Legal Lighting

Sylvie · December 19, 2018, 10:57am

Before I buy it, I’d like to know: are LED strip lights legal as non-functional decorations this season. We would make them a color to NOT look like field element. I have found a way to power them with the v5 brain.

EvolvingJon · December 19, 2018, 11:41am

Likely yes - as in previous seasons, as long as you don’t inadvertently break any other rules along the way (so no external power, no secondary micro controllers, no egregious laser strikes against the opposing team etc).

Hagan_60883A · December 19, 2018, 12:13pm

Out of curiosity and in case other people come to this thread, would you mind sharing how you can power them?

Sylvie · December 19, 2018, 12:39pm

https://vexforum.com/t/strip-led-v5/51126/1

Barin · December 19, 2018, 1:01pm

Also be cognizant of <R8g> this season.

Sylvie · December 19, 2018, 1:26pm

which one is 8g? It only goes up to f.

536Mentor · December 19, 2018, 1:41pm

<R8> Teams may add non-functional decorations, provided that they do not affect the robot performance in any significant way or affect the outcome of the match. These decorations must be in the spirit of the competition. Inspectors will have final say in what is considered “non-functional”.
a. Anodizing and painting of parts is considered a legal nonfunctional decoration.
b. Any guards, decals, or other decorations must be backed by legal materials that provide the same functionality. For example, if your robot has a giant decal that prevents scoring objects from falling out of the robot, the decal must be backed by VEX material that also prevents the Scoring Objects from falling out.
c. If using the VEX speaker (276-1504), the chosen audio must not be distracting and must be in good taste. The Head Inspector and Head Referee will make the final decision on the appropriateness of the audio.
d. 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.
i. The Vision Sensor may be used as a functional component, provided that its wireless transmitting functionality is disabled.
e. “Non-VEX” microcontrollers or computing devices are not allowed as non-functional decorations, per <R10>.
f. VEX motors, or components of VEX motors, may not be used as nonfunctional decorations.
g. Decorations that visually mimic field elements or could otherwise interfere with an opponent’s Vision Sensor are considered functional and are not permitted. This includes lights, such as the VEX Flashlight. The Head Inspector and Head Referee will make the final decision on whether a given decoration or mechanism violates this rule.

<R8g> in bold above

Sylvie · December 19, 2018, 1:43pm

Thanks. I couldn’t seem to find part g in the pdf I was looking at.

system · January 3, 2020, 10:14pm