I’ve seen other posts on the forum about being able to etch different electronic VEX parts, but it was in relation to VEX-U. I was curious how the rule would be interpreted for a V5 competition.
This is specifically for inventory control and labeling parts so they can be tracked from year to year and team to team. Etching is done on plastic components only. We are trying to see how many batteries/sensors/brains/controllers teams burn through in a given year in order to estimate costs from season to season. I know this can vary from year to year like dropping a controller and breaking the joystick. It is just to give us a starting point with managing parts. Any input or thoughts appreciated.
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Welcome to the VEXForum @CaptainSparrow!
Your best bet to get this answered officially is to post on the official Q&A. Anything posted here will be at best speculation.
The rule that would apply here is <R15>:
No modifications to electronic or pneumatic components are allowed. Motors (including the V5 Smart Motor firmware), microcontrollers (including V5 Robot Brain firmware), cables, sensors, controllers, battery packs, reservoirs, solenoids, pneumatic cylinders, and any other electrical or pneumatics component of the VEX platform may NOT be altered from their original state in ANY way.
On its face it seems like it would disallow something like laser etching that would be a permanent physical modification to the electronic. I would not be surprised if for that reason they would rule it to be illegal. The one avenue you might have that could allow it would be clause c.iv. of this rule:
c. Teams may make the following modifications to the V5 / EXP Smart Motor’s user-serviceable features. This list is all-inclusive; no other modifications are permitted.
iv. Aesthetic/non-functional labeling (e.g., markers, stickers, paint, etc.).
It could be argued that laser-etching falls into the “etc.” in that clause, but I’m not sure if the GDC would see it that way. Undoubtedly any kind of sticker or pen/marker on the components would be OK, even getting custom asset tags for the components.
Good luck in your endeavor! Inventory control and managing parts to reduce waste and breakage is a constant challenge!
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Thank you for the reminder of where to post that official question. I have since done that and am waiting for an official answer. I will let you know what I find out - or what they have decided. Hopefully it’s straightforward.
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As long as the etching can be shown and explained to the head referee or judges, and doesn’t benefit the specific piece - like honeycomb etching - it is legal to inventory your equipment.
Any series of numbers or letters is obvious enough for the idea of it being beneficial to be squashed.
Make sure the students can explain that if they are questioned!