BOM Cost questions

[Gary Dillard]

I just posted these 2 in the Q&A:

Rule R13C allows exclusion from total cost of "items ever distributed to the team via FIRST Choice". May a team exclude the cost of an item listed in FIRST Choice but which was not available for distribution due to limited quantities in stock?

Seems like the rule as written gives an unfair advantage to teams that are using the same COTS hardware but were able to get it from FIRST Choice.

Is an off board compressor considered part of the robot for cost calculations? It is not specifically excluded in R13, but it is also not specifically excluded from the weight calculation which is the whole reason for having it off board.

Thoughts?

[Mr. Van]

Hummm... hadn't thought of the FIRST Choice cost situation...

Seems as if teams that were able to order items from FIRST Choice could easily have a several hundred dollar advantage over teams that needed to purchase them separately - those solenoid valves and digital sidecars and large compressors can get expensive!

I hope that since some teams were able to acquire these elements for "free" (that is not part of their total for the cost limit) that all teams should be able to include these items for "free" in the same way.

- Mr. Van
Coach, Robodox

[Cal578]

The question on FIRST Choice parts is tough. The exact wording of the rule, IMHO, says that you must include that part in your total cost. I don't think that's what they meant, so I hope the Q&A clarifies that rule in your favor.

As a backup plan, are you really that close to the limit that this one part will put you over? If not, just count the price, and it won't hurt. If that part puts you over the limit, then you only have two choices: 1) Wait for the Q&A answer, and hope that it is the answer that helps you, or 2) Remove the part. I would start looking into contingency plans right now.

For the compressor, it seems obvious to me that it's not part of the robot. It doesn't count toward the 120 lb limit, so it would be inconsistent to count it toward the cost limit. An off-board compressor is just a tool, much like a battery charger.

[Mr. Van]

Originally Posted by Cal578

For the compressor, it seems obvious to me that it's not part of the robot. It doesn't count toward the 120 lb limit, so it would be inconsistent to count it toward the cost limit. An off-board compressor is just a tool, much like a battery charger.

I don't agree. The rules state that the only difference between an on-board compressor and an off-board compressor is the location of the compressor. An off-board compressor is "part of the robot" for all considerations except weight and location. Seems to me that it should be included in the cost.

Of course, that's just me. Let's see what the Q & A response is.

- Mr. Van
Coach, Robodox

[Cal578]

Interesting point. I'm not sure that was the intent of [R73] (which says that the only difference is the location). I look forward to seeing the answer from the Q&A.

[Gary Dillard]

I got my answers, in case you didn't see them

Originally Posted by Gary Dillard

Rule R13C allows exclusion from total cost of "items ever distributed to the team via FIRST Choice". May a team exclude the cost of an item listed in FIRST Choice but which was not available for distribution due to limited quantities in stock?

No.

Is an off board compressor considered part of the robot for cost calculations? It is not specifically excluded in R13, but it is also not specifically excluded from the weight calculation which is the whole reason for having it off board.

Yes.