Laser for sighting?

[Mikechavez]

My team and I were talking last week about using a laser for the sight. We tried to see if there was anything in the rules against it but could not find anything. What do you all think about this idea for a sighting device?

[Jon Stratis]

R08:
ROBOT parts shall not be made from hazardous materials, be unsafe, cause an unsafe condition, or interfere with the operation of other ROBOTS.

The blue box below this states:
Examples of items that will violate R08 include (but are not limited to):

A. Shields, curtains, or any other devices or materials designed or used to obstruct or limit the vision of any drivers and/or coaches and/or interfere with their ability to safely control their ROBOT

B. Speakers, sirens, air horns, or other audio devices that generate sound at a level sufficient to be a distraction

C. Any devices or decorations specifically intended to jam or interfere with the remote sensing capabilities of another ROBOT, including vision systems, acoustic range finders, sonars, infrared proximity detectors, etc. (e.g. including imagery on your ROBOT that, to a reasonably astute observer, mimics the VISION TARGET)

D. Exposed lasers other than Class I.

E. Flammable gasses

F. Any device intended to produce flames or pyrotechnics

G. Hydraulic fluids or hydraulic components

Teams should provide MSD Sheets for any materials they use that might be considered questionable during ROBOT Inspection.

Emphasis mine.

So long as it's a class 1 laser, you should be ok.

[DjScribbles]

I think there is some allowance for laser devices (made to allow the use of the connect) however IIRC there is a grey area since it can also be considered a distraction to the opposing drivers. You could also run into issues since 'most' lasers would require battery power, and to my knowledge, everything must be powered through the 120Amp breaker.

In my opinion, a camera feed on the driver station with a small cross-hair would be as effective, if not more. (we used electrical tape for this last year).

[Mk.32]

I started a thread on this last year, about lasers.

Pretty much, what we found out that a Class 1 Eye safe laser is so weak you would barely be able to see it from across the field, especially with the flood lighting of a stadium.

A better option would be using the Axis Camera with a set of cross hairs imo.

[nighterfighter]

R08, blue box:

Examples of items that would violate R08:

A. Shields, curtains, or any other devices or materials designed or used to obstruct or limit the vision of any drivers and/or coaches and/or interfere with their ability to safely control their ROBOT

D. Exposed lasers other than Class I.

Also, G07, blue box:

A. Use of alignment devices such as templates, tape measures, laser pointers, etc. to precisely place and/or align the ROBOT.

Depending on how you intend to use the laser, R08 part A could prohibit that because it could blind the drivers.

And G07 states that if you cause a delay by trying to use the laser to align the robot, you will be penalized.

[Bryscus]

You guys just need to use the world championship winning photon canon. Check out the video "Robot in 3 Days: Shooting Upside Down..." http://www.youtube.com/user/robotin3days on youtube. They discuss the photon canon itself. Pretty simple but requires a regulator (similar to the 12V-5V converter).

- Bryce

[Botwoon]

You guys just need to use the world championship winning photon canon. Check out the video "Robot in 3 Days: Shooting Upside Down..." http://www.youtube.com/user/robotin3days on youtube. They discuss the photon canon itself. Pretty simple but requires a regulator (similar to the 12V-5V converter).

- Bryce

+1 for this. I got the chance to see it used in person, and it was much more effective than I would have imagined. It also works regardless of whether or not you've got a camera.