2014 Orlando Regional

[Kevin Sevcik]

I'm amused that everyone's jumping on the battery argument after Duncan and I had that out several pages back.

I'll point out again what I think is a cogent change in the rules. In 2012, the Q&A specifically ruled against counterweight batteries. That year's battery rule had the clause "This is the only battery allowed on the Robot." Plus the same COTS computing exceptions. Which makes it pretty obvious that dead weight batteries aren't legal. That clause is missing in the 2013 and 2014 rules.

2013 had a single relevant Q&A: "Can we use more than one battery?" "No." Which is somewhat vague as to the use of said battery. As of Orlando, there were no relevant Q&As.

We're always reminded that this year's rules aren't last year's rules, and the omission of an obvious and clear prohibition against dead weight batteries really would make one wonder about the current feeling on the subject.

Originally Posted by GearsOfFury

On this year's inspection checklist - which is used as the "official" tracking document at the regionals I've inspected at - there is a section for re-inspection sign-off:

http://www.usfirst.org//sites/defaul...list_Rev-B.pdf

(Reference the "Reinsp" and "Final Insp (initial)" areas). It appears on last year's form, as well:

http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...nChecklist.pdf

I don't know if this section is used religiously, because I've never been an inspector on Saturday afternoon. To me, in general, the official re-inspection should be tracked here, particularly if it's not done by the LRI.

You may as well have kept going to embarrass us further. That line does, in fact, go back to 2011, and I suppose I'd failed to notice it the past 3 years on inspection. I'm not usually the one signing the form, anyways. I suppose it is both the team's and the inspector's responsibility to make sure that gets signed each time you get re-inspected. So I guess I'll be annoying our LSR inspectors after all.