Do we have to use a compressor.

[EricRobodox]

We did this last year, an off board compressor, basically get all your old batteries, a KOP compressor, a relay and create a simple board that you take to competitions. This is completely legal. We did this last year as i said, but we also showed like 3 other teams how to do this, and helped 696 make one in Arizona i think it was, maybe LA, cant remeber. But my friend and i built it for the team, it was definetly a good choice because the only weight of pneumatics were the pistons and the valves (solenoids, regulator, gauges) basically. Very light and not too much harder to manage. If you want to be even better, add to the compressor a bunch of air tanks, that way you dont have to turn the compressor on with the robot for a long time, you can just have the stored air transfered into the robot between matches.


Note: If you want to build one, do follow exactly the BOM to make it as i said, i mentioned just a lazy parts list for it, there are a few more electronics involved. lol.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by EricRobodox

We did this last year, an off board compressor, basically get all your old batteries, a KOP compressor, a relay and create a simple board that you take to competitions. This is completely legal. ...If you want to be even better, add to the compressor a bunch of air tanks, that way you dont have to turn the compressor on with the robot for a long time, you can just have the stored air transfered into the robot between matches.

Eric and everyone, this method is not legal this year and was doubtful last year. Please check the rulebook as outlined above. The compressor needs to be under RC control and will be checked during inspection.

[steveg]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Eric and everyone, this method is not legal this year and was doubtful last year. Please check the rulebook as outlined above. The compressor needs to be under RC control and will be checked during inspection.

It wasn't really legal last year. That was the method we were attempting, and in Boston it was deemed illegal. We talked to some Innovation First guys, and decided that to make it legal, we wired a spike to a switch, and had him with us telling the judge it was OK during reinspection.


...


The next team update clearifed that rule, and stated that the compressor spike needed to be controlled by the RC, probably because of me.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by EricRobodox

We did this last year, an off board compressor, basically get all your old batteries, a KOP compressor, a relay and create a simple board that you take to competitions. This is completely legal. We did this last year as i said, but we also showed like 3 other teams how to do this, and helped 696 make one in Arizona i think it was, maybe LA, cant remeber. But my friend and i built it for the team, it was definetly a good choice because the only weight of pneumatics were the pistons and the valves (solenoids, regulator, gauges) basically. Very light and not too much harder to manage. If you want to be even better, add to the compressor a bunch of air tanks, that way you dont have to turn the compressor on with the robot for a long time, you can just have the stored air transfered into the robot between matches.


Note: If you want to build one, do follow exactly the BOM to make it as i said, i mentioned just a lazy parts list for it, there are a few more electronics involved. lol.

Originally Posted by rules

<R101> The compressor may be mounted on the ROBOT, or it may be left off the ROBOT and used to pre-charge compressed air in the storage tanks prior to bringing the ROBOT onto the playing field. Off-board compressors must be controlled and powered by the ROBOT. The only difference between an on- and off-board compressor is that the off-board compressor is physically removed from the ROBOT. Note: the intent of this rule is to permit teams to take advantage of the weight savings associated with keeping the compressor off-board. But using the compressor off-board of the ROBOT does NOT permit non-compliance with any other applicable rules.

This is not legal this year. Off board compressors must still be controlled and powered by the robot.