The 2005 FRC manual has been posted at the 2005 Documents and Updates page. Some of it is encrypted and some is decrypted which is not event sensative. Please remember though FIRST has put out the manual in advance with Gracious Professionalism mind.
good, I am glad to see that FIRST did in fact put up an encrypted manual this year, I’m glad to see the rumors weren’t true
I am guessing they were still debating if they should put it up or not because of what happen last year. It was not only ChiefDelphi, it was everywhere. I hope nobody plans to do or talk about such things.
Yes you are correct, FIRST did allow us to download them a few days before kickoff. If FIRST does this again this year, it will probably be up in the next few days. The FIRST website is very slow today, maybe they are uploading it now
I guess I was right! 
Hmm, so RadioShack is sponsoring the Controls award, and there are new Regional Safety and Championship Rookie Inspiration awards. Also, it looks like teams can resubmit 2004 Regional Woodie Flowers award winners for consideration for the national award in addition to their 2005 entries.
Finally, the Chairman’s award is now being submitted online, is limited to 10000 characters (instead of four pages), can only include 4 photographs, and must be under 1MB in size. Instead of being freeform, it looks like it will just be a web form. I guess FIRST is trying to eliminate the graphic design and layout aspect, and wants to just focus on writing ability.
Looks like we know what some of the KOP contains (from the “At The Events” document, talking about replacement parts available at competition):
Battery Quick Disconnects
Mabuchi Motors
Muffin Fans – Large and Small
Nippon Denso Window Motors and Couplers
120 Amp Main Breakers
Jideco Window Motors
Flexible shafts and couplers
Tiagene Power Sliding Door Motor
Wheel Hub Adapters
Fisher-Price Motor/Gearbox
Globe Motors
CIM Motors and Mounting Brackets
Various Pneumatic Fittings – no cylinders, tanks, compressors or valves
The robot can’t be too radically different in dimensions this year, as the crate dimensions are the same as last year’s. Not that that means much.
Take a look at Section 7.16 – Team Accessories Checklist. Most of the items are pretty standard, but one jumps out at me, especially considering the early BOM released yesterday.
i found something interesting…
Look at section 9.8
sections 9.8.1 to 9.8.4
[left]9.8.1 Champion
[/left]
[left]This award celebrates the team or alliance that wins the Championship.[/left]
[left] [/left]
[left]*****[/left]
[left] [/left]
[left]team OR alliance???[/left]
Isn’t that just one of those things to pick up screws you drop?
Anyone know what the Mabuchi Motors are?
Magnet on a stick sounds pretty innocuous and standard. I think I even recall seeing it last year. They really are great when you drop a screw somewhere inaccesible.
This is the same way that FIRST worded this award description last year.
http://www.team229.org/fm/8.1.3.14
http://www.team229.org/fm/8.9.1
Yup. My bad on that one. It was in last year’s manual. I’m clearly too excited right now. :o
Maybe it’s a spear to throw at robots. 
Yeah, it was in last year’s manual.
For reference, here are the corresponding sections of last year’s manual:
Communication
Team Organization
Robot Transportation
At the Events
The Awards
on the team accessory checklist… paintbrush?
paintbrush+yellow paint= ?
`Twas also in last year’s manual…don’t ask me why. 
Aren’t they essentially the Fischer Price motors? Or maybe I could be wrong. shrugs
“At the events” 7.6.1 “indicate on WHICH field you will practice”
7.6.1.2 courtesy “there will be a specified number of teams on A field during”
HEHE 2 fields… or maybe 3!
What if theres a triangle, circle and a square field!
Hmm, no drills at all and two kinds of Window motors.
wasn’t there talk of being no drill motors this year anyway?