[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Without putting the robot on the ground, it is not possible to fully test a robot mechanism that is designed for picking objects off the ground. Without putting the robot on the ground, it is extremely difficult to test closed-loop wheel speed or position software.

Putting robot wheels in contact with pit floors has legitimate uses. I believe a rule against it would go too far.

If a team has an autonomous program that could involve the robot moving fast or great distances, then they should not run this with wheels on the floor - but otherwise Alan points out there are legitimate reasons to put wheels on the floor to test.

Originally Posted by robochick1319

Yes, but I still don't see why. I think people are sacrificing basic safeguards that are very important because of something that is more convenient.

Are we all seriously saying there is no workaround? Convenience really trumps safety?

The sacrificing of safety is not committed when a robot is run carefully with wheels on the floor - it is committed by carelessness and/or insufficient expectation of adverse possibilities.

And from my perspective, only a few respondents see this as a convenience VERSUS safety issue...the majority see that the current practice is not threatened by an unsafe condition.

Originally Posted by JesseK

As a team who puts the robot on the floor in the pits a lot this year, here's our advice: have an itchy trigger finger ready on the space bar.

Putting a robot on the floor is a necessity when tuning/tweaking/fixing the mechanism that interacts with the game piece. It does not matter the year, if the mechanism must pick up a game piece off of the floor then the robot must be on the floor for a proper test.

Personally I don't see a reason to change. If the robot acts erratically then space bar, reset and move on.

As a team who has often needed to test something minor (like the effect of having gaffers tape from the field wrap around our drive pulleys) and unable to schedule the practice field - a rule prohibiting us from executing a quick safe drive test on the floor of the pit could be extremely detrimental. The focus should be on innovative ways to be safe - not hamstringing teams by onerous rules...don't let the problems dictate the solutions...let the solutions stand on their own.