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Originally Posted by Not2B
Oh, you should go to an inspector.
We were team XXX with the tape on the radio. We were getting wicked static build up on the robot, and our radio waqs dropping out. So we taped up the exposed metal as a test. Didn't do much. We moved the radio, and it worked better.
We shipped the robot with the tape on. Did all of GLR with the blue tape.
Part way through Wisconson Al asked us what it was for, the students told him static prevention (which is why it was put on, even if it didn't work.) But we had no issues taking it off. No biggie. It's all good.
But I say tell an inspector. WHY? Because the students will listen to an inspector. They are an inspector. Our student's wouldn't do something wrong on purpose. They thought it was legal. If someone random just came up and said they had to change, the students would probably ignore them. An inspector is right. If people started changing based on random peoples input, next thing you will know is that people will be telling teams they only got 2 small CIM motors, and they can only use 2.
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Going to an inspector might have been the best course of action in your case, but in general, I disagree. I am sure both our team and the other team involved will tell you that the manner in which we handled our concerns in Annapolis made the situation better than it would have been had we gotten an inspector involved. We saw on a couple of robots in Annapolis what we thought might be illegal parts (specifically wheels), so we decided on Friday night to read the rules more carefully instead of impulsively taking an uneducated accusation to an inspector. We concluded that both teams should pass inspection. However, looking to avoid a situation like the one in Trenton where we incorrectly but successfully objected to a team's non-kit batteries before an elimination match, we decided to bring our concerns to the team early the next morning. They recieved us and our concerns well (thanks in large part to our position on the leaderboard at the time). We suggested they make sure the inspectors agreed with our ultimate assessment that the wheels were allowed and we gave them a copy of the relevant rule to support their case. I repeat: If you have concerns about a team's robot,
whenever you are in a position to do it politely you should bring it to the attention of that team first.