[Jon Stratis]

They key take away should be... pay attention to safety while building the robot! If I inspect two nearly identical robots, I'll be more likely to pass the one that has shielding and safety locks on their high-energy mechanisms than the one that doesn't.

With this particular game and the robot designs we've seen, I'll be looking for a couple of things from teams regarding safety. First, think about how things are when you pick up the robot. I want to see some protection so a spring or tubing doesn't break when your face is a half inch away. I want to see some assurance that the catapult/kicker/other launching device isn't going to spontaneously trigger and bash someone holding the robot over the head.

And please everyone remember... if you feel an inspector is being too rough on you, politely ask them for a second opinion from the LRI. I can guarantee you that the LRI's are only concerned about three things, listed in priority order: That everyone plays, that they do so safely, and that they do so in compliance with the rules. We try really hard to make sure that everyone passes inspection and has their robot in the best shape possible before they reach their first match. But we need your help to do so - both at the competition and now, during the build season!