Answered: Clarification on <R7> and <R15>

VEX Robotics Competition Discussion VRC > Previous Games
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At Words this year, we took some time to tour the College Division. While we were there, we met with a fantastic team and talked with them about the advantages of the College Division. Besides the amazing array of sensors they had available to them, they mentioned the use of 3-Wire Twisted Extension Cables which cut down on noise and make the information from sensors more accurate.

Under <R15>
“Parts may NOT be modified as follows: a. Motors, extension cords, sensors, controllers, battery packs, and any other electrical component of the VEX Robotics Design System may NOT be altered from their original state in ANY way.”

I believe that I am prohibited from twisting the cables sold by VEX. However, I was wondering if they were similar enough that I could buy and them under <R7>, provided they were of lengths identical to those sold by VEX.

Rule <R7> reads:

"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. Note: It is up to inspectors to determine whether a component is “identical” to an official VEX component."

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I would like to correct the link above. When I copied it, I apparently lost a colon. I have the right one here.

http://www.jameco.com/1/1/2336-2168-24-inch-male-female-twisted-servo-extension-cable.html

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You are correct, you are not permitted to twist the cables in the manner depicted in the linked photo.

The linked cables are not considered to be identical to the cables sold by VEX, hence they are not legal for use in the VRC.

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