[SteveGarward]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

That seems to be a poorly considered response. (Recognizing that if First stays with it, that will be the rule.) The control comes over the signal pin. So where the power comes from for the power line is immaterial from a control stand point. The MXP doesn't have a dedicated power pin for each PWM. The Vex motor pulls a lot of current at stall. One reason we stayed away from them in the past.

The motor controller are pulling their power straight from the PD board. Not much different conceptually than using a separate power supply for a servo

Agreed. The only difference I can see is that the PD is a known, tested, approved power source. My best guess is that an unknown (to FIRST), untested (by FIRST) power source powering servos (to make robot parts move) may be considered unsafe, or at least a risk. This would go for anything on a board - power, other circuitry. Thus the requirement for boards doing more than breaking out pins to be approved.

That's my best guess anyway. Either way, rules may change, but for now they are what they are.

My concern now is for boards that have 'prototyping' area on it - while the board may be passive, does adding components/circuits make it active? Burden of proof at inspection to show it's just sensors etc., or that PWM pins are not controlling anything? Not sure how that will play out yet.