Legality of MDL-BDC (Brown Jags)

[Stuart]

Ok running this up the CD pole before I submit an official Q&A ( in case I didn't read something right )

Ok so we can use any COTS part <$400 (generally) for our electrical system
COTS is defined as nationally(+/-) available.

As far as I can tell any one that is selling Jags is selling the new MDL-BDC24 (Black Jags) and not the MDL-BDC (Brown Jags), so you cant buy Brown Jags. Does this make the brown Jags illegal for the 2011 season?
all documentation for the JAGs and CAN have specs for both the Brown and Black versions, Even the Luminary Micro website that FIRST links to shows that the Brown Jags are kit legal ( note the chart at the bottom).

So my problem is that the documentation for the items shows them as legal but the official rules dont make any exception for the non-COTS nature of the Brown Jags, and as we all know the official rules are the only docs that matter.


can some one tell me I'm wrong so I can get some sleep.

[Vikesrock]

I believe a Grey Jag would fall under <R29>. A Grey Jag was also offered through FIRST Choice which has been labeled as an extension of the KOP on Bill's Blog.

<R29> COTS items from ROBOTS entered in previous FIRST competitions or COTS items that are no longer commercially available may be used under the following conditions:
A. The item must be functionally equivalent to the original condition as delivered from the VENDOR (e.g. a part that has non-functional label markings added would be permitted, but a part that has device-specific mounting holes added would be prohibited), and
B. The item must satisfy ALL applicable 2011 FRC materials/parts use rules.

Having said that I would ask the Q&A anyway due to the manual using the phrase "approved power regulating device" in <R48> with no official list of what is approved.

[WizenedEE]

I think there's some exception for functionally equivalent items, because it wouldn't make much sense for the teams to throw out all the old components every time a company comes out with a new item.

[Stuart]

R29 awesome. Well still submit a Q&A but at least I don't have to spend Monday morning ordering another $400 worth of speed controllers

you know no matter how long you do this and how many times you read those rules you always learn something new.

Thanks guys.