What are the rules on using rubber bands?
Is their specifics on how you can utilize them on your robot?
What types of rubber bands are okay and not okay?
Are the VEX IQ orange rubber bands okay? (https://www.vexrobotics.com/rubber-bands.html)
This Q&A is now read-only
Official Q&A: VRC 2018-2019: Turning Point
82: R5 Rubber Bands
Answered by Game Design Committee
Please see the following rules:
R5 Robots may be built ONLY using official VEX EDR components, unless otherwise specifically noted within these rules. c. Products from the VEXpro, VEX IQ, or VEX Robotics by HEXBUG product line cannot be used for robot construction, unless specifically allowed by a clause of R7. i. Products from the VEXpro, VEX IQ, or VEX Robotics by HEXBUG product line which are also cross-listed as part of the VEX product line are legal. A cross-listed product is one which can be found in a VEX EDR section of the VEX Robotics website.
The rubber bands you refer to are cross-listed to the VEX EDR section of the VEX Robotics website: https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products/accessories/other/rubber-bands.html
R7 Robots are allowed the following additional “non-VEX” components: b. Any parts which are identical to legal VEX parts. For the purposes of this rule, products which are identical in all ways except for color are permissible. It is up to inspectors to determine whether a component is “identical” to an official VEX component.
So, if you had rubber bands that were identical in size and material to VEX rubber bands, but were a different color, these would be legal.
R3 The following types of mechanisms and components are NOT allowed: c. Those that pose an unnecessary risk of entanglement.
If using rubber bands, make sure to use them in a way that would not pose an unnecessary risk of entanglement, such as making a "net" that drags on the floor, or stretching over long distances without a rigid guard.