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Originally Posted by Richard
It seems clear to me that the robot rules apply to all of the pneumatic system components used on a robot. Using pneumatics with an off-board compressor as permitted by <R95> does not change the rules that apply to other pneumatics components and to the pneumatics system as a whole.
Another example of robot rules applying to interaction between a component used on the robot and an off-board component is the 6A rating for battery chargers, <R52>. The two rules (<R52> and <R97>) have the same purpose; i.e., automatic regulation of energy storage in robot components.
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The difference here though is that with the charger, there is a specific rule stating the requirements even though it's off the robot. With the compressor, the only rule in the rulebook is that the pneumatic system must only be charged with the KOP compressor - the rest of the rules apply to the electrical system on the robot. When I use my laptop to program the robot, I don't power it with a Spike from the robot battery, so why would I assume that any other tool I use on my robot in the pits would be under such a requirement? Before all this discussion took place I would not have hesitated to connect the compressor to a battery with an in-line 20A breaker (and in fact many teams have done this in the past, and I would consider it safe that way). What other rules in the "Robot Rules" section now apply to things not on the robot? I've seen teams use a DeWalt drill to wind up systems using latex for stored energy - these are not legal kit motors and are not wired correctly, and use an illegal energy source - is this no longer acceptable either? Why would I assume a "Robot Rule" applies to something not on the robot if it's not stated explicitly (as is the case with the charger)?
Anyway, my concern is that if this was the intention all along, why not just state it in the rules? Perhaps it was just an oversight and I understand that happens, but once this was realized (i.e. when it was added to the inspection checklist and other inspection documents) I think the rules should have been updated as well. Perhaps the people writing the rules thought it was clear (and I can understand that too) but obviously many people didn't understand it - I think this is good feedback for next year that if rules are expected to apply to something even when it's not used on the robot then it should be stated that way.
{edit} I should add that my team doesn't even use an off-board compressor. The reason I am talking about this is because as an inspector, I really hate having to tell teams that they have to completely re-do some part of their robot. I especially hate doing it when they look at me and say "where does it say that in the rules" and I can't really point them to anything other than some vague rules which they can easily argue about. When something like this isn't clear these teams often feel that they've been slighted or singled out or hassled unnecessarily by an overbearing inspector, and that takes something away from the competition. {/edit}