Using a flashlight for aiming
 

Could my team just aim a flashlight at the high goal, and when the reflective strips light up, we know to shoot. Is there any rule against this?

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

I know teams have done this in the past with games such as "Rebound Rumble." Team 180 was pretty well known for using the method of "flashlight aiming" and made it really far in the tournament. I think you just have to make sure that the power source is from the robot and not a separate type of thing.

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

If by far you mean finalist in Orlando, winning South Florida, winning Galileo and then winning Einstein then yes they made it really far lol.

It has actually been referred to as a Photon Canon, and yes it has to have it's power come from the robot battery.

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

I believe team 33 used a flashlight on their robot in 2014. Plus there is a part in the robot section in the game manual that talks about what kind of lights you can use.

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

Have any other teams used this technique?

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

What section of the manual exactly? A ctrl+f for "light" turned no results..

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

I thought it said more about lights but it talks about which class lasers you can have and I'm not sure if flashlights are classified as Class 1 lasers or are even classified as lasers. So I don't know if "D." has any relations to what we are talking about.
Examples of items that will violate R9 include (but are not limited to):

R9 ROBOT parts shall not be made from hazardous materials, be unsafe, cause an unsafe condition,
or interfere with the operation of other ROBOTS

...D. Exposed lasers other than Class I. ...

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

Basically, if it makes you go blind when you aim it at your eyes from a distance, then it's not class 1.

So, a flashlight would be ok, as long as it's not blinding.:cool:

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

Basically you can use a flashlight as long as it isn't used to hinder the other alliances performance. Aka: Don't shine it in other people's eyes

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

25 who was 180's partner at champs did, and my own team in 2013 (1523) used it at champs

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

What type of light is needed? How many lumens?

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

Post from 2013 discussing Photon Cannons for reference. As far as the lumens question goes, lots.

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

My team used one while I was in high school. This was the one we used. We had to use a voltage converter to step down from 12 volts to like 3.3 volts if I remember correctly.

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

So the reflective tape is special. It's called retro-reflective which means the light only bounces back to its source. If you want to use this for aiming you will probably need a camera because there isn't a bright indicator from the driver station.

And if you use a camera, you don't even need a very bright light. You can use the led rings that came with the old axis cameras. They work very well.

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

The video for this match from 2012 has some good shots showing how visible 25 and 180's flashlights were when aimed at the goal: https://www.thebluealliance.com/match/2012gal_f1m1

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

Flashlights are not lasers.
Some LEDs are used to emit laser light, but plenty of other LEDs aren't.
Manufacturers/importers who follow the USA's rules must put a label(s) on any laser.
Many other countries have similar laws/regulations, but I wouldn't bet my life that every country does (or that every manufacturer in the world obeys all the rules).

With that said, in typical situations, lasers aren't used in ordinary flashlights.

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

Be careful/mindful of the aiming of said flashlight. When aimed at the ground or a target high enough in the air, you have a neat solution. If the light can potentially "blind" the drivers of the opponents or the refs standing next to the field, you may be asked to cover your light.

In 2013, I had to ask one team to stop using their light. It routinely blinded refs and during one hanging event, made it nearly impossible to see through the center driver station.

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

We used one in 2013 and it was very easy to see from the drivers station.

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

There have been many warnings to avoid blinding the Referees and the drivers from the opposing alliance. Only turning the flashlight on when you are lining up to shoot should take care of this. Not many Referees or drivers up in the top of the castle :-)

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

I believe Spectrum, team 3847, used a flashlight in 2014 to gauge where the ball would land when they fired it from their launcher (not 100% sure on that, so I would contact them about it).

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

We have always used LED ring lights attached to a web cam. The retro tape takes VERY little light to see clearly when reflected straight back. For 2012 we literally had an "iron sight" sitting in the path of our webcam, put the black line in the middle of the green box and fire.

http://www.printrbottalk.com/forum/d...2804&mode=view

Re: Using a flashlight for aiming
 

As long as you don't blind anybody it should be fine.