The reason I ask this is because if it’s not then how in the world do we fill our pneumatic tires???
If not air then, I wonder if helium is allowed, then we won’t have to “Swiss Cheese” the bot and then we can actually make it hover as well!?!?!?!?!?!
I don’t know maybe the gasses in helium will eat away at the tire???
I am in such a conundrum!!!
Swave DeBoner?
Hmmmmmmmmm???
troll…
You can use hellium in your tires.
Don’t forget that helium molecules are MUCH smaller than O2 of N2 molecules that make up the air, and so something that is air tight might not be helium tight. I know that many plastics can easily be inflated with air but hold helium like a mesh bag. You can also see that helium balloons will lose their helium before they lose the N2 and O2 that is also in them, as a large balloon that has deflated will never rise as fast as a newly inflated balloon of the same size. For more info, I’d try to get a copy of the Junkyard Wars episode where they tried to make a dirigible.
Besides, there’s no way to put enough helium into pneumatic tires to make even a 60 pound robot hover.
If you made the tires a vacuum, without collapsing, then you’d get way more lift than helium.
Why stop at helium? My chemistry tells me that hydrogen is even less dense than air, thusly making your robot that much lighter. Oh and sure the hidenburg esque fire hazard is a slight concern, but you should give it a try:D . But that was a correct assumption, helium will leak through rubber. It was tried on the U-2 spy plane to make it lighter but the air just leaked out
*Originally posted by ROJO *
**Why stop at helium? My chemistry tells me that hydrogen is even less dense than air, thusly making your robot that much lighter. Oh and sure the hidenburg esque fire hazard is a slight concern, but you should give it a try:D . But that was a correct assumption, helium will leak through rubber. It was tried on the U-2 spy plane to make it lighter but the air just leaked out **
But … Helium is for the Noble! 
As a side note, H2 might not be the best gas to use, due to it’s combustability… BUT if I understand correctly, the Hindenburg was in so much trouble not because of the H2 it carried, but because of the flamable paint it was coated with.
Slight Aside: I’m strongly in favor of the use of H2 as an alternate fuel source. Fuel Cells + Biomass = Bliss. It’s a shame that Proton Exchange Membranes, and Platinum have to be so darn expensive! 
Hate to tell you this but helium is NOT on the list either so dont put any thing in your tires or you will be DQ’d. Wait if you put nothing in your tires then you will again be DQ’d because nothing isnt in the small parts book and there isnt nothing that is in the additional hardware list, so you have to put something in them but it better be something that is nothing or some thing might not happen.
Please stay tuned for more exciting nothing where everything doesnt go.
Seeeee… DRUGS ARE BAAAAAD.
AAAAAAAAAAAAHGGGGG Is it kick off yet.
Nick237
*Originally posted by nick reynolds *
**Hate to tell you this but helium is NOT on the list either so dont put any thing in your tires or you will be DQ’d. Wait if you put nothing in your tires then you will again be DQ’d because nothing isnt in the small parts book and there isnt nothing that is in the additional hardware list, so you have to put something in them but it better be something that is nothing or some thing might not happen.
**
If you can get DQ’d for air…does that mean pneumatics are illegal too? I mean, you do use air in those right?? ::frantically searches for something that says air is legal:: 
~Christina
Hmm. This is actually a serious point. FIRST says that you cannot fill your pneumatic pistons with water to convert them to hydraulics, since water isn’t on the additional materials list, but neither is air!
For those scared that air is not allowed, air could be considered to be part of the playing field. You’re allowed to interact with the playing field therefore air is allowed on the robots. Plus you’d have to put the robots in a vacuum otherwise and I don’t think that’d work too well. Yeesh, these discussions get silly. 
Matt
i have some antigravity paint if anyone wants some.
it’s not on the additional hardware list, i know. but you can always say it’s just for decorative purposes only. just paint the wheels and you’ll be at least 50lbs lighter!
-a
ps. there’s no guarantee and individual results may vary.