Hi folks. I’m want to ask you guys if this new customizable actuator can be used for FIRST robotics?
I was reading the rules on FIRST but can’t quite figure out if you can use it on your robots. Since you can attach almost any motor you want (like many of the allowed ones), does that means the actuator is allowed to be used? I would love some feedback.
It’s called Maker Muscle and it can be completely customizable, which allows you to build your own actuator cheaper and exactly how you want it.
If this is what you meant to link to, I can’t think of anything that would disallow it’s use in FRC. As long as you’re using an FRC legal motor, and not using it in a way that would otherwise break the general robot rules, you should be fine.
That is, unless it comes with nitroglycerin inside by default or something.
Currently (as I understand the rules) this item would not be allowed in FIRST because it is not “COTS” (Commercial-off-the-shelf). And I don’t think Kickstarter counts as “COTS” (correct me if I’m wrong). The product would have to be widely available and sold from a vendor.
Sounds like a promising product! As others have already stated, if this product becomes available from a vendor before next January(thus becoming a COTS, Commercial Off The Shelf, part), then FRC teams will be able to potentially buy and utilize it in their designs for the 2018 season.
We currently don’t have many options in terms of COTS linear actuators in the FRC world, with the most commonly used one that I’ve seen (and personally used) being the DART by Andymark, which is somewhat pricey and comes only in two lengths: 6" and 12". The customizable features of the Maker Muscle sounds very attractive for a more flexible build. If the motor mount is compatible to commonly used FRC legal motors (similar how the VexPro VersaPlanetary adapts to different motors), such as the miniCIM, BAG, and 775pro, I’m sure you’ll attract more substantial interest from FRC teams.
Another note to the vendor. If your goals are for FRC teams to buy and utilize this product, you most likely (i think) want to ensure that the product is available well before January (which is when the new season starts every year). Team’s most likely will want the opportunity to buy, use, and test the device in the offseason, well before January so they can personally validate that the product works as intended, for FRC use. A lot of teams will (probably) be unwilling to buy a brand new, FRC untested, product midseason and use it on their bots.
Not being COTS is not a complete showstopper, but it would require that the device be constructed after the game announcement, and any spares would have to be bagged with the robot or in the withholding allowance (or built at an event, which doesn’t seem feasible).
Typically Kickstarters like these are just “First Run” funding for a product that will usually be sold like any other COTS item after the first run is delivered. Plus since it’s a kit, it can be assembled after kickoff without running into any issues with COTS rules.
If you want to play it safe just wait till like October and order it from the store they will inevitably put on their website (assuming the Kickstarter gets funded, not looking good at the moment).