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Official Q&A: VRC 2018-2019: Turning Point

Usage Guidelines All Questions

155: R14 b iii Controller Power Source


2114V
25-Nov-2018

As per this Q&A: https://www.robotevents.com/VRC/2018-2019/QA/42 it is legal to power a V5 Controller using an external battery pack.

This seems to imply that R14 b iii does not always apply. If this is correct, when does R14 b iii apply? Also, what is considered an acceptable external power source for the joystick? Here are a few examples, but more general language would be appreciated:

  1. USB battery pack
  2. USB wall plug
  3. Laptop
  4. Tablet
  5. Phone
  6. Solar (for trickle charging)

To be clear, the joystick would not be modified in any way; all devices would be external and power the joystick only through the micro USB port.

Answered by Game Design Committee

These would all be acceptable, provided that they meet the requirements spelled out in the linked Q&A post (interface with the standard micro USB port on the Controller and do not involve any modification to the Controller).

G7 would also apply:

<G7> Only Drivers, and only in the Alliance Station. During a Match, all Drive Team Members must remain in their Alliance Station. Drive Team Members are not allowed to use any sort of communication devices during their Match. Devices with communication features turned off (e.g. a phone in airplane mode) are allowed.

If a laptop or tablet were to be used as an external power source for a Controller, it must do so with communication features disabled.