Clarification on R29!

[Crubotics]

R29 The PDP and all circuit breakers must be easily visible for Inspection

The rule in the 2015 Game Manual (Section 4: The Robot) is slightly ambiguous... can anyone elaborate on this?

Does the PDP have to be exposed entirely or can it be covered on all sides but easily revealed for inspection? Does it have to be easily visible during the game on the field for the Refs? Or if it is open for Inspection, can it be covered up for protection during the game?

Thanks,
Bishop Eustace Robotics Team

[SousVide]

Our team looks at the Inspection Checklist - you can find the v1.1 of the Checklist here - make sure you keep up with any updates to the checklist though.

http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...ecklist1.1.pdf

We run our team through practice inspection using the checklist before we bag it up... This way we know that the robot will pass inspection when we get to our event (well, at least a higher likelihood of passing)... Take a look at the Electrical section, basically, your Inspector will need to be able to see your PDP, wiring, main breaker, etc. touch them, measure, etc... The harder you make it for them to wade through layers of stuff, the longer your inspection will take.

So, as far as R29, that's how we take it. The Inspector has to be able to get to them, see and touch them... For the main breaker... anyone should be able to locate it, reach in, and de-power the robot without getting into any moving parts... Sometimes, we put a sign that points and say "Main Breaker Here !"

[GeeTwo]

Our robot this year will have a clear plastic (I believe polycarbonate) cowling that can be easily unbolted at one end and flipped up on a hinge at the other end to allow not only inspection, but any repairs/modifications we may need to make. If the inspector is happy looking, that won't be a problem at all. If he wants to touch, we'll just pop the hood. This is the first time in three years we're using an explicit board-protection panel - the last two years, we had so many structural or functional elements above the control board that we weren't worried about a game piece falling onto the red button on the main breaker or other elements of the other control system.

[SousVide]

We are also thinking about fashioning a lexan cover as well... only have a couple more days to experiment and figure that one out... We've always worried about stuff falling onto the bot - but definitely this year more so..

[rich2202]

Originally Posted by Crubotics

but easily revealed for inspection?

That would work for me.

[Sperkowsky]

We have our control system on a peice of bent plastic (with the holes in it) there is a lexan cover on a hinge with a hole in it to press the breaker.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Everyone,
The rule for visibility is to allow your inspector to view the labels on the breakers, and compare that with the wire size that is attached to the output fed by that breaker. In addition we need to be able to see the power supply outputs on the end of the PDP. If you make it difficult for us to see and verify other rules, it will take much longer for inspection. Covers are acceptable if they are easily removed, velcro work pretty well in this application. I highly recommend polycarbonate for use on a robot as it is shatter resistant.

[Bryan Herbst]

Also remember that while you might get past inspection with fully or partially obscured electronics, it is often in your best interest to have the major components (especially the roboRIO and radio) visible for the field staff.

If your robot isn't connecting to the field, the roboRIO and radio are two of the first places your FTA(A) will look for potential problems. If those two things are not visible or easily accessible, your chances of getting connected in that match start dropping.

The PDP isn't as important on the field, but having it accessible to field staff can be helpful if you experience issues during a match- after a match ends we often walk up to the robot to see if there is anything obviously wrong that we can point out such as wires that pulled out.

[MrRoboSteve]

Two reasons why accessibility could be more important this year than in the past:

. new control system = new problems
. more happening between matches = more pressure for matches to run on time = less time for FTA, FTAA, and CSA to help you with problems

[pmangels17]

Keep in mind that though technically the rule is for easy inspection, having a PDP that is buried in a mess of wires or in the bottom of your robot is going to make any sort of maintenance or trouble-shooting very difficult, and in the crunch time situations that come about at competition, it is in your best interest to have all critical systems as accessible as possible, if for no other reason than easy maintenance.