Quote:
Originally Posted by MICHAELABICK
Solenoids are illegal to use on an FRC robot for anything other than pneumatics
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The 2012 Rebound Rumble manual begs to differ.
Quote:
[R48] The only motors and actuators permitted on 2012 FRC Robots include:
...
J. electrical solenoid actuators, no greater than 1 in. stroke and rated at no greater than 10 watts continuous duty
at 12V,
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Do note that this rule was new in 2012 and is not guaranteed to reappear in 2013.
That being said, to answer the original question, solenoids are generally used to toggle an actuator between a discrete number of states (in FRC, this is always two).
In FRC, there are a number of situations where a linear solenoid actuator can be used (although whether such a solution would be permissible under the rules is not always clear, given the power restrictions on such solenoids). It can be used to shift gears. It can lock and unlock a mechanism. It can serve as the trigger mechanism for an appendage.
More commonly in FRC however, solenoids are used within pneumatic systems, to switch the direction of airflow.