Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

Hey Al, I just got a note that says I have to take a test in order to be an inspector. Apparently my good looks and quick wit aren't enough to qualify this year.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

Gary,
I wrote the test especially for you! No cheating now.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

The test seemed too easy to me.

The completion certificate with last years' Logomotion graphic on it made me laugh.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

OK,
Time for the list after week 2 and you shouldn't be surprised.

The overwhelming biggest problem for two weeks running is bumpers. Every regional LRI has reported large numbers (up to 50% of teams) have some issue with bumpers. Please get the word out to Week 3 regional events and teams that split numbers are not allowed under any circumstances. You can whine, moan and yell but you cannot get us to change our minds. Split numbers will not pass inspection. We are working for the GDC here guys and they have spoken. Please see Team UPDATE - 2012-03-06. This includes full numbers on both sides of an opening. Only one set per 90 degree interval and only four sets total.
Bumpers must be a minimum of 8" length on either side of an exterior vertex and must be fully supported by the frame of the robot. This mean that the bumper may not overhang the frame to satisfy the 8" length rule. Believe me, teams all over the world are managing to get four digit team numbers in the space of an 8" bumper and make them readable. This is a no brainer. Just do it.
Legal motors do not include Globe motors. Several teams at almost every event have shown up with these motors. The AndyMark gear motor is a great substitute for this motor. Painting the motor to try and hide it's identity is also not cool. If we can't identify the motor, you will need to replace it with something we can check against the checklist.
While shooters have not been a real issue so far, we do check for the safety of rotating mechanisms and energy storage from springs and surgical tubing. We want everyone to be safe, especially those on the field like potential sponsors, refs and field resetters.
If you want to make changes to your robot during a competition, please see your LRI prior to making the change. They have the experience to give you advice and counsel you on the legality of your change. When you make a change to your robot, any change, you must request reinspection. There are several rules that cover this and the repercussions are severe in some cases. All teams are subject to a finals inspection prior to eliminations rounds. Most events ask you to come to the inspection area following your last qualifying match to be reweighed with bumpers on and battery out. If your weight matches you first inspection weight, you will usually be passed. If we see something different or your weight is different, you will have to explain what changes you made and show them to inspectors. We can perform random full reinspections at any time during the event including during the finals inspection process.
We want everyone to play but we are expected to hold everyone to the rules.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

Is it fair to say that removal of a fabricated component that is broken or not working as designed is a change that doesn't require re-inspection as long as it isn't a required electrical or pneumatic component or one that results in a potential safety hazard? For example, what if a team decides to remove a broken bridge lowering component?

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

It's always a good idea to inform the LRI when you make any change.

In the case of removal of an item, getting yourself re-weighed will save troubles at elimination inspection time.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

I think that the problem with the numbers on the bumpers has to do with being engineers and liking symmetry. You can walk down our street and tell which houses have engineers living there - every shrub and flower bed is nice and symmetrical. Looking at a robot with 4 numerals crammed on one side and nothing on the other side is equivalent to scraping your nails on a chalkboard to an engineer. So here's how we solved it; for offseason demos we like to put half red bumpers and half blue bumpers on - it gives a little color flair. We put the team number on the left front red bumper and the right front blue bumper. We "tolerate" the competition time when we're asymmetrical and we meet the rules, then the entire rest of the year we can be content.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

Joe,
When you remove a damaged component with the intention of repairing or replacing ASAP then you are repairing your robot and do not need inspection. When you remove an arm or shooter or ramp, with no intention of returning it to the robot, then you are modifying your design. The inspection process is fairly simple for that. An inspector may note that you have removed something large so that when you come in for finals, we will expect a weight change. Some events may ask you to reweigh immediately so they can note the change.
However, if you have a wheeled shooter and pneumatic shooter, for instance, and would like to change from one to the other, robot rules require that both be weighed with the robot at the time of your first inspection.
[R03]
The Robot weight may not exceed 120 lbs. When determining weight, the basic Robot structure and all elements of all
additional Mechanisms that might be used in different configurations of the Robot shall be weighed together.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

Even with removal of a component, inspectors still want to take a look at the change. Many times removing a component will leave sharp or jagged edges or holes that could present a safety issue, or pose possible damage to the field, game pieces, or other robots. These types of re-inspection take only a couple of minutes, and will save you hassle Saturday when you get re-weighed for eliminations!

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

Wait a minute! They told us on the FRC forums several weeks ago that had been fixed, after I mentioned it. Just consider it a collector's item. ;)

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

Did that really happen, Al? It's understandable if someone innocently tries to use a motor they didn't realize was illegal. But painting a motor looks deliberate, and it's extremely disappointing that someone would knowingly break the rules and attempt to hide. That's just cheating, and there's no GP in that.

Our inspector at FLR was great, made the robot inspection a very positive experience for the students. And the LRI was awesomely helpful. He went out of his way to help us improve our firmware (2 cameras causing a bit of lag, he showed us how to set the frame rate in the software instead of manually). My hat is off to the inspectors, and the great job they do. I hope Buckeye goes so well.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

The inspection team at FLR is awesome; they're a model for what inspection teams should be!

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

We couldn't agree more. Rob, the LRI there was incredibly helpful to our team in inspecting our Kinect setup, as well as being an all around awesome person. The whole Inspection team was nothing but helpful, performing the pre-inspection to make sure that everyone got through the process as quickly as possible. Furthermore, when we found out that our bumpers were illegal (Someone cut the pool noodles an inch too short, so they didn't cover the ends), they were wonderful about the whole thing. The worst part is, the Inspectors never get the recognition they deserve: Refs and Field personnel always get seen and applauded by the crowd, as well as Refs sometimes joining the line of Judges high fiving people. Inspectors should be atleast bumped up to that level of prestige, if not higher.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz
...Painting the motor to try and hide it's identity is also not cool...

This team broke several rules:
1) Using an illegal motor
2) Q. Does painting a motor violate rule R49?
A. Painting is not listed as an exception to modifying motors in Rule [R49], so it is not allowed.

Re: Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector
 

Thanks for the great comments on the FLR inspection team. I will pass along your comments. They really made me smile and I am sure Tom will be happy as well.
I have had teams paint legal and illegal parts, batteries, just about anything all in the process to make the robot look nice. Painting or removing the finish on motors are both illegal modifications. Yes it happens, most of us are experienced enough to notice. Someday LRIs may have a an option of taking team members around with us to see some of the reasons that inspections are needed. The majority of issues are really simple mistakes, not reading all the rules, or flaws in memory from years past. But yes, Virginia, there are problems, every event.