It's covered as a COTS Computing device <$400 (R11).
Powering the device:
R34
The only legal source of electrical energy for the ROBOT during the competition, the ROBOT battery, is one of the following 12VDC non-spillable lead acid batteries:
MK Battery (P/N: ES17-12) or
EnerSys (P/N: NP 18-12)
Exception: Batteries integral to and part of a COTS computing device or self-contained camera are also permitted (e.g. laptop batteries), provided they’re only used to power the COTS computing device and any peripheral COTS USB input devices connected to the COTS computing device and they must be securely fastened to the ROBOT.
It is defined as a co-processor and must adhere to the following rule with regard to robot control. All signals must be routed through the cRIO or driver station interface (and ultimately the cRIO) to control the robot.
R55
"There are no rules that prohibit co-processors, provided commands originate from the cRIO to configure, enable, and specify all operating points for all power regulating devices. This includes Jaguar motor controllers legally wired to the CAN-bus."