[pitzoid]

Getting back to Batteries, there are really good LiION technologies available that would be ideal for the FRC bots. I've been working with Enerdel the last couple years on various projects, we put some of their 17aHr LiION cells in our Combat Heavyweight (220lbs) which easily spikes 400amps at 24v and had no problems, it would run for ~hr when not in a fighting match during testing. LiION don't have the same safety concerns as LiPO, like any stored technologies, they can still be dangerous, but won't spontaneous combust like LiPO, we’ve accidently poked holes and shorted a couple of the cells and never had a fire like LiPO are prone to do and hence have caused airplane restrictions. As mentioned, Li batteries are typically rated by a “C” factor which is discharge amperage proportional to capacity, and the discharge capacity of Li technology is also related to the actual surface area of the Li anodes. So unlike the “hobby” batteries made for short high discharge burst, Li technology made for the automotive, military and commercial applications are large flat packs to have maximum anode area for sustained higher amperage discharge without cell damage, say a equivalent to the SLAs used currently in FIRST FRC in an automotive type LiON would be a ~6X7X1” flat pack and would weigh ~2lbs in packaging.

But as many of the senior mentors have noted in this thread, the issue is cost and logistics. The technologies that are key to making the competition "fair" for all teams are the batteries, motors and controls that everyone is allowed to use. Simply supplying some of these newer technologies to more than 2500 FRC teams is HUGE for a non-profit trying to do things “inexpensively”. If FIRST was a big company doing billions in business, the challenge wouldn’t be as great, but regardless of some gripping about cost, FIRST does a lot with the budgets that they have to work with and switching to a different battery tech right now is cost prohibitive, IMHO.

FIRST FRC isn't necessarily a "use the most cutting edge" technology challenge like some technology competitions, but more like a “here’s what you have to work with, make it happen” situation. Believe it or not, this is more real world realistic. Some deal better than others, but all have the same opportunity.