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Official Q&A: VRC 2022-2023: Spin Up

Usage Guidelines All Questions

Legality of RGB controllers for addressable LED light strips


6030J
11-Jan-2023

<R12b> states

“Small cameras are permitted as non-functional decorations, provided that any transmitting functions or wireless communications are disabled. Unusually large cameras being used as ballast are not permitted.”

<R12g> states

“Decorations which provide visual feedback to Drive Team Members (e.g., decorative lighting) are permitted, provided that they do not violate any other rules and serve no other function (e.g., structural support).”

<R14> states

“Robots have one microcontroller. Robots must ONLY use one (1) VEX V5 Robot Brain (276-4810). Any other microcontrollers or processing devices are not allowed, even as non-functional Decorations. This includes microcontrollers that are part of other VEX product lines, such as VEX Cortex, VEX EXP, VEXpro, VEX RCR, VEX IQ, VEX GO, or VEX Robotics by HEXBUG. This also includes devices that are unrelated to VEX, such as Raspberry Pi or Arduino devices.”

Cameras contain microcontrollers and per <R12b> are legal for use as a non-functional decoration without an exception stated for <R14>. <R12g> permits the use of LEDs and also does not contain an exception for <R14>, however addressable LED light strips can use microcontrollers, such as the one in the picture below.

img

Scenario A: a robot uses an LED light strip with an RGB controller but without a remote, no wireless communication is used for the LEDs.

Scenario B: a robot uses an LED light strip with an RGB controller and with a remote. Wireless communication is used from the remote to the RGB controller.

Scenario C: a robot uses an LED light strip with an RGB controller that connects to both the LED light strip and the V5 brain through one or more 3-Wire ports. The V5 brain sends a signal to the RGB controller, which is used to set the LEDs.

Scenario D: a robot uses an LED light strip without an RGB controller and is connected directly to the V5 brain through one or more 3-Wire ports. The V5 brain is used to set the LEDs.

In which scenarios would LEDs be considered non-functional decorations?

Answered by committee

Cameras contain microcontrollers and per <R12b> are legal for use as a non-functional decoration without an exception stated for <R14>. <R12g> permits the use of LEDs and also does not contain an exception for <R14>, however addressable LED light strips can use microcontrollers, such as the one in the picture below.

These are all correct statements.

In which scenarios would LEDs be considered non-functional decorations?

Scenarios A, B, and C would all be considered violations of R14, since they include a microcontroller.

Scenario D is legal.