Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary Dillard
Of course, I always thought that The Manual was the rules; apparently that is not the case, since according the the Q&A, any latest communication from anyone at FIRST in any form is the official rule.
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Unfortunately, this does appear to be the case.
I'd like to see a defined structure, like FLL has. (Rules < Missions < Q&A, in their case--if a rule is getting in the way of the missions, the Q&A will throw it out.) Currently, the defined structure is, "Whatever we just told you via official channels". Noting that there are no less than 5 official channels (Manual/Update, FRC Email, Bill's Blog, Q&A, Regional Directors) that don't necessarily agree all the time, there needs to be some form of defined hierarchy.
Given those 5 channels, if I had to pick an order: Manual/Update (The Rules) > Q&A (How the Rules will be Enforced) > Bill's Blog (Direct Channel from HQ/GDC) > FRC Email (Direct Channel from HQ/FRCOPS, cleanup) > Regional Directors (FRC Email via a middleman). Note that Updates are part of the Manual; any ruling made elsewhere that affects a rule needs to be noted in the next Update.
Remember the headaches just before ship date, when the GDC (via Bill's Blog and the Updates) increased the Withholding Allowance, then someone asked the official interpreters about bringing in a full lightweight robot (Q&A) and got one ruling, then the Regional Directors passed down another ruling from HQ, then Q&A overruled that, then the final result came in an Update with a split decision? 4/5 channels were used, and they were taking different sides until the Update came out. Not pretty.
I could see for the Championship information, no update might be needed. But one would have been nice.
I'll give you a hand starting that list, Gary.
- Slip rings,
- Electromagnets,
- Permanent magnets,
- Long/wide configuration (you'd be surprised),
- Rotation of the compressor head,
- Relief valve directly on compressor (Do we HAVE to?),
- Extension volume (in applicable years),
- Bumper questions about segments, length, number, coverage, angle within zone, etc., depending on the year.
Within a couple of years of people asking the same questions year after year, they might decide to come out with an official response to this thread that says yea or nay to having a "standing response list" for the "constant" rules.