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Unread 21-01-2009, 21:34
Unsung FIRST Hero
Al Skierkiewicz Al Skierkiewicz is offline
Broadcast Eng/Chief Robot Inspector
AKA: Big Al WFFA 2005
FRC #0111 (WildStang)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1996
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 10,798
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Re: Driving on carpet

The rule that requires the camera and CRIO be insulated is to prevent interaction between robots that might cause electrical issues since both of these devices have a connection between the case and negative power supply. The static discharge that most teams experience may or may not cause problems with your robot. Teams in the north during winter experience low humidity from the heating during the cold months which makes matters worse. Humidty tends to draw off the charge. Dragging an electrical anchor (wire, braid, etc.) likely does very little since the driving surface (carpet or regolith) is an insulated material. Please be advised that high impedance sensors are the most vulnerable to static discharge but anything on the robot can be affected. We have found that certain electronic potentiometers are overly sensitive to static. If you are using these devices and have an issue during static discharges, I would recommend a change of component design to something more fault tolerant. I would predict that as much static builds up as the insulated wheels are turning near metal robot frame parts as is picked up by the robot moving across carpet.
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Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
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Storming the Tower since 1996.