Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
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Official Q&A: VEXU 2018-2019: Turning Point

Usage Guidelines All Questions

214: Subsystem removal


41091A
17-Jan-2019

Rule

<R1> Only one (1) robot will be allowed to compete per team in the VEX Robotics Competition. Though it is expected that teams will make changes to their robot at the competition, a team is limited to only one (1) robot. As such, a VEX robot, for the purposes of the VEX Robotics Competition, has the following subsystems:

Subsystem 1: Mobile robotic base including wheels, tracks, legs, or any other mechanism that allows the robot to navigate the majority of the flat playing field surface. For a stationary robot, the robotic base without wheels would be considered Subsystem 1.

Subsystem 2: Power and control system that includes a legal VEX battery, a legal VEX control system, and associated motors for the mobile robotic base.

Subsystem 3: Additional mechanisms (and associated motors) that allow manipulation of game objects or navigation of field obstacles. Given the above definitions, a minimum robot for use in any VEX Robotics Competition event (including Skills Challenges) must consist of 1 and 2 above. Thus, if you are swapping out an entire subsystem of either item 1 or 2, you have now created a second robot and are no longer legal.

a. Teams may not compete with one robot while a second is being modified or assembled.

b. Teams may not switch back and forth between multiple robots during a competition. This includes using different robots for Skills Challenge and Qualification / Elimination Matches.

c. Multiple teams may not use the same robot. Once a robot has competed under a given team number at an event, it is “their” robot - no other teams may compete with it for the duration of the competition season.

Question: Our team would like to clarify that we can compete with and without our lift under the ruling of R1 We understand that we will have to have the robot reinspected when a subsystem 3 is removed and put back on. We operate using V5 with 8 motors with the lift (4 motors used for our lift) and 6 without the lift (we add two motors to our drive train) The purpose of removing the lift is because it's so heavy and we want to add speed.

R1  
Answered by Game Design Committee

Yes, this would be legal within <R2>, quoted here for reference and bolded for emphasis.

<R2> Every robot will be required to pass a full inspection before being cleared to compete. This inspection will ensure that all robot rules and regulations are met. Initial inspections will take place during team registration/practice time.

a. If significant changes are made to a robot, such as a partial or full swap of Subsystem 3, it must be re-inspected before it will be allowed to compete.

b. If a robot has multiple functional configurations, all possible configurations must be inspected before being used in competition.

c. Teams may be requested to submit to random spot-inspections by event personnel. Refusal to submit will result in Disqualification.

d. Referees or inspectors may decide that a robot is in violation of the rules. In this event, the team in violation will be disqualified and the robot will be barred from the playing field until it passes re-inspection.