<R38> and adhesive backed tape in 2008

[Alan Anderson]

I thought I'd buck the trend a bit and cheer for a rule in the manual that doesn't seem to have received any attention yet. <R38> is the general prohibition against using tape as a structural element, but it looks like there's a new exception this year:

"Textured or coated tapes may be used to provide an alternate surface finish or treatment to a portion of the ROBOT."

[Drwurm]

Sounds nice in a pinch if you need to gain a little texture. Of course, if you're using tape to make your robot more effective, you've probably overlooked a better, more permanent, solution...

[EricH]

Sounds like something that should have been around last year...But I'm sure teams will now find new and creative ways to use this.

*goes off to think about places to put it on a robot*

[GaryVoshol]

Yeah, I saw that. Would have saved all the "when is tape not tape" discussions last year.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

This rule was part of last year's competition season. It is the rule under which certain adhesive backed "sandpaper" like and rubber materials were allowed to be used on the ramps.

[Gdeaver]

I would hate to see this prohibition relaxed to the point that duct tape was allowed.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

This rule was part of last year's competition season. It is the rule under which certain adhesive backed "sandpaper" like and rubber materials were allowed to be used on the ramps.

Are you sure the quoted sentence was in the rules last year? It's not in the copy of the 2007 rules I have handy (the rule was <R35> then). Last year's Q&A said "non-skid tape" was not allowed.

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=1314

I believe some teams were able to find products labeled "sheeting" instead of "tape" and skirt the rule.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Alan,
The decision was made by the inspector and the team was under the gun to prove that the product did not say "tape" on the label. However, adhesive backed materials were allowed. It was a fine line that has been addressed with the new language you have qouted.

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Are you sure the quoted sentence was in the rules last year? It's not in the copy of the 2007 rules I have handy (the rule was <R35> then). Last year's Q&A said "non-skid tape" was not allowed.

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=1314

I believe some teams were able to find products labeled "sheeting" instead of "tape" and skirt the rule.

We had to go through the drill last year. We used a 3M product called adhesive tread. We had to bring the box to the inspector to prove that the word "tape" was no where on the box. We were ready to do this after floating the issue through the GDC Q&A.

I'm happy to see the rule changed this year but it would be nice to see a prohibition for duck tape.

[NoSkaOnTheRadio]

Originally Posted by Gdeaver

I would hate to see this prohibition relaxed to the point that duct tape was allowed.

I think F.I.R.S.T. would realize the implications of that long before it ever occurred.

Like waaay long.

I'm sure the thought hasn't even begun to speculate about crossing the game designers' minds.

(bonus points for identification of silly hitchhiking reference...)

[hipsterjr]

Does this mean that pink's design is legal?

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/img...c500b3c4_s.jpg

[Cynette]

Originally Posted by ebarker

I'm happy to see the rule changed this year but it would be nice to see a prohibition for duck tape.

Bold Emphasis is mine...

It is so rare that I get to pick on an engineer for this, so I can't help myself!

No ducks were harmed in the manufacture or use of this product!!

Something for you all to remember if you pursue a technical career, while there is "Duck" brand duct tape, it is very important to know when a duck is a duck and a duct is a duct. Several years ago we fired an engineer for incompetence. One of the signs of his ineptitude was that all of his ventilation drawings labeled the ducts as ducks.

[Jon Stratis]

One thing to keep in mind that our team learned the hard way last year - anything that's not bolted on with lock-tite (or equivalent), welded, or otherwise attacked to take a beating can hurt you! We lost the semifinals last year because an alliance robot had some "decorative fabric" hanging off their robot all the way to the ground - thus no bonus points for having them on top of us. Some member of the team attached the fabric strip using (or so rumor has it) nail polish...

Tape can lose it's cohesiveness and drop off the robot, get pulled into your drive train, and cause some major problems!

[Vikesrock]

I agree that this is a great modification to the old rule. Last year we ran into an issue with metal contacting carpet on our lifting mechanism, it was not legal to cover it with tape, but it was legal to cover it with the KOP Microchip stickers; That's a bit absurd if you ask me.

This rule should allow teams to use any adhesive backed material to change surfaces instead of just finding those that aren't labeled "tape"

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by Cynette

Bold Emphasis is mine...

It is so rare that I get to pick on an engineer for this, so I can't help myself!

No ducks were harmed in the manufacture or use of this product!!

Something for you all to remember if you pursue a technical career, while there is "Duck" brand duct tape, it is very important to know when a duck is a duck and a duct is a duct. Several years ago we fired an engineer for incompetence. One of the signs of his ineptitude was that all of his ventilation drawings labeled the ducts as ducks.

Yeah, I was debating whether I wanted to spell it duct, duck, duk, duc, etc.

Doesn't really have anything to do with ducts either. The History Channel had a neat program about the history and manufacture of the aforementioned adhesive product.