Electric Solenoid

[ThomasP]

I was trying to figure out whether or not an electric solenoid would be allowed on the robot at competition and when I looked at the rules it was rather unclear about it. Rule R41 says that we can use anything that is available to all FIRST teams or materials to produce it are available by all FIRST teams and rule R44 says that electric motors different from those in the kit are not allowed. A couple of my team members argue that the solenoid violates R44 by classifying it as an electric motor. However, when you look at the flowchart, one of the questions is "Is it a motor, solenoid, pump, or other actuator?" so it appears that FIRST makes a distinction between motors and solenoids.

So, would a solenoid be allowed or not?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Under the flow chart...
"Is the part a motor,
solenoid, pump, or other
actuator?"
If you answer yes, then proceed to
"Is it a legal additional
CIM motor or servo?"
When you answer "NO" the flowchart says it cannot be used. I for one have never understood this particular rule for solenoids. Some day an answer might come...

[ThomasP]

Hrm, ok, I guess this'll have to be posted for the GDC... the flowchart is rather unclear about this issue and I don't see why using an electric solenoid would be that big of a deal.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

This is not an "unclear" decision. Solenoids (other than pnuematic solenoid valves) have never been allowed that I am aware of. We would have used them had they been allowed.

[ThomasP]

Well, our team two years ago managed to get past inspection with one, but I was not on the team then (it was before the two high schools joined the team together). So, I'm not exactly sure how FIRST stands on this.

[Peter Matteson]

FIRST was extremely clear on this with the flow chart in the manual. Just because an inspector may have missed something in the past does not make it right now.