Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

OK,
Time to talk about bumpers. It seems most teams are getting bumpers right this year. That's good! However, with the bumper zone low to the floor already, some teams have saggy bumper fabric and bumper covers. Teams can be called on bumpers and bumper parts outside the zone during competition. Please keep checking when you take the field to be sure that the fabric is not hanging down to the floor. This occurs mostly at the corners where the fabric is folded. Also bumper skirts tend to get saggy, you should have some method to tighten up the fabric, i.e. velcro, string, or extra staples as needed. No point in getting to a finals match to find that you are being cited for a bumper zone violation.

It has been reported that some teams that are using the terminal blocks from the KOP are having an issue with reliability. If you are using these blocks, remember that they are meant for a certain size wire. The small gauge wire used in the sensors is likely to pullout of the block. Try stripping an inch of insulation and folding the wire back on itself twice before insertion.

Note to all teams in the coming weeks...
There is no honor in being the last robot to inspect or to miss a match because you waited too long. When you inspect early, you get to practice more by being able to enter the "filler line". Teams that have more practice do better in competition, that is a fact. You also get to try out your minibot. Inspect early!

To rookies and veterans with new mentors...
Please ask the LRI or other experienced mentors before you tear your robot apart. If you take the field with a partially working but driving robot, your alliance partners will thank you. A three on two or a three on one game is no fun to watch or to play. There are lots of experienced people who can help you make changes and not miss matches.

Signage...
Many teams are short changing themselves on signage this year. It is hard to tell what sponsor, school or team name is playing. Be proud of your team and display your colors. The announcers will be able to call out your robot name or school while you play and you will get noticed.

BOM...
Needed in electronic form and be visible in the pit during inspections. Most teams are getting this right as well. Be sure to be accurate in your use of the KOP list as well. First can do electronic searches on the BOM to look for interesting parts and those not used.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

OK,
Time for the next installment with more data from the past week...

Motors: Teams continue to show up with Globe motors, old Fisher Price motors and van door motors. All of these are illegal motors this year. Please check your designs and make sure you are using only one of the 2011 FP motors and neither Globe or van door motors on your 2011 robot.

Crio: Although we cannot check for everything, you must keep conductive material out of your Crio. More teams are reporting issues with Crio reboots and many if not all are due to metallic dust and shavings getting into electronics. Use the gasket intended for your Crio to help keep dust and particles from accumulating inside.

Bumper skirts: While many teams use these, very few are keeping an eye on correct attachment. Covers, bumper material and bumpers in their entirety must remain inside the bumper zone, 1" to 7" above the floor. If your material or skirt drags on the floor or falls below the 1" above the floor, expect the refs to see it and penalize you.
R07
B. The BUMPERS must be located entirely within the BUMPER ZONE when the ROBOT is standing normally on a flat floor, and must remain there (i.e. the BUMPERS must not be articulated or designed to move outside of the BUMPER ZONE).

Minibots: Only Tetrix switches, limit switches and a maximum of two switches sold as "lighting" switches may be used on the minibot. Toggle switches, push button switches, rockers and other switches sold by outlets like Radio Shack are not permitted. If the switch is not normally thought of as one of these, be prepared to show documentation as to it's marketed use as a lighting or limit switch.

Radio power: Must use the five volt regulator supplied in the KOP. If you have connected your radio without using the regulator (i.e.12 volts), expect it to fail in the future. Be sure you have another on hand for replacement at your next event.

Finally, there is some items that are still not legal on FRC robots. Electrical solenoids, other wireless devices including Bluetooth and WiFi, home built pneumatic components, modified pneumatic, electrical or control system components are all illegal.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

The motor situation seems to be a big problem. I had to give at least 3 teams the bad news that their motors were illegal. All of which were completely shocked when I informed them.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

A team next to us in San Antonio used a couple globe motors. It broke my heart to see the poor fellow taking his arm apart.

Thanks for the tips Al! We'll be taking this list to Dallas with us.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

My standard spiel heard by over 100 teams in AZ and LA:

Takes just about the same amount of time it takes to reset the radio :D

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

Ok,
Before I get into my final list, there is a problem that is popping up this weekend. Minibot batteries may not be modified. You cannot cut the shrink wrap, separate the cells or otherwise modify any part of the Tetrix battery.

From the Q&A...
Minibot battery modification
Posted by 2011FRC3238 at 01/25/2011 07:25:54 pm
Is it permitted to separate the cells of the minibot battery (keeping the electrical configuration
intact)?
Re: Minibot battery modification
Posted by GDC at 01/31/2011 03:39:37 pm
This would be a violation of R92-C.

C. no more than one 12V rechargeable NiMH battery pack identical to those supplied in the FTC kit of parts (PN W739057) except the 20A fuse may be replaced with an equivalent type of lower amperage

Those teams that plan on using the withholding allowance to bring in bumpers...The bumpers are still included in the 30 pound limit.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

OK,
Last installment I hope....
Let's talk about minibot batteries. As I posted earlier, you may not modify any battery including the minibot batteries. There are two types of legal minibot batteries and the difference is simply the color of the shrink wrap. If you purchased your batteries in the last six to eight months, they likely came in black shrink wrap. If you purchased them earlier or bought them from someone who still had older style on the shelf, then the shrink is clear. Both are legal FTC and minibot batteries. The black looks cooler while the clear allows you to see if there is any damage or leaking. Modifying includes removing the connector or adding a different one, cutting the wires, opening the shrink wrap and/or separating the cells.
Battery chargers...
Some teams are using battery chargers that are not intended for either the robot battery or the minibot battery. While there is no specific rule relating to these, we defer to the manufacturer specification for safe battery charging. If you attempt to force charge either battery type by using high current, battery damage, fire and possible personal injury may result. For this reason, any battery charger that is capable of this high current can be banned from the pit area. The minibot batteries are best charged by a smart charger at no more than 900ma made for charging NiMH batteries. The main robot batteries are best charged by smart chargers at 6 amps or less with chargers designed for SLA batteries.
Inspection Checklist...
While I don't anticipate any changes in the rules over the next two weeks, any change will be reflected in an updated Inspection Checklist. We are currently using Rev D of the Robot Inspection Checklist and Rev B of the minibot Inspection Checklist. These are the documents we will be using at Champs if no rules changes are made.
Bumpers...
Always an issue, and we will be checking for construction and alignment, as well as attachment and the use of floppy skirts. Remember this is the big show, there is no excuse for bumpers (and everything that is attached to them) to fall outside of the bumper zone, 1" to 7" above the floor. Refs will be watching.
WPA...
This will be essentially self serve as it was at the regionals. As a reminder, you need to factory reset the DAP-1522 prior to bringing it to the WPA kiosk to reprogram.
Inspections...
Will take place any time the pit is open. That is from 5 PM to 9:30 PM on Wednesday and each day until finals begin on Saturday. Please plan to get inspected Wednesday night or Thursday morning. There is no excuse to miss a match because you are not inspected. All minibots must be inspected as well or they cant be used. Please remember there are specific rules concerning teams that are not inspected. Use the next two weeks to review those rules.
Sharps...
Of course we are concerned about popping tubes, so should you. If your tube handler has sharp edges, or pointed parts, be prepared to correct that during or prior to inspection. We will also be checking for objects and robot parts that could injure participants.
Wiring...
This is one of the most seen and difficult to correct issues that arise each year at Champs. Even if you have a well meaning sponsor who gave you 10,000ft. of green and yellow wire, you can't use it on the robot. The robot rules are very specific as to color code and wire size.
Inspectors and inspections...
Most of the inspection team will have performed inspections during the season and all will have reviewed all the robot rules in Section 4. If an inspector wants you to change something on your robot and you question that change, please ask if a lead inspector could be consulted. Please be sure that you understand the change. I don't want any team to change the wiring on the entire robot when only one wire was illegal. The majority of the inspection team will be present Wednesday night and Thursday through the afternoon. Many of them perform other volunteer duties during match play. We will fall to a skeleton crew once these volunteers start in their other positions. However, any changes you make to your robot during the weekend must be re-inspected. Robots playing or asked to be alternates for the finals matches must be reinspected prior to finals match play. If you suspect you will be in that group, please re-inspect following your last match on Saturday morning. The rules allow any robot to be re-inspected at any time and that includes on the field prior to a match start.

The Championship is a crazy time but also one of the most fun. I hope you have a great weekend if you are going to be there. If you did not qualify this year, I hope to see you next year.

Good Luck everyone!

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

This was not the case at all regionals. I know at least Peachtree had a volunteer operating the WPA kiosk and performing the factory reset before programming.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

The proper procedure for resetting the DAP needs to be posted by the kiosk. If you do the wrong thing, you'll put it in "emergency web server" mode and it'll require a firmware reload to return it to working condition.

To reset the DAP-1522 to factory defaults: apply power, wait a few seconds, hold the reset button for just ten seconds, release it, then wait for the WAN light to stop flashing.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

Peachtree had 48 teams. Your Championship division will have more -- something in the high 80s. Doing as Al suggests above will make WPA go faster for everyone.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

Sorry if the intentions of my post were unclear. I know that there will be differences in procedure between regionals and Championships, some out of necessity and some because the regional may have been "off script".

The purpose of my post was to highlight that there may be teams that are unfamiliar with the WPA kiosk procedure so proper documentation should be posted if the station will not be staffed by a volunteer.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

Kevin,
There will be some assistance, but teams need to be in factory default prior to the programming process as indicated by Alan above.
Al

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

You guys are right, of course.

If every team would just monitor CD 24/7, there might be less confusion about rules, procedures, best practices, etc. Then again, there might be more! :ahh:

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

Here are the procedures I used at the Radio Kiosks

1. Power up the radio
2. Switch to Bridge Mode
3. Wait until the orange light on the front of the radio blinks a couple times (about 22 secs)
4. Insert a paper clip into the "Reset" hole on the back of the radio.
5. Hold it there and count to 10
6. Remove the paper clip
7. Watch the lights on the front, they will go out after a moment, then will come back on, wait until the orange light blinks a couple times (about 45 secs)
8. Connect the radio to the Kiosk using the ethernet cable. Plug it into any of the ethernet ports on the back of the radio
9. Enter your team number into the radio kiosk program
10. Press the button on the radio kiosk program to configure the radio
11. Wait until the progress bar fills all the way to the right and it says radio is programmed (about 90 secs)

Don't try to rush the progress. If you follow these steps, it works every time.

Re: Al's Annual Inspection Thread
 

Robot Inspectors are there to help you, not hurt you. If we find a problem with your robot, please don't say "It passed at XXXX regional". The inspector may have misread the rules or just missed it. We will do everything to help you out.