I may be missing something here, please help me understand what I am missing. Question is "Are they legal on the 2015 FRC Robot?" Are they an actuator? Answer: YES. They are sold as a "DART actuator kit(s)", under the AndyMark Category of "ACTUATORS." w/ AM Part #'s in 2 different lengths.
I know Ri3D "Toat Ma Goat" used (at least), 3 of them on their Ri3D Robot (2 on the 4 bar lift, and 1 on that "magic" wheeled intake mechanism, and I see many smooth uses for them over the choice of pneumatics this year for really smooth control (and no backdrive), though limited in the allowable CIMs total, so a reasonable tradeoff in the drive motor choices...slow go & fine control is better this year anyway). I also suspect that robot will never actually be FIRST Competition Inspected...Am I wrong there?
I go to R18 and the title is "4.7 Motors & Actuators
R18
The only motors and actuators permitted on 2015 FRC ROBOTS include the following:" (Bold, Italics, Underline....mine).
Then I go to AndyMark as directed and the 2 Model #'s for the Dart Linear Actuators (both models), are AM-3072 & AM-3076. Neither are listed in R-18 of the 2015 FRC Robot allowable Motors & Actuators list that I can see listed in the box. (Logically, if it is a "motor or actuator," COTS or not, and it isn't in that list, we can't use it on our 2015 Robots).
I understand the CIMS attached in the pic (but are sold separately, as seen in the assembly instruction docs), would be legal as they are listed. True also, that it is not considered an "Electrical solenoid actuator(s)." So the lower in the box of R18 listed "actuators," does not apply. (If it did we'd all be in trouble since definitely more than 1" Stroke on both).
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Are they 2015 FRC Robot legal or not under R18? (What am I missing here folks?) I do not want to offhand say they are not legal, and people appear to be ordering them (second shipment due in 1/15/2015)...But I cannot find them there...And the key words that get me are right there in the R18 Title.
R18 "The only motors and actuators permitted on 2015 FRC ROBOTS include.....".
I like em', and I want to see iR3 Creative (Dart) sell a bunch (though I agree w/ some, $380.00 without motors is hefty compared to other choices that others linked to, though those would need to be adapted, and if Darts are not legal, neither would the others be if both are sold as Actuators, no matter the motor attached)...It is sold as an actuator or it isn't, and it's legal or it isn't. The recent Q&A question/answer was very specific....But it didn't say the Dart actuators are legal either...It just reitterated the, If it isn't an "Electrical solenoid actuator" in line with what is printed in the box under R18...It isn't legal" line.
I don't even think Q&A is going to answer the question of "Are the Dart Actuators being sold as AM-3072 & AM-3076 legal on the FRC 2015 Robot?" (outside of the "if it isn't listed in R18, it isn't legal" type answer).
I'd sure hate to see what comes down after numerous purchases across our community at nearly $400.00 a pop each if they are later...Never Mind...I don't even want to go there...I hope I am blind and just not seeing something that is really listed in that box, or there is some unwritten rule I'm missing, because it is sold as "a kit" and we are considered "fabricating by assembling" & attaching a legal motor to an actuator that makes it legal or something...HELP PLEASE?
Am I just "lawyering" R18? (Still learning the design & materials choice phase here). Yes...A pneumatic cylinder is also an actuator, but it isn't electric....I'll just shut up here.....Lol. (Cough!)
