Quote:
Originally Posted by EricH
DITTO.
[geezer]You young whippersnappers don't know how good y'all have itI Back in my day, we only got 2 drill motors (there's the drivetrain!), a couple o' window motors, a van door motor, pair of Fischer-Price motors (something like a 700-series motor would be about right powerwise), maybe a CIM or two, and who knows you might get a seat motor or two if you was lucky. We only had them motors to power the whole robot! And we liked it--them being delivered in the kit saved us from walking uphill in the snow both ways to get 'em from the post office! Then some wiseacre dropped the drill motors for two more CIMS, canyoubelieveit. And we liked it more! And you're complaining that 6 CIMS and all these other really really nice motors ain't enough???? Why I oughtta get out o' this here rocker and come show you how it's done! Open up the motor rules? They already been opened up![/geezer]
Seriously, folks. If the motor selection currently available doesn't fit your needs, you may want to reconsider how you're doing things. Try pneumatics.
Now, speaking as an inspector: If teams can't even get the numbers right (you'd think that black with a white background, with a given size, spelled out quite clearly in the manual, would be really easy to do), and a missing BOM is a common reason for not being able to pass on the first day of inspection, do you really think they'll remember to bring their datasheets? (For that matter, it seems like every year somebody pulls out a Globe motor, asking what it is--and has to be told it's illegal. At least a lot of them do it on CD before bag day so it can be swapped out.) I really can't say that this is a great idea...
I think someone is missing part of the point of the motor rules. The point of the motor rules is to give every robot the same available maximum power (well... OK, it used to be, until certain motors were classed as unlimited). It also ensures that everybody is using the same motor types--sure makes troubleshooting and spares a lot easier when you can ask a neighboring team and get a motor/help, rather than having to phone the home shop for your spare motors that you forgot.
Rather than loosening the motor rules...
I might suggest limiting the motors to 4 CIMs, 2 Mini-CIMs, 6 775s, 550s, and/or BAG motors (any combination), 3 PG-71s, and unlimited "automotive" motors (window, seat, door). Servos and electric solenoid actuators remain unlimited. Plenty of power in that batch...
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The problem isn't lack of options or power it's that the rule is based on P/N not power limitations. I wish I could use dill motors or FP's or any of the 500 & 700 series motors I could find but I can't because they aren't a specified part number.
As others hint the actual limiting factors include the PDP ports, snap action breakers, main breaker, battery, robot weight, motor controller specs, the fact that it must be a brushed DC permanent magnet motor, and physical size of the motor. The amount of power available is already limited. I found an old drill with an "FRS-550" in it and even found a data sheet to prove its similarity to the BB RS-550 but I still couldn't use it. Why? Because it's not
that one part number. It doesn't really make sense.
The point is to limit DC brushed motors by voltage, power, and or current
not P/N. Just look at how the CIM has to have 9 different P/N's in the 2015 rule book.