Answered: "in violation of the spirit of this rule and will fail inspection"

[Oliver_W]

VEX Skyrise Manual Updates

Rule <R18> was modified and now states:

<R18> Pneumatic devices may only be charged to a maximum of 100 psi. Teams may only use a maximum of two (2) legal VEX pneumatic air reservoirs on a Robot.
• The intent of this rule is to limit teams to the air pressure stored in two reservoir tanks, as well as the normal working air pressure contained in their pneumatic cylinders and tubing on the robot. Teams may not use other elements (e.g. surgical tubing) for the purposes of storing air pressure. Teams who use cylinders and additional pneumatic tubing for no purpose other than additional storage are in violation of the spirit of this rule and will fail inspection.

The intent of this change was to make it clear that it is illegal to try and use superfluous pneumatic tubing or any other elements in an effort to circumvent the air storage limitations specified in <R18>.

This rule is different from the rest of the rules in section 4 of the manual. It says that a robot with pneumatic tubing as air storage is* in violation of the spirit of the rule and will fail inspection*, but doesn’t actually say that it is an illegal robot. That means it doesn’t allow for disqualifications under <R2d>, instead relying on any team who adds tubing to their robot to present it for reinspection.

<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, it must be re-inspected before it will be allowed to
compete.
b. All robot 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.

My question is, is a robot that uses cylinders and additional pneumatic tubing for no purpose other than additional storage an illegal robot?

Sorry to be so picky, but teams do look for loopholes and I think this qualifies as one.

(By the way, are the Vex U rules likely to be released today? :D)

[Karthik]

My question is, is a robot that uses cylinders and additional pneumatic tubing for no purpose other than additional storage an illegal robot?

Sorry to be so picky, but teams do look for loopholes and I think this qualifies as one.

<G1> When reading and applying the various rules in this document, please remember that common sense always applies in the VEX Robotics Competition.

<R18> clearly states that robots who violate this rule will fail inspection. As such, it is implied that violating this rule is illegal. Note that no other rule explicitly states that a violation of the rule is illegal, yet it is understood. Please resist the urge to now go and ask this same question for the other 21 robot rules.

We appreciate and understand that teams are trying to comb through these rules to try and gain any sort of advantage. However, please use some common sense before asking a question in this forum.