2015 New/Changed ROBOT Rules

[cgmv123]

The purpose of this thread is to track/discuss which ROBOT rules differ from the 2014 ROBOT rules or are new this season.

• R2: Team Numbers are no longer required to be displayed on bumpers.
• R3: New sizing criteria for the second time in 3 seasons.
• R4: Any bumpers are now count toward the ROBOT weight.
• R8 Blue Box H and I: Mercury contacts and voltages over 24v are expressly listed as unsafe.
• R10 Blue Box EXAMPLE 3: Added to clarify wheels that are commonly used in sets of four can be costed individually.
• R12: COTS Electrical Components with connectors are exempted from reuse restrictions.
• R18: With the exception of CIM motors, all FRC legal motors are allowed in unlimited quantities.
• R20: In addition to listing part numbers, specifications for legal FRC batteries are given.
• R21: (Finally) extra batteries not being used for power are explicitly disallowed.
• R25: Other Anderson SB connectors besides the SB50 are allowed.
• R31: Controller power change due to new control system.
• R32: Radio power change due to new control system.
• R33: Power requirement of new control system.
• R36: Fuse replacement of new PDP.
• R37: Limits for PCMs/VRMs into main WAGO connectors on PDP.
• R41 A: Victor SP and Talon SRX are legal motor controllers.
• R41 C: PCM is a legal pneumatics controller.
• R45: The cRIO is not a legal robot controller.
• R54: Two ROBOT signal lights are allowed (at least one is required as in the past).
• R55: "Gluing" is not an example of modifying control system components.
• R55 G: "Thermal interface material" is exempted from restrictions on modifying control system components.
• R58 B & C: Motors and servos can only be controlled by passive or approved active MXP devices.
• R60: The PCM must be controlled over CAN.
• R61: The PDP must be on the CAN bus. Thus, all teams are required to use CAN.
• R62: The roboRIO must be on the CAN bus and be able to exercise exclusive control over all CAN devices.
• R66 I: White Clippard Tanks are not legal.
• R77: The specified Nason pressure switch must be used.

I think that's everything. The most interesting changes, to me, are R18: ((mostly) unlimited* motors! ), R55 (does this mean hot glue is allowed to secure connections?), and R77 (Those pressure switches are notorious for being inconsistent.)

*Of course, motors are heavy, and your robot still needs to weigh less than 120 lbs.