We used the flashlight as a functional piece for aiming one year, no problem. You are also allowed to use a plastic gel for color. At least I’ve seen that response in the past.
The VEX Flashlight can be used in conjunction with a light sensor or camera to provide a source of white light. The Flashlight is connected to the microcontroller via a 2-wire power connection. The flashlight does not contain any control circuitry, so it will run continuously while it receives power. It has an on/off slide switch, so it can be manually disabled if desired. Visit here for term papers.