20-10-2016, 14:10
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no bag, vex only, final destination
AKA: Pinecone
 FRC #0228 (GUS Robotics); FRC #2170 (Titanium Tomahawks) Team Role: Mentor
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Rookie Year: 2006
Location: Glastonbury, CT
Posts: 7,601
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Re: Eliminating "Start Build Day"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure
If I can rephrase the question:
Can you make something "COTS" just by publishing the design information about it?
No. COTS items are defined in the 2016 game manual as being standard parts that are available by sale (i.e. money must change hands) from VENDORS. There is a list of 5 qualification criteria for an entity to be considered a VENDOR. Just publishing the design information about something does not make it COTS.
Are FABRICATED ITEMS treated any differently w/r/t the schedule rules if they are functionally equivalent to COTS parts?
No.
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As far as I can tell, a literal reading of the 2016 rules does not permit COTS items (that are not electrical components) that were "created before Kickoff" from being used! The rule that creates the fabrication schedule restriction is R13:
Quote:
Physical ROBOT elements created before Kickoff are not permitted. Exceptions are:
A. OPERATOR CONSOLE,
B. BUMPERS (a protective assembly designed to attach to the exterior of the ROBOT and
constructed as specified in Section 4.7 BUMPER Rules),
C. battery assemblies per R5,
D. FABRICATED ITEMS consisting of one COTS electrical device (e.g. a motor or motor
controller), connectors, and any materials used to secure and insulate those connectors
Quote:
Please note that this means that FABRICATED ITEMS from ROBOTS
entered in previous FIRST competitions may not be used on ROBOTS
in the 2016 FIRST Robotics Competition (other than those allowed
per R13-B, R13-C, and R13-D). Before the formal start of the FIRST
Robotics Competition Build Season, Teams are encouraged to think
as much as they please about their ROBOTS. They may develop
prototypes, create proof-of-concept models, and conduct design
exercises. Teams may gather all the raw stock materials and COTS
COMPONENTS they want.
Example 1: A Team designs and builds a two-speed shifting
transmission during the fall as a training exercise. After Kickoff, they
utilize all the design principles they learned in the fall to design their
ROBOT. To optimize the transmission design for their ROBOT, they
improve the transmission gear ratios and reduce the size, and build
two new transmissions, and place them on the ROBOT. All parts of this
process are permitted activities.
Example 2: A Team re-uses a 2016-legal motor from a previous Robot
which has had connectors added to the wires. This is permitted, per
exception D, because the motor is a COTS electrical COMPONENT
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I skimmed the rules a few times and actually cannot find the rule anywhere that permits COTS items created before Kickoff. That has to be a rule somewhere, right?
__________________
Mentor / Drive Coach: 228 (2016-?)
...2016 Waterbury SFs (with 3314, 3719), RIDE #2 Seed / Winners (with 1058, 6153), Carver QFs (with 503, 359, 4607)
Mentor / Consultant Person: 2170 (2017-?)
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College Mentor: 2791 (2010-2015)
...2015 TVR Motorola Quality, FLR GM Industrial Design
...2014 FLR Motorola Quality / SFs (with 341, 4930)
...2013 BAE Motorola Quality, WPI Regional #1 Seed / Delphi Excellence in Engineering / Finalists (with 20, 3182)
...2012 BAE Imagery / Finalists (with 1519, 885), CT Xerox Creativity / SFs (with 2168, 118)
Student: 1714 (2009) - 2009 Minnesota 10,000 Lakes Regional Winners (with 2826, 2470)
2791 Build Season Photo Gallery - Look here for mechanism photos My Robotics Blog (Updated April 11 2014)
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Sometimes, it takes years to gain respect and to learn to understand the opportunities that avail themselves to those who pay attention, are willing to learn from the best, and dig deeper into understanding what it means to be a competitive FRC team. - JaneYoung [more] 
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