Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

Having now attended 5 events in 5 weeks, this has been a killer. Please, please, add these to pit check lists.
As an LRI, once everyone has passed, this is an item I try to verify on every single robot. I typically do this in the queue before matches.

My tug is not terribly hard, but teams I have specifically tugged connections have had a failure later on (IE a couple matches later). This means that historically decent connections are coming loose. Though on occasion it has been due to teams disconnecting and reconnecting the breaker)

Starting week 4 this year I take a 7/16 wrench with me. To help tighten lugs on main breaker.
I have been in serious debate on whether or not to bring a small torque wrench and torqueing each of those leads to the spec (or roughly 75-80% of max torque callout). I may end up doing that for MSC/Worlds.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

Looking for a small torque wrench now. Main breaker lugs are 1/4-28 and their rated torque is 50 inch-pound. [edit: found Texton 24320 at Meijer.]

Battery terminal wrench sizes vary from team to team -- make sure you know what size wrenches YOUR battery terminals require. Have those, a knife, and some electrical tape handy in the queue in case you need to repair a loose battery terminal connection. Of course it is always good to have a spare battery handy as well.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

OK,
Champs is around the corner. Please check the public schedule as pit times and Qualifying start has changed from last year. If you are headed to Champs please remember to have your B&T form accessible at Champs. For inspection you will need to have your CAW available either in printed form or on a laptop as part of the inspection process. It is our intention to have inspections completed by Wednesday night, pit close. We can only do that with your help. When pits open to five team members, please unpack your robots so that your crate can be moved out of the pits. We will be working with teams for the first hour and will begin the inspection process as soon as possible. When ready to start inspection, come to your division inspection station with your bumpers removed from the robot. We will weigh bumpers and robot separately and check your frame perimeter at that time. An inspector will be assigned to you and inspections will be completed in your pit.
To remind everyone...This is the big show. Things that may have been missed or passed at your event inspection will need to be corrected at Champs. This is true of bumpers, motors, and wiring. Be prepared!
I am getting pretty excited, I hope you are. Good luck everyone!

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

Al, will completed inspection be required for Wednesday practice matches?

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

I am not Al.

For all the years I have been inspecting, our goal has been to get teams playing by the rules as soon as they can. I think this is the intent of section 5.5.2, third paragraph: If I am assigned to inspect your robot at CMP and, during the inspection, time comes for your team to queue for a practice match, I will stay with the team in queue and continue the inspection -- UNLESS (1) I have seen a potential safety issue that should be brought to the attention of my LRI, or (2) my LRI tells me that the inspection must be completed in the team's pit.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

I am not Al either, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night ....

Given the schedule, it looks like each team gets ONE practice match. A primary goal being to make sure that all robots are connecting to the field before Qualification Matches start in the morning.

Like Richard said, you don't have to pass inspection to participate in the Practice Matches (assuming that a field person doesn't disqualify you for safety reasons). But, if you want to be in the filler line for practice matches (if there is one), then you do have to have passed inspection.

If I am inspecting a robot, and they are called to Que, I would send them off, and finish the inspection when they get back. If no other teams are waiting to be inspected, it would make sense to continue the inspection in the que.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

Please remember that you do not need to be inspected to practice. You do have to have bumpers attached to practice.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

Do you need the correct bumper color for practice?

If you ran out of time to change them?

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

I saw a practice match with 6 red bumpers at one district. Got a little confusing in the neutral zone!

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

I lot is forgiven (ignored) for the practice rounds.

Bumpers - check.
Rio/Driver Station correct team number - check.
Anything look hazardous - check.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

I don't know how the rule will be enforced during practice. It may be a time when refs are being tested/re-learning and having the wrong color might confuse that process.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

At some districts, practice matches are run without referees.

I doubt that will happen at DCMPs or CMP divisions. Referees want to make sure all matches are scored correctly, and practice is the only way to improve. When teams try their best to practice the same way they will play, that enables volunteers to do the same.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

Can't say I have ever seen a lot of practice reffing at Champs. Lots of times the field crew or FTA's are running the scoring pads to keep matches moving.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

FTFY. Trust me, it really badly confuses the process. Really, Really badly.

And yes, I've seen that firsthand.

Re: Al's 2016 Inspection Thread
 

Al, Just Say No. :rolleyes: