Compressor Rule Question

[Sanchberry]

What if we use one compressor and fill up the tanks with an on-board compressor in our pit before the match, and use the same Air compressor in matches

[nicholsjj]

I think the bigger issue can come in with pneumatics and the battery. If you precharge your system with a "fill" battery wouldn't that violate R34 being that the stored air on your system was from a second battery making you have a two battery power system. If the compressor off board is the exact same as the one on board of the robot wouldn't that be the same as switching the cost compressor between matches. It doesn't give any advantage to the team and in my opinion it is safer due to the system being less heated. I understand that two nonidentical compressors would be against the rules, but isn't swapping out two identical compressors the same as swapping out batteries between filling the system?

[FrankJ]

Originally Posted by Sanchberry

What if we use one compressor and fill up the tanks with an on-board compressor in our pit before the match, and use the same Air compressor in matches

If you are using the same compressor, that is only one compressor?

Q&A Q382 seems to rule against off board air storage.

You can change batteries after charging your air tanks. If you were to ask, the GDC would probably reply that compressors aren't batteries.

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

You can change batteries after charging your air tanks. If you were to ask, the GDC would probably reply that compressors aren't batteries.

And the GDC was asked, and Yes they replied, see Q88.

But no, no comparison was made that batteries aren't compressors</humor></poetry>

[Jaxom]

Originally Posted by seg9585

Against the rules? If the arms are identical then I'm not seeing why your example is illegal. T8 clearly describes that mechanisms changed between matches are acceptable if they meet inspection criteria.

Still not sure why such an attitude about the compressor exists here. The rules state you are only allowed 1 and only 1 battery on the robot yet they are changed every match. Why is the Compressor not a replaceable part? This is not an attempt to gain some sort of advantage, its a safety issue.

Sorry, I was posting on a phone and left out an important part of my post, concerning how much the robot weighs. What I meant concerned a robot that would be overweight when the 2nd arm was added in. See R5, which is an important part of T8; make sure you understand the definition of MECHANISM when you read those. If you bring both arms in your bag (or as part of your 45 lbs) and weigh them both as part of your 120 lbs, then it would be legal to constantly swap them before and after your practice matches.

As has been stated above, compressors are not batteries. Of course the compressor is a replaceable part, but you replace parts when they're broken, and "hot" doesn't equal "broken" for compressors. If you're concerned that the rules don't specifically state that you're allowed to have more than one battery & put in a fresh one before each match, but can't replace compressors at will, you should submit a question to the Q&A.