[Justin M.]

Originally Posted by Dave Flowerday

Delays are excused: "Such delays due to higher-than-normal order rates are excused." Unavailability is not: "The VENDOR makes their products available to all FIRST Robotics Competition teams. VENDORS must not limit supply or make a product available to just a limited number of FIRST Robotics Competition teams." This is a permanent unavailability, not a delay.

I will not claim to be a materials-utilization-rules expert, but as I read this, the 256:1 gearbox which is no longer available now cannot be considered a COTS item, and wouldn't that mean that it is no longer legal for use by any team?

They can't possibly be COTS items now. If our team was relying on these motors (and we sort of were), then it would hinder the completion of our robot. My guess is that to be a COTS item, it would need to be availible to any FIRST team during any period of the 6 week build season. It's the end of the 4th week and they are not availible, nor will they be availible in time for the end of the 2007 build season.