robot

[latonya]

If we are not finish with our robot can we just ship the drive train. Are we allowed to have a back up robot that we can switch parts with the original robot.

[EricH]

You must ship the whole robot. When you get to the event, ask for help if needed.
Having a second robot at your facility is fine. Bringing it to competitions is not.

The intent of the ship date is "Tools down". Read the fabrication schedule in Section 8. It actually says that. Tools down means tools down. The only work you can do is during a FIX-IT window.

[ALIBI]

<R28> During the Build Season: During the period between the Kick-off and ROBOT shipment deadline, teams are to design and fabricate all the COMPONENTS and MECHANISMS required to complete their ROBOT. They are encouraged to use all the materials, sources and resources available to them that are in compliance with the rules of the 2008 FIRST Robotics competition. When the ROBOT shipment deadline arrives, all work on the ROBOT must cease and the ROBOT must be placed in a “hands-off” condition. The entire ROBOT (including all FABRICATED ITEMS intended for use during the competition in alternative configurations of the ROBOT) and OPERATOR CONSOLE must be crated and out of team hands by the shipment deadline specified in Section 4.5.1.1.

You must ship everything except your batteries (which you can ship if you want to). We have been known to ship a drive train, partially completed mechanisms and lots of other parts to our first regional and assemble them there. You must ship all the parts, including but not limited to the drive train, bumpers, contol board, RC controlers, joysitcks etc. Help is always available when you get to your first regional.