Legality of CADing components before build season?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by lemiant

I know that it is lawyering, but I thought I'd point out that since we don't have the 2012 manual now; unless FIRST tells us not to create designs NOW, then they cannot reasonably expect not to use what we will have created when they release the rule prohibiting it in 6 months

However, it can be argued that since the 2012 manual has not been released, the 2011 manual is still in effect. Thus, the 2011 rules are still in effect...

FIRST does not restrict prototyping designs before the competition. However, they do restrict taking the exact design used--or the exact prototype--and using it in competition--or have in the past. You must make some change to be in compliance with the rules. This competition is an engineering competition*; sometimes engineering involves taking past designs and changing them to fit your current problem.

Usually, FIRST's method of enforcing this rule group is to change the game every year. Sometimes, they also change the robot dimensions or other robot requirements--this throws off any designs that already exist, just enough to require them to be retuned. (2005, dimensions; 2009, wheels)

*OK, not totally...but for now, I'm just considering that aspect of it.