[andreboos]

A COTS computing device would be something like a laptop or PDA mounted on the robot. COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) means that it is not modified from its original state (apart from software). The intent of R36 is to prevent non-approved power sources from being used, while permitting the use of portable computing devices that operate on their own battery. An example use might be to perform advanced image processing without slowing the cRIO. However, per R52, the device cannot control the robot in any way besides perhaps relaying information to the cRIO to use for its control decisions.