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Re: How to power Mini-PC on robot?
I understand what you want, but the rule is not written that way. That certainly could change in the future, but there's a whole world of safety related stuff that has to be taken into consideration.
If a team is improvising a battery and power system for a computer, do there need to be rules around wire gauge and breakers for that system? Do we need to check the system for grounding to the frame? Do wires have to be properly color coded? It's a whole can of worms you would be opening up here.
Allowing integral batteries solves that problem. GO PRO cameras can use their integral batteries without worry about burning up wiring or shorting out. Laptops can use their integral batteries while avoiding those worries as well.
So, FIRST really has a choice... have a rule written like it is in order to ensure batteries for COTS devices are implemented safely, or add another section to the rule book and another dozen rules to regulate what teams can and can't do. Personally, as an inspector, I prefer being able to rule on this simply without having to dig through a bunch of different rules for a situation that doesn't really come up all that often at events.
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2007 - Present: Mentor, 2177 The Robettes
LRI: North Star 2012-2016; Lake Superior 2013-2014; MN State Tournament 2013-2014, 2016; Galileo 2016; Iowa 2017
2015: North Star Regional Volunteer of the Year
2016: Lake Superior WFFA
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