Re: Can Wireless Video Cameras Be Used?
 

Illegal, as per <R63>:
<R63> Custom Circuits can not:
...
Be used for wireless communication, such as sending or receiving a signal to and/or from the alliance station.
...

Re: Can Wireless Video Cameras Be Used?
 

Just for the record,
I approved the 1425 camera at Nationals based on several factors. Number one, was that it was so self-contained it did not derive power from the robot, nor did it transmit during the match. It was secured inside the robot so that it could not fall out and become a hazard to other players and it met all other rules on the robot like weight and size. And one of the most important to me was that Team 1425 chose a device that would not cause any harm to field or volunteers should it be destroyed during a match. Effectively it could fit into the non-functional decoration specifications.
Cameras transmitting live video would be cool for the audience but their use for driver feedback, I believe, would be disallowed. There are many practical reasons why you would not want video from the robot for driver interaction. Just the shift in fields of view would be very difficult for the driver to adjust to in the heat of battle. There are some very bright lights on the field so your display would need to be very bright and non-reflective. Your OI is size constrained by the rules so it will fit on the shelf. And last but not least, any meaniful video image would need to be transmitted by a separate transmitter. It reguires some sophisticated equipment to be able to predict if such a transmitter would interfere with the game. The equipment and the operators would make it impossible for First to provide such service at events.

Re: Can Wireless Video Cameras Be Used?
 

Was there any discussion in the off season regarding rule changes that would make use of a self contained camera, (record only) such as we used last year, more permissible, or will it be a case by case basis. The main problem last year was the issue of power to the camera.

Re: Can Wireless Video Cameras Be Used?
 

I have had a lttle discussion, most with other inspectors. I think for now it will remain a case by case due to the huge number of possible combinations that could appear at competition. There have actually been less than 10 teams that I am aware of that actually got to the hardware stage.

Re: Can Wireless Video Cameras Be Used?
 

if this is done then you have to tell FIRST b4hand and then show them that the reciever is IN THE PIT. if it is anywhere near the competition location then it raises too many questions

Re: Can Wireless Video Cameras Be Used?
 

We have our camera on our robot again this year. We captured 6 preliminarly matches at PNW and 3 championship matches. We will also be at the San Diego and Las Vegas Regionals, and will be recording video there as well.

We made a change this year to the camera setup, in that we built a part to replace the battery tray. Instead of having 4 AAA batteries (as we had last year) we have a solid block of plastic with supports for two wires with pads that interface where the batteries would have. The wires go to a 5volt supply from the robot. We have a custom circuit providing the power, but we have also run it off the analog I/O pins.

I think the changes we have made have eliminated all the rule issues with our camera. It has no internal batteries or motors and does not transmit or emit any light or signal. It is essentially a passive sensor that records to an SD card (rather than feeding back info to the RC). Thus is passes inspection with out the need for any special dispensation.

Paul Gudoins was at the PNW regional and I was able to show him our setup and some video when he stopped by our pit area.