Duct Tape

[yamo18]

Hello everyone. My team is wondering if we can use Duct Tape on our wheels? This would be placed over the treads, probably in a few layers.

[Joe Ross]

No you may not. See <R14>.

[i_am_Doug]

well duct tape is a great fixer (if you dont have a hammer)
and you dont need anything fixed so...

[tkwetzel]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

No you may not. See <R14>.

Though you will probably not be allowed to use it as rules from the past have prohibited it, you will not know for sure until the 2005 game rules come out on Jan. 8th.

[artic_raven]

unfortunately there is a rule agaist useing duct tape of all things. i dont know why but there is one... the only tape that we are allowed to use is electrical tape. once again i think that first should repeal this rule because duct tape would only help a great number of teams

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally Posted by artic_raven

... the only tape that we are allowed to use is electrical tape.

Note that electrical tape may be used only to insulate electronics -- not for anything else.

<R14> Electrical tape may only be used as an electrical insulator. Velcro tape or double-sided sticky foam may be used for attaching components to the robot. Adhesive-backed cable mounts may be used. Small amounts of reflective tape may be used for counting wheel revolutions. Adhesive backed labels may be used for labeling purposes. No other adhesive backed tapes are allowed.

Originally Posted by artic_raven

once again i think that first should repeal this rule because duct tape would only help a great number of teams

Disallowing certain common materials is part of the challenge!! Not having a weight, size or time requirement would "help" a lot of teams too, but it would sure take away from the challenge of the competition!

[JohnBoucher]

Sorry if this throws this into a different direction, but what about VHB (Very High Bond) automotive type tape? Does that qualify as double sided? Does anyone want to confess to thinking about using it?

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by JohnBoucher

Sorry if this throws this into a different direction, but what about VHB (Very High Bond) automotive type tape? Does that qualify as double sided? Does anyone want to confess to thinking about using it?

A double sided tape used to attatch something to something else would be considered a fastener and therefore would be legal, according to previous rules. Any type of fastener is legal and double sided tape would be a form of bonding.

Duct tape and other tapes may be used as long as they are used as non-functional decoration. So you can use duct tape to give your robot that stylish "held together by duct tape and bailing wire" look, but actually using it to hold something together is not allowed.

ChrisH

[NoodleKnight]

What about teflon tape?

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally Posted by NoodleKnight

What about teflon tape?

Going back to <R14> it states: "... No other adhesive backed tapes are allowed."

So, teflon tape is indeed legal, as it is not an adhesive backed tape.

[tkwetzel]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

...So you can use duct tape to give your robot that stylish "held together by duct tape and bailing wire" look, but actually using it to hold something together is not allowed.

ChrisH

Novel idea...you would have an original looking robot, but would have to prove that it wasn't holding the bot together during insepction. Time to go add tape to robot