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Unread 19-03-2014, 11:04
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Re: New robot rules at Peachtree

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz View Post
Tristan,
Your own last statement just negated your entire premise. FRC did delegate this safety issue to the LRI and inspection team (and all event staff) long ago. The Team Update was merely a reminder to teams ("As we approach competition season, we wanted to remind Teams") that inspectors are there to help, not hinder, the competitors. Not because they merely chose to do so but because the issue was already covered under R8 (or equivalent in prior years) which the Inspectors have been managing for many years. You know this as a former division lead inspector. I have witnessed you making these same decisions many times. You know you (we) had the authority to make these rulings then as now. You know you were expected to enforce safety and the safe transport and operation of robots both on the field and in any other part of the competition(s). You also know the challenge we experience when we have to make the hard decisions when a team has a design they are hoping will win the competition but is too dangerous to be near.
Now, speaking for all the inspectors, we work hard to insure that everyone has a great event. We do that by working with teams and pointing out the things that they have failed to see in the heat of design and build. Inspectors work very hard at getting everyone compliant and functional and yes, safe. We take very seriously the belief that we are part of every team at a competition and when they fail, we fail, when they win, we win. When everyone walks away from the weekend with a smile and no injuries, we know we have done a great job.
Al,

My question, that no one seems to want to answer, is: Does a regional have the authority to add a requirement after bag & tag without the express approval from the GDC through the OFFICIAL channels of the Team updates or Q&A?

In this case the Peachtree regional is adding a requirement. The R8 requirement is that the robot "be safe" while the Peachtree requirement is an "interlock". These requirements are not identical.

Allowing regionals to add (or worse remove) requirements erodes FIRSTs and the GDCs authority over their product. and is a slippery slope (how far can a regional go???).

Again, I do not disagree with the INTENT of the LRI for Peachtree, in fact I agree wholeheartedly. But my agreement does not negate the possible abuse that this policy could bring.

JMHO
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