[EricH]

Originally Posted by seg9585

Prior year's KOP... once again, we are a rookie team. the Van Doors are provided by FIRST Choice and are equivalent to motors in the former years' KoP. Why would it not be legal to get an equivalent motor?? If this is indeed illegal, it would be a HUGE disadvantage for a rookie team.

Right. That's the commonsense approach, which I would normally consider a good one. But... we're dealing with rules that give a source here.

I. up to 2 window lift, seat, windshield wiper or door motors obtained through either the FIRST-Automotive Recyclers Association partnership or from a prior years’ KOP.

Note: It will be up to the teams to show that the motors used on the Robot are legal by providing paperwork showing the motor’s original use, i.e. if it’s called a “seat motor” on the ARA receipt, it is a seat motor.

(emphasis mine)

The question is, is an equivalent motor not obtained through either the ARA or through an old KOP legal? In the spirit of the rule, I would say so; otherwise, rookie and sophomore teams do not have the available power that everyone else does (without raiding the local ARA for parts, which may not be practical for some teams, say the Canadians or Israelis). By the letter of the rule, however, it is not legal.

[deleted question for Q&A]

EDIT: Actually, someone already asked Q&A. The FIRST Choice van door motor is legal. Common sense wins.