al,
You should read the Q&A for an explanation. If an attachment requires you to remove weight so that you can add it to stay under 120 lbs., then you are required to get an inspection. If you remove that attachment and then add something else, you need an inspection. See Q429. If you remove the added part to go back to your original configuration you must be reinspected.

Please be aware that this may come at a price. The required re-inspection will not hold up any matches. We will do what we can to accommodate teams who are making changes.

As always, this year's rules may not apply next year.

Re: Ramps
 

Yes. Make sure you use solid wire. It will be easy to shape and form. It won't flex up on you. Thank You Thomas (just give me a crabcake) McCubbin

Re: Ramps
 

Q461 has some application to teams giving other teams prefabricated parts. It is a little long so go read the link for your self. It essentially says team cannot share pre-fabricated parts. Team may assist other teams in fabricating parts at the competition. So based on this answer, you cannot tether your ramp to another teams robot. You can help them fabricate a ramp.

Please do not take this as my judgment to what was or was not legal at competitions I did not attend.

Re: Ramps
 

Solid wire will inevitably fail if it's used in an application where it can move (like almost anywhere on a robot, but especially as a tether, even if it's not carrying current). You want to use stranded wire.

Re: Ramps
 

Here's the pertinent wording:

"Elements and assemblies built at the event by one team to give to another do not satisfy R1 above."

This is quite the interesting take. For the past 10 seasons we've had a specific subgroup on our team called a "Fix-It Crew" that goes around building parts for and helping teams in need. Many times teams have been so desperate that we've made parts for them (typically bumpers) without their help. I guess this is no longer legal.

Re: Ramps
 

I agree Karthik, this clarification certainly seems to outlaw actions which I have seen and/or participated in at nearly every FRC event I've ever been to.

There also seems to be a very difficult line in the sand to draw there between "A helped B build X at the event for B's robot" and "A built X for B at the event". It might sound on the surface like an easy distinction to draw, but to have an inspector actually try to enforce it?

Re: Ramps
 

I would be very interested in getting a more direct answer to things like you mentioned your team does. I know we have the same "crew" and have helped team like that as well. I am not sure why this wouldn't be aloud...99% of the time, the teams requiring the extra help, aren't the ones competing to be on top. They are the ones just trying to make it to the field to do something at least. I mean this year, even if you give that team with a drive train a ramp to use, it will let them do way more than before; that shouldn't be discouraged.
-Ronnie

Re: Ramps
 

I would like to see a future rule whereby at competition, any 'work' on the robot must involve at least two members of the robot's team, unless all members of the robot's team are already working on other parts of the robot or software. For example, if a veteran team is going to build bumpers for a rookie team at a regional, at least have two team members from the rookie team helping out, unless the team only has four members and they are all helping to build the drive train. Helping to build bumpers may be as simple as 'pull this fabric taut while I staple it' -- at least they see how it is done.

Re: Ramps
 

I guess it depends on the definition of "helped"?

If team B had one member involved in measuring, designing, applying fasteners... does that count as A helping team B?

If team B provides some amount of parts and materials, does that count?

Ah, we both had the same idea but you beat me to it.

Re: Ramps
 

I think you are correct. But if you had at least one member of the other team present and being taught even if your team was doing all the work it would meet the spirit and the letter of the rule. The old "teach a team to fish" adage."
I expect that is mostly what teams like yours does anyway.

Re: Ramps
 

Not much different from: Did a mentor build it, or did a mentor help a student build it.

IMHO: Bring along one member of Team B to help do what they can to build the part for Team B's Robot.

If Team B needs that much help, sometimes they don't have the ability to constructively help build the piece. Hopefully by bringing them along, the person learns something they can bring back to the Team when they build next year's robot.