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.

[Chris is me]

You forgot one of the most important rule changes: The omission of bumper rules entirely. Any bumpers built need to fit in the height and weight restriction like any other robot part, and there is no requirement.

[Jacob Bendicksen]

Thanks for putting this together. R66 is interesting, too - I guess too many of them exploded.

[Redo91]

I want to add R4. The optional bumpers are included in the 120lb weight limit.

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by Jacob Bendicksen

R66 is interesting, too - I guess too many of them exploded.

The tanks no longer being legal was going to happen sooner or later, especially with other available tanks being equivalent or superior. (And of course, safer).

[sanddrag]

I just hope the inspectors do not insist that we remove our white non-Clippard tanks like they did last year...

[nicholsjj]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

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

• R54: Two ROBOT signal lights are allowed (at least one is required as in the past).

You have been allowed to use as many signal lights as you wanted even though it wasn't really something most teams did, our team has used two the past two years for a "headlight", but now you can only use up to two.

[TheHolyHades1]

If I am reading the rules right, we seem to be able to build a robot which extends to any size/shape during gameplay, provided that it stays within safety rules and is under the 78" height limit, and that it packs down to the required size when transporting?

[orangemoore]

Originally Posted by TheHolyHades1

If I am reading the rules right, we seem to be able to build a robot which extends to any size/shape during gameplay, provided that it stays within safety rules and is under the 78" height limit, and that it packs down to the required size when transporting?

Yes. You are reading that right.

[Jacob Bendicksen]

Originally Posted by TheHolyHades1

If I am reading the rules right, we seem to be able to build a robot which extends to any size/shape during gameplay, provided that it stays within safety rules and is under the 78" height limit, and that it packs down to the required size when transporting?

Additionally, it should be able to transform between the transportation configuration and match configuration in less than 60 seconds.

[Monochron]

I would call out R3 (or the associated rule) as specifically stating that there are no length and width restrictions, only a height restriction.

[Ed Sparks]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I just hope the inspectors do not insist that we remove our white non-Clippard tanks like they did last year...

When stuff like this happens, you should bring it to the LRI's attention. The LRI is responsible for resolving these issues but only if He/She knows about it.

[Chris Endres]

These robot rules are Old School. I like Old School.