Can We have WIRED Communication at the Competition?

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Posted by Derek Olson at 02/27/2001 9:42 PM EST


Student on team #537, Domo Arigato, from Sussex/Hamilton and GE Medical System.



Me and the people on my team were wondering if we could use a type of voice communication by means of some headphones and a mic like a Labtec lavalier connected to a small headphone amplifier, so we could actually here eachother over all the yelling and comotion at Nationals. This would be very cool to have so if any body knows or has some ideas please reply.

Thanx,

Derek
Domo ARIGATO
Team #537

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Posted by Kevin Sevcik at 02/28/2001 6:42 PM EST


Other on team #57, Leopards, from BT Washington and the High School for Engineering Professions and Exxon, Kellog Brown & Root, Powell Electrical.


In Reply to: Can We have WIRED Communication at the Competition?
Posted by Derek Olson on 02/27/2001 9:42 PM EST:



I haven't bothered to look up the pertinent rules, but I'm pretty sure that this won't be allowed. At least not for the Drivers and coaches and what not. I believe that the ruling is that communication aids aren't allowed, period. In fact, I don't think any artificial aids are allowed in the player station besides the electronics, and something to run the dashboard program on.
It'd be akin to dragging a footstool into the player station to help the human player get balls over the barrier. Or possibly building some contraption to launch balls into goals from the player station.

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Posted by ChrisH at 02/28/2001 7:05 PM EST


Engineer on team #330, Beach 'Bots, from Hope Chapel Academy and NASA JPL, J & F Machine, Raytheon, et al.


In Reply to: Re: Can We have WIRED Communication at the Competition?
Posted by Kevin Sevcik on 02/28/2001 6:42 PM EST:



I seem to recall a rule that prevents the use of headsets or other electronic means of comunicating within the player area of the field. I know it was there last year because I looked. Maybe Joe Ross knows what rule it is?

However, you can recieve instruction from the stands or other places that spectators are allowed if it is in the form of signs, hand signals or other visual signals.

For example, if you were trying to pick up a big ball and your team saw that you needed to get closer before the attempt. They could all raise their hands and point in the direction you should move. They could also give you a "stop" sign when you were far enough in.

Signs with words on them are also acceptable (as long as the words are). Of course the difficulty of changing your focus back and forth may make this useless. But there were teams doing this sort of thing last year.

Chris Husmann, PE
Team 330 the Beach'Bots