Spike relay question

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Kevin,
I believe we are in agreement. R36 and the COTS definition is contradictory. I believe the intent of the definition is to level the playing field and allow only COTS parts that are available to all teams. I believe the intent of R36 is to allow teams that have mechanicsms from previous years to use them without the added cost of finding new parts each year. (See also the rule on using previous years small CIM motors.)

The phrase regarding "COTS mechanisms no longer comercially available" makes me believe that the intent is to allow any item that formerly met the definition of COTS.

Also a COTS item from a robot previously entered in a FIRST competition may not be comercially available now.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

There was a lot of confusion. The word from IFI is there is no difference between the red and blue 884. The blue 884 even had a case change a few years ago, but the internals did not change. The difference in the Spikes, as I remember, the Red Spike could pull both outputs to negative power but not both to positive. This required a few diodes to control dual solenoid valves. The Blue Spikes that are now provided can select both outputs to positive or negative power supply.

[Racer26]

That sounds about right Al, as i recall in 2003 being told we needed to use diodes with our double solenoid valves, and then discovering ourselves that we didn't. (2003 was our rookie year, and we were issued blue spikes)