Dangerous precedent set by Q&A 461: Loaning Parts/Assemblies to other teams

[Brandon Holley]

Some of the most inspirational in-competition moments have occurred from loaning parts/assemblies. I know we personally have helped dozens of our elimination alliance partners in the past enhance capability, whether it be through speeding up intake mechanisms, autonomous changes, added structural support or even sometimes completely new mechanisms.

What I do not understand is the ridiculous emphasis on mechanical components. This is why I feel the ruling is not promoting the intent/underlying message of the rule it is trying to enforce. If we essentially didn't want other team's intellectual property on another teams robot- then this rule would also apply to software, or sensor integration. Instead its focused purely on spare parts and components?

I feel that sometimes the baby is tossed with the bath water in these rulings. Everyone jumps to the powerhouses of the world trying to add to their alliances firepower. What about the rookie team who arrives with nothing but a box of parts? Well if we followed the letter of the rule, this team may have a tough time gathering the components necessary to take the field.

Why is it an issue for a team with additional resources to try to enhance the capability of their potential partners (or even opponents)?


This is just a big departure from what I've come to expect from FRC teams at events. The collaboration sometimes is the best part.

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Some of the most inspirational in-competition moments have occurred from loaning parts/assemblies. I know we personally have helped dozens of our elimination alliance partners in the past enhance capability, whether it be through speeding up intake mechanisms, autonomous changes, added structural support or even sometimes completely new mechanisms.

Ironically, the story I've heard several times from FIRST officials at various events is the story of how a robot failed to arrive at a competition and all of the other teams contributed to build a new robot in one day so the team could compete. That single act of the best "coopertition" would now be illegal. What stories will FIRST be able to tell now?