From the Q and A:
Quote:
Q574
Q. Can separate off-board compressor system be used to pre-charge our unpowered robot's pneumatic system?This off-board compressor would be a FIRST-compliant compressor system, incl. battery, compressor, relief valve, spike w/20A breaker, pressure switch, digital side car, computer and storage taank
FRC0175 on 2013-03-13 | 3 Followers
A. No, per [R80].
Q473
Q. Can we begin the match with pre-charged air resevoirs (i.e. 120 psig "stored" and 60psig "working" pressure) as long as the robot control system and battery (and in our case, the on-board air compressor) was used to pre-charge the resevoirs?
FRC3293 on 2013-02-12 | 4 Followers
A. Yes.
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and from The Robot section of the Game Manual
Quote:
R37
Non-electrical sources of energy used by the ROBOT, (i.e., stored at the start of a MATCH), shall come only from the following sources:
compressed air stored in the pneumatic system,
a change in the altitude of the ROBOT center of gravity, and
storage achieved by deformation of ROBOT parts.
R80
Compressed air on the ROBOT must be provided by one and only one compressor. Compressor specifications may not exceed nominal 12VDC, 1.05 cfm flow rate. Off-board compressors must be controlled and powered by the ROBOT.
BLUE BLOCK:
The intent of this rule is to permit teams to take advantage of the weight savings associated with keeping the compressor off-board. However, using the compressor off-board of the ROBOT does NOT permit non-compliance with any other applicable rules.
The compressor may be mounted on the ROBOT, or it may be left off the ROBOT and used to pre-charge compressed air in storage tanks on the ROBOT prior to bringing the ROBOT onto the FIELD.
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It does seem that the correct interpretation of the rules (especially after noting the text in the informative block under R80) is to allow only the onboard compressor to charge tanks, if an onboard compressor is utilized.
If the call was made that the same battery must be used to pre charge the tanks as was used during the match, however, I don't see justification for that rule in the Game Manual. It may have been based off the phrasing of question Q473. Another Q and A question to clarify Q473 to see if the same battery MUST be used to precharge the compressor would be required to get a real answer. Unfortunately I don't have access to our teams Q and A account at the moment, or I'd post one myself.