Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan Anderson
The only manual I have handy is from 2011, but similar (if not identical) wording was present other years.
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Oddly enough, this was not present in the 2013 Manual, although I believe every year prior to 2013 or 2012, that exact rule was repeated.* As I looked through the archived version of the manual, I found the most relevant rule and the 'blue' explanation box below it, and it more or less allows a team to purchase a complete sub-assembly from a vendor regardless of function.
*I went back and checked the 2012 Manual, and it reads the same as 2013's, meaning that 2011 was the last year there was a rule preventing a supplier from selling complete mechanisms.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by 2013 Manual
4.1.3.5 R15
If a COTS item is part of a modular system that can be assembled in several possible configurations, then each
individual module must fit within the price constraints defined in R12.
If the modules are designed to assemble into a single configuration, and the assembly is functional in only that
configuration, then the total cost of the complete assembly including all modules must fit within the price constraints
defined in R12.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Blue Box
In summary, if a VENDOR sells a system or a kit, a team must use the entire system/kit
Fair Market Value and not the value of its COMPONENT pieces.
Example1: VENDOR A sells a gearbox that can be used with a number of different gear sets, and can mate with two different motors they sell. A team purchases the gearbox, a
gear set, and a motor (which are not offered together as an assembly or kit), then
assembles them together. Each part is treated separately for the purpose of BOM
costing, since the purchased pieces can each be used in various configurations.
Example2: VENDOR B sells a robotic arm assembly that the team wants to use.
However, it costs $700, so they cannot use it. The Vendor sells the “hand”, “wrist” and
“arm” as separate assemblies, for $200 each. A team wishes to purchase the three
components separately, then reassemble them. This would not be legal, as they are
really buying and using the entire assembly, which has a Fair Market Value of $700.
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As Example 2 implies, a vendor could in theory sell an 'Arm Kit', that is pre-assembled for $399.99 and have it be completely legal within FRC. (As the 2013 rules are written)
The change from the previous verbiage may be due in part to conflicts with the KOP Chassis, since technically, according to some rules it would be illegal - although with it being supplied in the KOP, it's technically exempt from some/most rules.
Regardless, I doubt we'll see wide scale proliferation of 'ready' made mechanisms any time soon, due in part to the nature of FRC games. The fact that the game is unknown (at least at some level) to even major FRC suppliers would mean that they'd have to prototype, brainstorm, and produce any relevant mechanisms in a very, very short period of time, and then have the produced in an equally short period of time - or take a gamble on having a series of components designed and ready for production (or produced) by the time kick off comes around. The counter argument to this would be Vex's Chassis from 2013, since it was basically designed, built, and ready to be shipped within a week or so from kick-off, so it is "Possible" - but reasonable to do with mechanisms? Maybe.
If anything, we're long over due to see the wide scale production of 'build your own _______' kits geared towards FRC robots. 'Black Box' mechanisms like Ball Conveyors, Elevators, Telescoping Arms, Etc are well now well understood enough that someone with the resources could very easily manufacture a kit containing the 'tricky bits' of the mechanism with the end users supplying raw materials in the form of aluminum extrusion or similar. It's funny to see that there are actually a handful of teams that currently use this method internally and have refined their designs to the point where the only thing that ever seems to change is the size of the system, but not the construction method...