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Unread 03-03-2008, 00:28
Alex Golec Alex Golec is offline
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Re: 1519 - One Dual-Config Robot or Two Robots?

Quote:
ROBOT: Anything that has passed ROBOT inspection that a TEAM places on the TRACK prior to the start of a MATCH
I recall seeing at one point that a robot was minimally an RC, radio, and battery - you could place those components in a cardboard box and call it a robot. However, that is most likely from an older set of rules.

For this year, I have not yet found a list of required components for a "minimalist" robot. It seems as though your drive base was being considered the "minimal" component. Nowhere in the rules does it state that your robot must drive (Although you risk impeding traffic). Hence, that cannot logically be the "minimal" component to define a "ROBOT."

Personally, I agree with your decision - the RC and Radio are the core components of the "ROBOT," and the drivebase, frame, and arm are modular additions to that panel, and to the extent of my knowledge, this is legal per the 2008 rules. If all your components can pass inspection, then yes, it should be legal.

Here's where it may get tricky - if your electronics board is the "stationary" component in the sizing, then it should be mounted at the same "x,y coordinates" on both robots. From the looks of it, Mach 6 is small enough that this should not be a problem.

The disqualification of your robot's dual configuration on the grounds that "if it looks like two robots, it is two robots" is baseless and irrational according to the rules. Consider this: if I built two radically different arms that drastically changed the appearance of my robot, should I be only be allowed to use one configuration? NO. Making the whole robot a module is creative, unique, and innovative. Kudos on taking this risk.

-Alex Golec
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