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Originally Posted by Paul Copioli
Dave and GNH200 (whoever that is),
But why the rule exluding the purchase of the Exide (or Yuasa battery)? You can say fairness, but that is a pretty weak argument since everyone can purchase those batteries.
Please do not even touch the "small teams can't afford it". They can afford to travel to a regional, they can afford the $7,000 entry fee. The extra $50 to buy two batteries is noise.
-PAul
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I don't see any rule that prohibits anyone from purchasing Exide, or Yuasa, or any other battery. FIRST has said nothing that would prevent you from buying all of them that you want.
The only thing that they have said is that for the official competitions, you can only USE the approved make and model of battery that is supplied in the Kit Of Parts. This is precisely analogous to what they specify for the motors used in the competition - you can use only the approved make and model of motor, in the quantities specified, on your robot during the competitions. You can purchase all you want for development and as spares. You can do anything you want for prototyping. But you can't use any alternate motors on the robot during competition. If the motor in this year's kit is different than the motor in last year's kit, you can't use last year's motor. The batteries are being handled in exactly the same way.
And for those that are whining "but I bought a whole bunch of extra batteries last year and want to use them again" I will just point out once again that FIRST and many others have repeatedly cautioned against purchasing anything in advance of the kickoff in anticipation of using it on the 2007 robots. Messages like the one below have been repeated here and elsewhere many, many times. If you chose to ignore that advice, you do so at your own peril.
Quote:
Let me just take this opportunity to repeat an earlier comment. I would strongly recommend that teams do not go out on any big spending sprees, purchasing lots of mechanisms, stockpiling stuff in anticipation of some expected use in their 2007 robots. Wait until after kick-off and until you know the challenge, constraints, and limitations that may be included in the rules. Teams do not yet know what may be included in the 2007 rules that may constrain sources for additional (non-KOP) parts, limit purchased components to a given level of complexity, restrict the cost or size of additional elements, proscribe the permissibility of pre-ordering parts and components, or define the timing under which materials for the competition robots may be purchased. It would be a shame if a team were to commit a significant portion of a limited budget on a component pre-ordered before the 2007 kick-off, only to find once they read the rules that the component was not permitted in the 2007 FRC competition.
Just a word to the wise...
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-dave