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Originally Posted by 2007 FRC Manual Part 8 Rev G
8.3.3 Fabrication Schedule
One of the fundamental values of FIRST is the concept of “gracious professionalism.” FIRST
recognizes that it is the responsibility of each team to abide by the fabrication schedule rules defined
below. As compliance with these rules takes place outside of the competition venues, FIRST is not
able to directly monitor compliance. We are relying upon the honor, integrity, and professional
behavior of each team to recognize and abide by the fabrication schedule rules. Teams must design
and construct their ROBOT within the schedule constraints defined below.
Note that the schedule rules apply to both hardware and software development. Hardware and
software design processes are thought-intensive activities, and team members are likely to continue
to consider and analyze their designs long after the ROBOT is shipped. Teams can not be prevented
from thinking about their hardware and software designs, and it is not our intention to do so.
However, the timeline permitted for the development of the actual competition version of the ROBOT
is severely, and intentionally, restricted. Pondering software issues to be resolved, researching
general case solutions, discussing solutions with teammates, collecting raw materials, sketching
mechanisms, preparing tools, and outlining high-level descriptions of software algorithms are all
reasonable activities outside of the scheduled build periods. But completing detailed dimensioned
drawings of parts, and any actual fabrication of any hardware items intended to go on the actual
competition ROBOT is prohibited outside of the approved fabrication periods. On the software side,
developing detailed pseudo-code, writing actual lines of code, verification of syntax, final debugging,
etc would all be considered development of the final software implementation, and must be
completed during the approved fabrication periods.
<R17> Prior to the Kick-off: Before the formal start of the Robot Build Season, teams are
encouraged to think as much as they please about their ROBOTS. They may develop
prototypes, create proof-of-concept models, and conduct design exercises. Teams may
gather all the raw stock materials and COTS COMPONENTS they want. But absolutely no
fabrication or assembly of any elements intended for the final ROBOT is permitted prior to
the Kick-off presentation.
<R18> During the Build Season: During the period between the Kick-off and ROBOT shipment
deadline, teams are to design and fabricate all the COMPONENTS and MECHANISMS
required to complete their ROBOT. They are encouraged to use all the materials, sources
and resources available to them that are in compliance with the rules of the 2007 FIRST
Robotics Competition. When the ROBOT shipment deadline arrives, all work on the
ROBOT must cease and the ROBOT must be placed in a “hands-off” condition. The entire
ROBOT (including all FABRICATED ITEMS intended for use during the competition in
alternative configurations of the ROBOT) and OPERATOR CONSOLE must be crated and
out of team hands by the shipment deadline specified in Section 4.5.1.1.
<R19> During the “FIX-IT WINDOWS” following the shipment of the ROBOT: During this period, all
teams may utilize one or two 5-hour FIX-IT-WINDOWS to manufacture SPARE and
REPLACEMENT PARTS and develop software for their ROBOT at their home facility.
Fabrication of UPGRADE PARTS is not permitted during this period. The timing of these
“FIX-IT WINDOWS” is at the discretion of the team, but all work must be completed by
5:00pm on the Friday following the ROBOT shipment deadline. Teams may manufacture all
the SPARE and REPLACEMENT parts they want, but the amount of parts they can bring to
a competition event is limited (as specified in Rule <R31>).
The intent of the FIX-IT WINDOWS is to permit teams to prepare parts that have, or are likely to,
become damaged during the course of a competition event, so they may continue to participate.
Teams do not have direct access to their ROBOT during these periods, and must rely on information
they generated and documented during the design and build process to determine the fit and function
of any parts developed during FIX-IT WINDOWS. This is true for both hardware and software.
<R20> Prior to the competitions: After the close of the “FIX-IT WINDOWS” and prior to the
competition, the team must put down their tools, cease fabrication of ROBOT parts, and
cease all development of ROBOT software. Take this opportunity to rest, recover from the
build season, and relax. Teams may scout other teams, gather and exchange information,
develop game-playing strategies, collect raw materials, prepare tool kits, plan how to make
repairs, etc. in preparation for the upcoming competitions. But no construction or fabrication
of any hardware, or development of any software, is allowed.
<R21> At the competitions: Teams are allowed to repair, modify or upgrade their competition
ROBOT while participating in a competition event. To support this, teams may bring
SPARE, REPLACEMENT and UPGRADE PARTS and COTS items to the competitions
(within the limits specified in Rules <R30> and <R31>). Work can only be done on-site in
the Pits or at any facility made available to all teams at the event (e.g., in a team’s repair
trailer or a local team’s shop offered to all teams to use). Fabrication may be done when the
Pit area is open for normal operations during the period starting with the opening of the Pit
area on Thursday and ending at 4:00PM on Saturday. All work must be completed when
the Pit area closes each evening. Parts cannot be removed from the competition site and
retained overnight after the Pit area closes.
<R22> During the “FIX-IT WINDOW” following each Regional Competition weekend: During this
period, all teams (not just those teams attending a Regional Competition) may utilize one or
two 5-hour FIX-IT-WINDOWS to manufacture SPARE, REPLACEMENT and UPGRADE
PARTS and develop software for their ROBOT at their home facility (not at the competition
site). The timing of these “FIX-IT WINDOWS” is at the discretion of the team, but all work
must be completed between the opening of the Competition (at 8:30 am on the Thursday
of the Competition weekend) and 8:30 am on the Thursday following the Competition
weekend. At the conclusion of a regional competition event, teams may take a limited
amount of broken or malfunctioning COMPONENTS or MECHANISMS back to their home
facility to make SPARE or REPLACEMENT PARTS. The purpose of this rule is to allow
teams to make critical repairs to existing parts to enable them to compete in following
events. The intent of this rule is not to have teams take their entire ROBOT back home and
make large-scale revisions or upgrades to the ROBOT. Teams may manufacture and/or
repair all the parts they want, but the amount of parts they can bring to the competition
event is limited (as specified in Rule <R31>).
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