Can we use sirens on the robot?

[intx13]

We were wondering what kind (or how loud) sirens can be if we put them on the robot. Is this even allowed? Does anybody know? Does anybody care?

[JP_1163]

Shock and Awe? In my experience (2 regional competition and nationals at Orlando) there is so much noise in the arena that a siren that could be heard would shatter glass and cause seismic vibrations detectable in a 2 mile radius.
:ahh:

[IMDWalrus]

Why on Earth would you need a siren for your robot? It seems like a waste of time to me.

[psyco_klown]

plus if you read the pdf file at the events your not allowed to have any noise makers this year so i would say that wouldn't be allowed

[KyleGilbert45]

I'm not sure if there is a specific rule on this matter. I search around and really couldn't find anything. I do remember the past couple years people have complained about teams that have had sound systems and sirens on their robot carts and FIRST made an effort to control those, but I'm thinking it wasn't too successful.

Then you have to look at why you would even want to put a siren on the robot. I see it as just being an annoyance and a waste of time.

[intx13]

Of course we would want a siren on the robot! Can you imagine the effect that a spinning red light and a blaring siren would have as your robot does ________ (sorry, can't reveal details!)?

I think that rule about noisemakers had to do with freebies given away to spectators, so maybe sirens on the bot would be okay. After all, tehre was that team last year with the boom box stereo system on their cart - that was pretty cool...and loud. Mmmmm, loud....sirens....noise....

[Gadget470]

What spinning red light?

[Jessica Boucher]

After all, tehre was that team last year with the boom box stereo system on their cart - that was pretty cool...and loud. Mmmmm, loud....sirens....noise....

Just as you said, it was on their cart. In my past experience I haven't seen noise-making flair on the actual robots, but on their carts. As to whether it's allowed or not, is upto FIRST in the end (anyone have an actual ruling/precedent-setting story on it?).

So, though the idea certainly sounds cool, I think you should skip it or keep it on your cart. Anyway, actions speak louder...focus your energy on something super-sweet for everyone to watch your team do and you won't need to get their attention ;)

-Jessica B

[mtaman02]

I'm not sure if there is a specific rule on this matter. I search around and really couldn't find anything. I do remember the past couple years people have complained about teams that have had sound systems and sirens on their robot carts and FIRST made an effort to control those, but I'm thinking it wasn't too successful.

Then you have to look at why you would even want to put a siren on the robot. I see it as just being an annoyance and a waste of time.

not to mentions some valuable weight and space

[IMDWalrus]

Of course we would want a siren on the robot! Can you imagine the effect that a spinning red light and a blaring siren would have as your robot does ________ (sorry, can't reveal details!)?

I think that rule about noisemakers had to do with freebies given away to spectators, so maybe sirens on the bot would be okay. After all, tehre was that team last year with the boom box stereo system on their cart - that was pretty cool...and loud. Mmmmm, loud....sirens....noise....
If you're trying to use it as a distraction, give up now. It's far too loud in the stadiums to hear anything like that.

Also:
-The spinning red light is gone this year...thankfully.
-Using a siren to distract your opponents conflicts with the ideals of Gracious Professionalism. If you play to win, fine...just don't play dirty or *gasp* cheat.

[intx13]

Whoah, guys, just a question. We're not trying to distract anyone. We just thought having a fire siren and a spinning red light extend from the robot as soon as we ______ would look cool. But we don't want to violate the rules. I don't need a lecture on distracting people/what will fit on the robot/how we should build our bot.

It was a good point, whoever mentioned that it's already pretty loud in there.

[Jedi Padawan]

In order to hook up a siren or horn powerful enough it would have to have a hookup to the main system and that would end up making the "decoration" "functional" and so it wouldn't be allowed. But unless your planning on reaching over the field and sticking it right behind the operator stand chances are your opponents (or the audience) won't be able to hear it. I've been to about 4 regionals and at least that many non-official events (between scrimages and stuff like lego tournaments (trust me after having that many kids scream you lose hearing just as well)) That I know for a fact when it was stated that there would be seismic consequences for a siren that loud that it is true.

[Mark Pettit]

The Dukes (#991) (http://www.brophyrobotics.com) put an electric car horn on Uncomfortable Hunk of Metal '03 (http://faculty.brophyprep.org/robotics/images/UHOMRotate.gif). When we started climbing the ramp in autonomous, the horn gave a "beep beep" and then our driver had control of it which made for some entertaining battles for bins and/or King of the Hill spots.
Nobody dinged us for it during inspection at three different events so I'm pretty sure it's okay. Keep in mind that overdoing it would make it very annoying, though, and that it only takes one person's complaint to make it illegal for all of us.
Good luck to you's!

[intx13]

Thanks guys (and by guys, I don't mean you **cool people** who took an honest question as an oppurtunity to rage about gracious professionalism. **You're really nice people**). You'll know if we decided to go with the siren at the competition, when people go screaming for the exits, covering their ears as our robot rolls onto the field.... (just kidding, don't flip out).

[LBK Rules]

Even if FIRST says no, then I want to put it on afterwards.

Those security system alarms are LOUD. I would love to put one on our robot... along with the flame-thrower that shoots flames up 50-feet in the air when our bot jumps off the bar, leaping into the stands, and... :rolleyes:

Well, at least the first parts are true. But hey, who wouldn't want their bot to do that! We can always dream.