FIRST 2007 GUIDELINES, TIPS, & GOOD PRACTICES

[dez250]

FIRST has posted the 2007 FRC Guidelines, Tips and Good Practices paper. This 38 page packet includes many points of notice and interest, Specs of information and even a well documented list of suppliers with contact for them. I would suggest to everyone to take the time to read over this document as it does include many things ranging from complete motor specs for this years kit, to the wiring diagram for this years signal light. Below you will find an index breaking down this packet and what each section covers.

G 2007 FIRST Guidelines, Tips, & Good Practices...............2
G.1 General........................2
G.2 Conventions................................2
G.3 SAFETY................................................2
G.3.1 General Shop Safety:.................2
G.3.2 Robot-Specific Safety:.........................3
G.4 Kit of Parts.................................................4
G.5 The Robot - Mechanical.........................................6
G.5.1 General............................................................6
G.5.2 Building the Chassis................................7
G.5.3 DC Motors...........................................................8
G.5.4 The Drive Train........................................11
G.5.5 Miscellaneous.........................................15
G.6 Robot Electrical.............................................16
G.6.1 Building the Electrical System..........................16
G.6.2 12V Power System Overview...............................19
G.6.3 Motor Power Distribution...............................21
G.6.4 Sensors....................................................24
G.6.5 Custom Circuitry..................................27
G.6.6 The Robot Controller....................................27
G.6.7 Operator Interface....................................31
G.7 Robot Pneumatics............................................34
G.7.1 Component Definitions......................................35
G.7.2 Pneumatic Electrical Distribution..........................36
G.7.3 Using Vacuum on the Robot.............................37
G.8 The Final Touch..................37
G.8.1 Signal Light.....................................................37
G.8.2 The Flag Holder.......................................38
G.8.3 One Last Look..................................38

[65_Xero_Huskie]

I found this very usefull, and im glad FIRST put this out because everyone needs a reminder once and a while.

[Tristan Lall]

As a general reminder, be aware that the GTGP document isn't a part of the rules. If there is a contradiction, the rules will be enforced.

Also, there's a quirk in the specifications for the F-P motors (9012) in both the 2006 and 2007 GTGP documents: maximum power is given as 387.5 W, but if you look at FIRST's 2006 spec sheet for that motor, that's in fact the electrical power drawn (W_i), not the mechanical power output (W_o = 171.0 W). (The difference is because of the 44% efficiency at that point on the power curve.)

By way of comparison, the other motors are listed in terms of mechanical power. (I just verified the FR801-001 small CIM has W_i = 698.4 W, and W_o ≈ 337 W, as listed, and I think the others are similarly denoted.) So be aware what's what, when you're designing things.

[jgannon]

In addition to Tristan's notes, this document incorrectly labels the 36mm gearbox as being 16:1, when it is actually 64:1. This could make a huge difference in your design, so be aware.

EDIT: Also, the numbers in this document for the RS-540 vary by 10-20% from the numbers on the Banebots website. YMMV.