Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryVoshol
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On the robot, at least. (<R02> refers to "[i]tems specifically prohibited from use on the ROBOT".)
Arguably, you could enclose the laser completely to avoid the <R02> violation. (The laser is integral; the device causing it not to be exposed to the surroundings may not have to be integral, depending on the interpretation of the rule. However, as a practical matter, I can anticipate the Q&A response....) As for the motorized base, since there is significant signal processing and I/O on the Kinect, it might be considered a "COTS computing device" for the purposes of <R45>.
On the topic of the laser rule, while it's relatively easy to enforce—except for the sometimes-fluid definition of "exposed"—it's somewhat too conservative. These are obviously eye-safe lasers—the Kinect has a
Class 1 rating (for an exposed device, eye-safe on a continuous basis).
The rule ought to allow any number of unmodified Class 1 lasers for competition use, on the robot and operator console, subject to a gameplay rule about creating distractions. There should be a separate venue rule stating that if you're in possession of a class 3 or higher laser, or in possession of a laser modified so as to invalidate its rating, or using any laser whatsoever in a vexatious way, you'll be thrown out of the building.