Preseason Design: What are the Limits?

[Dan Richardson]

Originally Posted by AndyB

<R17>

Your clear to create drawings and stuff before the kickoff. You could use your design base as a prototype, but not on the official robot.

Again, things could change next year.

Just to be clear I want to know where your vote lies, we have the rules sited but does this directly apply to things like White Papers. And if so it is pertinent to say that using the design from anything but Dewalts would be illegal unless redesigned by each team? ( BTW sorry I'm picking on this one paper it just happens to be one of the most popular and an easy example to use, I have nothing against it. )

This is where I want a clear consensus, I understand that using dim for dim of your OWN personal drawings for your team is illegal, as well it should be to establish a fair platform for rookies entering the season. I kind of assumed this when I authored this original post. However what I am not clear about is what could be called "COTSD," commercially off the shelf designs/drawings. Things that are available to anyone who desires to have them and can use them completely unmodified before the season starts. Why can't these drawings follow the same rules as COTS, where you can accumulate them and use them if they apply during the season, but only if they remain unmodified.

I really am not trying to be belligerent here, I have never designed anything preseason that was used, In fact I've never even had the chance to build a functioning prototype. But I do believe this is an important issue when it comes to teams policing themselves. Obviously honesty often breaks down and teams will use things that are illegal, we see it every year. But for those that try to remain honest, where is the line, are the use of "COTSD" actually illegal? If they are illegal, should they be? And if they should be illegal explain to me how they are any different than their physical alternative, "COTS."