Quote:
Originally Posted by scottydoh
You seem to be missing the point here.
Its makes the inspection process 10x easier. If every team has to provide spec sheets proving that their non KoP compressor meets the required specs, you can be certain that there will be many more problems/headaches for teams. FIRST says this is a rule, so just accept that fact. I had to help at least 2 teams reconfigure their pneumatic system simply because they didn't read the rules this past Thursday.
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I'm not missing any point. FIRST has said right in the rule book this year, that any compressor meeting those requirements is legal. That means that any team using a non-KOP compressor has to prove this anyway.
Consider: Hypothetical robot RedABot has an offboard compressor, powered and controlled by the ROBOT battery per the current rules. RedABot has some onboard air tanks for storage. RedABot fills its tanks to ~120psi, the compressor shuts off via sensors and is disconnected, the battery is switched, and then RedABot is placed on the field.
Hypothetical robot BlueABot is identical to RedABot in every way. BlueABot also has an offboard compressor, non-KOP, much higher flow-rate, powered and controlled by some external system. BlueABot fills its tanks to ~120psi, the compressor shuts off via sensors and is disconnected, battery switched, and BlueABot is placed on the field.
At the start of the MATCH (after the MC counts down), how are RedABot and BlueABot different? Does BlueABot have a competitive advantage? Why? Was BlueABot any LESS safe in its method of reaching this point?
Telling teams that their off-board compressor must still be powered by the ROBOT battery and controlled by the ROBOT's CONTROL SYSTEM doesn't simplify inspections, it makes them more complex. The simplest inspection of the control of the compressor, is does it turn on, and pressurize the system to 120psi, then shut off. If yes, all is well. Also, it means that instead of a simple air hose connection on the end of the dump valve, teams need to also create some method of attaching power and signal wires to their off-board compressor from the PDB and sidecar. It makes the whole system needlessly complicated.
EDIT: Also, I STRONGLY disagree with your statement of "FIRST says its a rule, so just accept that fact." This program is all about nurturing young minds to solve problems, and become the best they can be. The program is FAR from perfect, and there are lots of ways for it to improve. Also, asking WHY is ALWAYS an EXCELLENT way to learn things. Asking WHY something is done a particular way always leads to learning. Often, there's something more than meets the eye. There could be consequences of not doing things a certain way that you don't think of. Alternatively, the people you're asking may not have thought of your solution, and they'll learn from you. I never accept "because I said so" as an answer. There is ALWAYS an underlying reason, even if its not immediately obvious.