Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

I've been informed tonight that the Head Referees have been told that suction cups to the glass should be disallowed because of G12. It was discussed on the LRI call a week ago and it was specifically told to be legal by the inspectors.

To me this would also outlaw the driver station Velcro and the Ethernet clip since those would be attaching to the field. I've never thought that G12 effected anything but the robot but if it effects the operator console and possibly the drive team this is a vast detour from how I believe this has been enforced.

We will be developing a new way to mount our camera pole for tomorrow involving the Velcro even though that's also attaching to the field.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

If this is the case, then that's a huge blow to anyone who likes having their operator console in one piece. At Alamo, the Texas style defense involved vigorously smashing the high goal shooter into our alliance driver station. Thanks to our clamp and velcro combination, our operator console stayed on the driver station.

If this rule affects clamping down and/or velcro-ing operator consoles, then everyone is in for a rough season. Tournaments can be won and lost just by having a game controller come unplugged, let alone having the entire operator console come smashing to the ground.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

They are obviously not going to make the usage of the driver station velcro illegal.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

I agree but by applying G12 to the operator console they have opened the door for that interpretation. Clearly they need to update the rules to mean what they intend and not randomly apply other rules to situations they didn't intend when they were written.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

If that is the stand they are taking, but also allowing 11'8" poles, that is absolutely asinine. Why would you outlaw the best way of making a 12' pole safe? Wasn't the whole point of not allowing 30' poles to make things more safe? Instead they want to have 12' poles falling on people's heads?

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

Agreed.

I understand (and wholeheartedly support) the height limit, but this just makes no sense at all.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

That was my argument as well but he showed me the transcript of the call and everything to prove that's what they were told. I just don't understand the incosistency.

My other plan for a concrete filled bucket ruled unsafe as well. We are currently planning on a piece of wood the slides under the upper driver station panel (small area at back of driver station shelf) and also attaches with velcro. It wouldn't be able to fall but we are also opening ourselves up to 118 2012 style reasonably asutote observer definitions of attach since its just pushing off two surfaces.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

Maybe I am missing something. I thought that I saw in one of the pics of camera poles that at least one team used the holder intended for the team banner (will look for pic). Is that now illegal as well?

Found pic
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/at...0&d=1458056176

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

It looks like this has been posted to the Q&A. So this should get settled shortly.

https://frc-qa.firstinspires.org/Que...clip-also-a-dr

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

That's a probable violation of a number of team standard rules/guidelines. Height and electronics are the key ones. Unless you're the "GoPros", it doesn't represent your team.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

The q&a won't be answered this week so all teams compempeting week 3 are out of luck on getting clarification.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

Because G12 doesn't specify an actor, does this mean that the field reset crew isn't allowed to hold any of the field elements either, or raise and lower the gates?

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

During a match? You bet they're not allowed to.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

Well doggone it. That was going to be our solution to the no suction cups etc. issue...time to back up and develop a new plan.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

It's been answered.

https://frc-qa.firstinspires.org/Que...clip-also-a-dr

Using a suction cup to attach to the driver station glass is now illegal.

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

This also rules out c-clamp driver stations, doesn't it?

Re: Driver Station Poles and suction cups
 

Yes, and it rules out any drive team member grabbing the shelf.