Required Components and Passing Inspection

If You Use Pneumatics, You Must Include…

The Game Manual (R805) lists a set of mandatory components for any robot with a pneumatic system. Build all of these or your robot fails inspection:

1. One legal compressor — the only air source, within the 1.1 cfm limit (R806).
2. A pressure relief valve (R811) — connected directly to the compressor with hard fittings and set to release at 125 psi.
3. A pressure switch or analog pressure sensor (R812) — the Nason SM-2B-115R/443 pressure switch and/or the REV Analog Pressure Sensor (REV-11-1107) , wired into the high-pressure circuit so the controller stops the compressor at the limit.
4. At least one pressure vent plug (R813) — and it must be accessible without removing other components so air can be dumped safely.
5. Two pressure gauges (R810) — one showing stored pressure (high side) and one showing working pressure (downstream of the regulator), both in a visible location.
6. One primary working-pressure regulator (R808) — adjustable, relieving, capped at 60 psi outlet.

Inspector Checks

Inspectors verify each of these physically. They confirm the relief valve is hard-plumbed to the compressor, that gauges are present and readable, that the vent plug is reachable, that no illegal parts sit on the high-pressure side, and that all components carry adequate pressure ratings. They will check that the compressor and stored-pressure shutoff behave correctly.

Be Inspection-Ready

• Label or know where each required component is so you can point to it quickly.
• Keep the vent plug genuinely accessible — do not bury it behind a battery or bumper.
• Make sure gauges face outward and are legible.
• Have spare fittings, tubing, and PTFE tape on hand; small leaks are the most common last-minute fix.
• Re-read the current FRC Inspection Checklist (published each season) before the event so there are no surprises.

Common Inspection Failures

Missing or unreadable gauges, a vent plug buried behind other parts, a relief valve connected with tubing instead of hard fittings, illegal components on the high-pressure side, and leaks that prevent the system from holding pressure. All are avoidable with the checklist and a careful pre-event review.

Key takeaways

• Mandatory parts (R805): compressor, relief valve (hard-mounted, 125 psi), pressure switch/sensor, accessible vent plug, two gauges, and one primary regulator.
• The relief valve must connect directly to the compressor with hard fittings, not tubing (R811).
• The vent plug must be reachable without removing other components (R813), and both gauges must be visible and legible (R810).
• Review the season’s FRC Inspection Checklist beforehand; missing gauges, buried vent plugs, and leaks are common failures.

This lesson was adapted from learnfrc.com.