New inspections
 

Now that the first days of some regionals are over, what do people think of the new team inspections? I am curious because I volunteered to inspect at VCU and it is an enlightening event. It is truly amazing to see what other teams came up with to solve the same problem.

For those of you that did not have a regional this week-- so far the main problems I have seen have been sharp corners, non-insulated battery terminals, non-insulated connections, improper gauge for wire application, and rotating lights that are not visible. Also, please have a bill of materials ready before competition. It is frustrating to have to keep asking a team for their BOM.

How strict were the inspectors on the issue of light placement? Did they get out a ruler and measure 4", etc.?

Nobody that I know got out their ruler, but it is pretty obvious if the light is OK are not. Most of the times I asked team to redo their light they had buried it inside the robot and is not clearly visible.

Were there many disputes whether things were legal or not? Did every bot go through a full scan (or were things sometimes missed)?

As far I as know, the bots went through full scans. The adults that were not part of a team let the kids who were with them inspect the robot because we knew the rules better than they did. As far as disputes, I told team that I did not pass what needed to be changed and some disagreed with me. I then told them they could take it up with the head inspector and I was overturned at least once. However, I stand by my opinion (it was about everyone's favorite object-- take a guess ;))

I just returned from inspecting robots at the St. Louis regional. We had an inspection crew of six, including one veteran chief inspector and five rookies. Of the rookies, I was the only one with experience on a team. I am a mentor/engineer on 931, a second year team, and I was also a mentor on a team that competed in '96 and '97 but disbanded after that.

Most of the problems I saw were like those mentioned in the first post of this thread -- sharps, loose wires, exposed conductors, etc. I saw no problems with the rule on revolving lights. I inspected about a dozen robots altogether, and found only three that passed on the first try. Most others had only a few minor problems that were corrected quickly.

I was able to refer some rookie teams to veterans that I had also inspected, for help with correcting problems. Kudos to the GP displayed by Team 45, who were extremely well prepared for their own inspection and also took the time to help rookie teams fix problems. (And they have an awesome robot -- even more impressive up close than in the pix posted on CD.)

As of lights-out at 8pm there are only three teams, out of fifty-five at the St Louis regional, that will need to complete their inspections on Friday morning. And so far there have been no inspection results challenged, nor any requests by another team to have a robot re-inspected.

What type of call was given on flags??? While watching practice rounds for VCU... a team.. small in stature had two brightly colored flags sticking up... what call/warnings were given about it.... they appeared to interatct with the bar when going underneath it.

I can't remember the update with the warning of reacting with the bar, and I did not inspect that robot so unfortunately, the only answer I could give you is "definite maybe" in terms of compliance. Sorry.

Incidental contact with the bars is perfectly legal. FIRST has expressed to me, repeatedly, that they don't want people pushing against or grabbing onto the midfield barrier with the intent of making their robot immovable.

In fact, FIRST has gone so far as to say mechanical, spring-loaded mechanisms that are designed to retract the light below the barrier are legal.

Given that, the flags should be fine. If any inspector should say otherwise, I would strongly disagree and appeal that decision.

http://jive.ilearning.com/thread.jsp...t=30&trange=15

You may use a bicycle flag. The flag must be located within the maximum size of the robot at the start of the match. Non- functional decorations may not extend over the maximum size limits. Only bumpers may.

Be careful, a flag used to spot the robot is no longer a non-functioning element on the robot. Spotting the robot is a real function this year. Do not assume flags will fall under the non-functioning catagory.

-Dave Kolberg

Given the relaxed restrictions on material usage, I don't thinkere's much concern over functional decorations. Really, the guiding factor where decorations is concerned would be the use of additional battery power.

I've been watching the webcast regionals, and it looks like the light rules are relaxed, majorly. I have seen many robots with their light inside thier robot, barely visible, yet they are able to go. Also, many are not bottom down, and lots have cages around.

So it looks like the light should be fine however it is.. just as long as its visible.

Can we get back to the original subjet of this thread? I inspected at Sacramento and I'm interested in hearing what teams thought of the inspection process itself, not the rulings that were made.

If you want to discuss various rulings start a new thread.

A couple of teams commented to me that we were more in depth than they had experienced before.

Maybe I should /shudder/ start a poll

I saw no difference between the inspection process this year and any previous years at the buckeye regional. We were inspected by 1 person, who did a quick but thorough job inspecting the robot. If it was on the inspection sheet, he checked it, otherwise, he didn't.