[ajlapp]

To answer a few of the above posts.

is Team 221 LLC associated with FRC team 221?

There is no FRC221. There used to be, it was my team. It was in operation from 1999 until 2003 when it became FRC857. The name Team 221 LLC. is a reference to my old team number, which I hold dear. It is also a reasonable moniker for a robot technology company that doesn't have a specific market, but believes in learning via competition.

For that matter, does the company meet all of the 2008 criteria for vendors? Do you have a tax ID, for example? It's pretty clear that real vendors have to be able to manage the (difficult-to-predict) demand from teams, and ship parts in a timely fashion.

Team 221 LLC. is a registered business in Michigan and we do have a Federal Employer ID. We are prepared to handle the potential demand of 2000 teams without appreciable delay in shipping. All components are made in the US with the possible exception of the AM ball bearings.

The products listed on my website are intended for use by anyone interested in designing their own mobile robot. Just like Andymark, my products can be used for myriad things.

If you wanted to use my components for FIRST you'd have to carefully review the 2009 rules and follow them. I have conveniently designed my chassis around the common FIRST packaging constraints and included Andymark components in all relevant places. This makes the product familiar to most FIRSTers.

But it is worth noting that, under previous rules, many of these items would be illegal for use on a FRC competition robot. Specifically, several of the cataloged items are in violation of the "no item over $400" rule.

Any items listed on the website that exceed $400 are packages. They are simply convenient links to groups of items all costing $400 or less.

In addition, the level of "completeness" of this solution would certainly cause me to read the opening paragraphs of Section 8.3 of last year's rules very carefully.

The Rolling Chassis Package is a grouping of machined components that uses AM sprockets and spacers in conjunction with the FIRST Kit wheel to help teams get their base up and running. Aside from the custom side rails that my company produces, the majority of the remaining components can be bought or found in the kit of parts.