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Unread 27-03-2013, 16:10
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Re: Modifying robot at competition?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz View Post
Guys, so this doesn't get out of hand let me explain the exact way this is handled by inspectors at all events...
Any team can make improvements to their design as long as the pits are open at an event. (other rules also apply for 2 day events) A team that brings a robot to a competition and decides to change functionality, can within limits. If said team is under 120 lbs and they wish to add an interchangeable mechanism that when weighed with the existing mechanisms is still under 120 lbs., they can add and remove said mechanism at will, match to match. That is exactly what happened in Wisconsin, the added blocker was still under 120 lbs with the robot in it's original configuration. The team chose to remove the mechanism when it was no longer needed in later matches. All robots in the finals were inspected, some multiple times as their configuration changed. Many were checked on the field by the LRI.

When a team decides to change the functionality of the robot and the improvement requires that other mechanisms be removed in order to meet the weight requirement, the improvement is not an interchangeable mechanism, it is a change in design. As such, the team may not return to it's original configuration during that event as that violates the interchangeable mechanism rules. The team can reinstall the original mechanism at a subsequent event. As Tristan pointed out this has been the method used at all events for many years.

When a team designs and brings additional mechanisms to an event, and they wish to interchange them during the competition, all have to be presented at inspection and all mechanisms plus the robot must weigh 120lbs or less.
Thanks a lot for this, Al. This is the assumption we've been working under for the last few years and it makes a lot of sense, it would just be nice to see it codified in the rule book.