Springs?!

[AdamHeard]

I believe this falls under stored energy from deformed parts in rule <R02>. It should be legal unless it is deemed dangerous.

[David]

it is legal unless deemed a hazard. we checked it before

[StashZabriski]

Thanks! I skipped <R02> when I was going through the manual. Wasn't thinking of it as energy :-(

~Stash~

[1493kd]

How do they determine if a spring is safe or not... Our team wants to deploy our ramp using spring loaded hinges and dampers to slow down the speed. I think as long as there was no way it could come undone during play outside the homezone this would be alright...Am i correct

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Stored energy devices will be checked when inspected. Things that inspectors will look for are items not designed as springs but used to store energy (i.e. deformed materials, surgical tubing, etc.) and those items designed for this purpose but implemented in a way that makes their use unsafe or beyond the design criteria of the part. There is nothing worse then to be standing on the sidelines and get hit by a spring that broke when it was tensioned beyond it's breaking point. (wow that hurts!)

[Justin M.]

I'd be careful with using springs as a ramp deployment system. If it shoots out too fast then it could be deemed as a hazard to other robots.