Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Steve W
Just a thought. If we don't know what is in the KOP then how can gearboxes be built when the motors and their specs are not known? Also if Team 188 builds a gearbox before build season and sells it to themselves as well as others, does that break the rules?
Please do not refer to Andy on this thread. I / we don't want any finger pointing and the issues go far beyond Andy. No offence Andy.
Many questions so little time. Curious minds would like to know.  |
Don't worry about my references above to Andy Baker--he's just "along for the ride" like the rest of us. Nobody of consequence knows what's going to be in the kit next year, so any gearbox bought or built before the season would risk being rendered useless. That's why I'd wondered whether Andy was going to be selling them in advance.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Paul H
Where do you draw the line if you allow pre building, though? If pre-building is allowed, a team could concievably take the previous year's robot and adapt it for the new game. This would eitehr cause them to a. make some awesome end-effectors, or b. finish in 2 weeks and practice for the remaining four.
|
There used to be a rule which stated that previous robots' parts couldn't be used. I don't remember if it was "streamlined" out last year.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Stephen Kowski
pssst....i know ive mentioned this before, but there is already a prebuilt transmission INCLUDED IN THE KIT.....you don't have to build or buy a thing it comes right in the kit....if baker wants to sell these transmissions he has every right to do so....it is legal, unless you take away the bosch transmission and everyone has to make their own transmission from scratch which many teams cannot do....there is no need for a ruling they made it last year with 60/254....it is legal
|
The Bosch transmissions were provided in the kit like every other motor, so their inclusion in next year's kit is not guaranteed. The same problem arises with a custom-built or an off-the-shelf design.
Also, since you brought it up, 60 and 254 forced FIRST's hand with the collaboration issue. There was no appropriate rule in place, and it seemed that by the time FIRST knew what had happened, they'd already built the two robots (actually four, if practice robots are counted). It was simply not possible for FIRST to have made any other decision
for last season. It isn't unlikely that FIRST will codify something a little more explicit this time around, whether or not they indeed do allow that type of collaboration (and indications from last season seem to point to it being allowed next year).
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by JVN
You're blurring the lines here.
When I buy a gearbox from AndyMark the company, I'm not buying a gearbox from the Technokats we all know and love.
|
I think that the lines are
already blurred here. It appears that the gearbox being marketed by AndyMark is an adaptation of the 2004 TechnoKat design--tried and tested last year by the TechnoKats themselves. While technically we aren't buying from the organization known as the "TechoKats Robotics Team", the implication (intentional or not) is clearly that we're getting a TechnoKat gearbox. It may possibly make for an interesting situation, deciding when a person belongs to the company, and when he belongs to the team.
Regarding the three options, what about an auction? Only one team gets the gearboxes, but everyone has the opportunity. Is that kosher? And what if a "company" sells to everybody, but offers a special price break to teams from Canada, or teams from Toronto, or a few especially friendly teams? What if that price break were $298.99 off? And what if "GaryDill" sponsored 180 or 229?
While one individual may have answers to all of those questions, bear in mind that someone else's answers may be different. And barring a ruling from FIRST, or some frightfully elegant logic, it will be very difficult to settle on a common interpretation of what is fair, and what is not.