[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by Bob Steele

T18 is a guideline and can't actually be carried out during an inspection because at some point you have to power up and also load your pneumatics so it is impossible to carry out this guideline for the entire inspection.

I generally will do sizing first.... so I just ask that the robot be placed into its starting configuration. If that requires the robot to be pressurized I would ask that it be that way.

After that is finished, you would dump your pressure and disconnect everything else that had to be connected. I would always ask for your team to put the robot in its starting configuration as if you had just put it on the field. It is at that point in the competition that it has to fulfill the frame perimeter rule.

Just do what the inspector asks... we will work with you to make things safe.

If you are under pressure or any item on your robot has stored energy, make sure your inspector knows.

Sorry, let me quote the entire rule instead of just the part that was applicable here...

For the safety of all those involved, Inspections must take place with the ROBOT powered off, pneumatics unpressurized, and springs or other stored energy devices in their lowest potential energy states (e.g. battery removed).
Power and air pressure should only be enabled on the ROBOT during those portions of the Inspection process where it is absolutely required to validate certain system functionality and compliance with specific rules (firmware check, etc.). Inspectors may allow the ROBOT to be powered up beyond the parameters above if both criteria below are met.
A. The ROBOT design requires power or a charged stored energy device in order to confirm that the ROBOT meets volume requirements, and
B. The Team has included safety interlocks that mitigate unexpected release of such stored energy.

T18 makes specific exemption for the power on test. It also makes exemption in cases where it can be done safely... But rather than worry about that, as an inspector, it's easier to just look at it during the power on test. I don't want my head inside a robot with charged pneumatics or springs not at their lowest potential energy state.