I tried searching & must not be using the right key words … I am asking some freshmen to assemble a full backup intake (not everything including the pneumatics and arms that articulate - just the sub-assembly that goes outside the robot including side plates, shafts, wheels, bearings, belts, pulleys, motor, etc.)
My question: My memory tells me we can bring this to competition & switch it in (along with passing reinspection) if the original intake gets damaged. I’m struggling a bit with understanding the applicable rules… Can we bring this backup sub-assembly & use it if needed? If the wheel configuration is somewhat different, could we also include this in the initial inspection as a module we may choose to alternatively install and avoid the necessity of reinspection?
As long as your original robot weights less that 125 lbs and your separate intake that is slightly different “a different configuration” and your original robot weight less than 150 lbs total you are within the rules as I understand them.
I104 covers reinspection. I103 covers additional mechanisms being included in your original inspection.
If you’re looking to utilize I103 to include both intakes so you can swap back and forth, the inspector will likely need to see both of them installed on the robot before the inspection is complete. In particular, we would need to verify starting configuration and extension beyond the frame perimeter with each intake separately to ensure both configurations pass.
I’m not an inspector this year but I have seen no rules about bringing spare parts (other than the drive base) so as long as it’s like-for-like I don’t see a problem.
With the removal of the bag there is no longer any withholding allowance. There is no restrictions on the amount of spare parts you are allowed to bring in.
I’m not sure the OP is talking about a different configuration, just another copy of the intake parts in case the original gets damaged. Would they even need to have that reinspected since it’s an identical set of replacement parts (even though it is fabricated rather than COTS)?
That was my reading of the OP as well. In that case I104-E would apply. It would depend on how “identical” it is. It wouldn’t hurt to drop by the inspection station and let them know you replaced it, or parts of it, with “identical” spares.
@Strategic I definitely agree with this interpretation. As long as you only bring one robot, any identical replacement parts are more than allowed and don’t need to be re-inspected. It may be a good idea to tell an inspector anyway just to show that they are the same, but I don’t knw of anything that says you can’t bring spare parts.
However, in the case of having different intakes. Either to replace or to swap between matches, I agree with @Jon_Stratis that you would need to get that inspected.
Your fielded robot can weigh at most 125 lbs. You can have 150 lbs of “stuff” inspected at any one time. For example using “intakes” in this thread, you could have up to a 125 lb robot with intake design “A” and a whole different intake design “B” that weighs up to the difference in your robot weight and the 150 lbs and swap back and forth between intake design “A” and “B” until you figured out which worked better without having to get reinspected after each swap. See I103.
I was reading the last part of the OP as indicating that the second intake is not identical:
If they are identical, then I104 (specifically part E) applies and it does not need to be included in the original inspection and can be switched without reinspection.
Thanks for the responses. There will be one difference for sure: The spare intake’s side plates are .177 polycarb while the original plates are .125 6061 Al… This is because there were some learning curve problems (clogging) cutting 10-32-sized holes in polycarb with our new waterjet, so we used Aluminum initially because it didn’t cause the problem … Problem was solved by the time we made spares, so they cut polycarb as originally planned. Both should function nearly identically since the intake arms and anchor plates are polycarb & flex as intended.
Otherwise, parts will be identical or nearly so (e.g. 3D printed wheels instead of thriftybot ones).
I think we’ll just bring the spare to inspection & explain the minor differences. If we need to switch them out, it won’t be hard… 4 bolts.
In that case they would not be considered “identical”. They my be functionally equivalent but not fabricated carbon copies. So if you want to be able to swap it in and out without being reinspected it would need to fit within the 150 lbs with your robot. But it isn’t a problem to be reinspected if you replace it. Just stop by the inspection station and notify the Inspection Manager and they will look at it briefly, get an updated weight, and send you on your way. It’s not a full reinspection of the whole robot from start.
After reading your response, I would say that you would have to be re-inspected. This is unless you decide to pre inspect it, but you would have to put the new intake in anyway to do so.
Especially as you said it would be extremely easy to replace, I would suggest you just walk over to the inspection table and show them the change. It would take les than 5 minutes.
