[moderated] Spare Parts Rule for 2005

[aaronbr28040]

In the FIRST community it is necessary to trust teams to a certain extent in order to keep from spending hours and hours in inspection at each competition. As members of the organization we should just take the rules that are given and not try to push them. The more we push the rules, the more confusing and restrictive they will become. I really dont want to see the day where we have lawyers to interpet the rules. Come on guys, lets not try to push the rules. In reality the rules should use half the paper they do now, but due to people feeling the need to find loopholes they have grown to be huge. My opinion is just wait until we get the spare parts rules and just follow them without questioning and pushing them.
just my opinion
-aaron

[Ken Patton]

Sorry Ken,
I messed up when I was trying to reply to your message and overwrote it. Too tired - so sorry, I'll call Brandon and see if he can fix it.
Mike

PS - I agree with your post.

[Jim Zondag]

Much as I like being limited to 6 weeks for personal and family reasons, I have always found many of FIRSTs rules governing when and how you can work on your robot are totally bizarre. Think about...In what other sport or competition involving machines are you ever disallowed from servicing, maintianing, improving or practicing with your machine. I my life I have been invovled with racing car, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and other robot challanges. In no other league I have ever seen do they take away your machine and deny you the right to make it better if you can.
To me the question is and has always been: What would really change if we could do whatever, whenever we want so long as the machine on the field is legan and safe?

[computer411]

I believe that the $3500 cap should include spare parts because some teams do not have enough bank to support that amount of spare parts. Our team for this year's competition had a $1,000 for parts along with whatever we could make in the metal shop. Needless to say this wasn't a lot and we were not able to compete as well as other teams.

[J15.5h]

Though This is my first year as part of team ROKS, (Robotics Of Kearsarge Sunappe), I have been told that in the 2004 competition, the teams where limited to spending 1 thousand dollars on extra parts. Wouldn't that include "spare parts?" (spare parts defined as any extra parts) P.S. As stupid as this may sound, how do I post my own tread?

[Mike Soukup]

Originally Posted by J15.5h

Though This is my first year as part of team ROKS, (Robotics Of Kearsarge Sunappe), I have been told that in the 2004 competition, the teams where limited to spending 1 thousand dollars on extra parts. Wouldn't that include "spare parts?" (spare parts defined as any extra parts) P.S. As stupid as this may sound, how do I post my own tread?

Actually per rule R75 the spending limit was $3500 last year. Rule R76 states that spare parts are excluded from the $3500 cap.

Since you're new & unfamiliar with the rules, you should quickly read them over. You can find them at http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/doc_updt.htm