Quote:
Originally Posted by EricH
And after any inspection, teams can (and do!) modify their robots. If the modification involves adding something or changing a dimension and it could affect legality, the team is supposed to check with the inspectors before their next match--9/10 times, the inspectors will walk over, go "You're good", and walk away.
|
If
any change is made it must be reinspected. Making the change means you are playing with an "un-inspected" robot and there are consequences for that. Yes nine out of ten times an inspector will look at the change, see that it is legal and respond "you're good". What you don't see is that person going back to the table and changing the inspection sheet or making a note on the sheet so others will know.
Paul, the numbers are way higher than you imagine.
This year the modifications that were being made with regularity was the addition of blocking devices. Teams made the change thinking, "Hey we're 20 lbs underweight so we can add a lot". The reality, there was still a height restriction that must be met. Also, not discussed much, if a robot needs to modify the current robot to accomplish the change (not simply adding something), and the change would have put the robot over weight with the original parts, you can't go back to original configuration at that event (T08).
The inspection team and the LRI in particular are your friends. They are tasked with making all teams have a great event and they are chosen so that their experience can help you compete. Please include them in your decision to modify your robot at an event. In no particular order, we have seen teams wanting to make these changes during the weekend...
1. Remove half of the robot since it is not functioning the way the team had hoped.
2. Adding weight to get better friction for defensive strategies.
3. Modifying designs to make their alliance partners happy.
4. Modifying to get an alliance partner to pick them.
5. Adding free weights, vises, lead, lead shot, water bottles, extra battery and tools to add weight or balance parts of the robot.
6. Remove wheels, add motors, remove drive train parts.
7. Add attachments to change robot dimensions or contact the floor.
8. anything you can think of while you are reading this...
While many of these can be legal modifications and pass inspection, they are not necessarily the right action for your team. Making significant changes in weight for instance vastly affect driving performance which will take your drive team back to square one. In the finals, a known robot behavior is better than starting off from scratch.