Quick Question Regarding 2015 FRC Rules

[Blindpoker]

Me and my team were considering putting a laser-grid or outline on the back of our robot using some simple guided LED's or something of the sort. We just wanted to see if it was legal before doing so.


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[EricH]

The first question I have is, did YOU find any rules against it? Or Q&As?

If not, then it's quite probably legal, if done right. That "done right" is the hard part.

Lasers: Any laser more powerful than Class 1 would be ruled illegal by the inspectors (R8). But, you're looking at LEDs instead, so I suggest looking at the Custom Circuit rules.

Which latter items indicate that you'd be legal if you didn't violate R8's rules on interfering with other robots, or the various rules on power sources and voltages found in Section 4.8.

[rich2202]

Do you mean putting some type of target on the back of your robot, and using a range finder of some sort from the Driver's Station in order to get field relative positioning information?

[Blindpoker]

What I mean by it is;

Like in a Sedan or Mini-Van with a rear-view cam, you have on the screen a laser outline to help you back into spots, so why not just use some laser pointers or a shaped LED grid to guide your lifter or claw to the tote/bin.

[jvriezen]

What I mean by it is;

Like in a Sedan or Mini-Van with a rear-view cam, you have on the screen a laser outline to help you back into spots, so why not just use some laser pointers or a shaped LED grid to guide your lifter or claw to the tote/bin.

Note that most laser pointers are class 2 lasers and hence are not legal on a robot. I don't know how bright a class 1 laser would be for this application. I could see a narrow beam flashlight being used to help center a bot on a game piece.

[rich2202]

What I mean by it is;

Like in a Sedan or Mini-Van with a rear-view cam, you have on the screen a laser outline to help you back into spots

I think the outline is drawn on the screen, and not actually projected. But, I get your point.

so why not just use some laser pointers or a shaped LED grid to guide your lifter or claw to the tote/bin.

I think you are better off with a projected non-laser light, rather than a laser.

In prior years, we put a clear plastic over the screen, and drew lines over the video image.

[xXhunter47Xx]

Most rearview cameras have screen projection, and not actual physical projection. You could do this in camera code.

[EricH]

Most rearview cameras have screen projection, and not actual physical projection. You could do this in camera code.

Although, for this application, a physical projection might be more useful. For example, by lighting up the tote when it's in range for picking up.

Class 1 lasers are plenty bright. I would actually say that MORE laser pointers are Class 1 than Class 2, because Class 1 is generally considered "eye-safe" (or at least, as "eye-safe" as a laser can get!).


That being said... Take an old stage trick, and use a flashlight with a mask on it so that it only shows light where you want it. Use a powerful flashlight, powered by the robot's main battery, maybe use a filter to color the light, and cut a mask (or a barn-door system of panels) to get the light to fall exactly where you want it.