Opinion Poll: Proliferation of Prefbricated Parts

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

I agree with everything in your post (I have no problems at all with the current suppliers), except this. If FIRST (either HQ or the teams/community) decided they don't want 'purchasable robots' something could be done.

(As someone involved with FTC this year) The FTC rules for 2015-16 state:

Originally Posted by FTC - RM01 (c.)

COTS parts and assemblies may only have a maximum of a single degree of freedom. It is the intent of FIRST that Teams design and build their devices to achieve the game challenge. Assemblies of COTS components, such as linear slides, and gearboxes are allowed while a pre-fabricated gripper assembly designed to grab the game elements is not. Holonomic wheels (omni or mechanum) are exempt from the one degree of freedom limitation.

So, it is not impossible that FRC may at some point have a similar sort of rule to push back on complete COTS solutions. (Though the specific rule would sure put a damper on shifting gearboxes, etc.)