Carrying Operator Interfaces On Airplanes?

[Richard Neese]

Has any team carried their operator interface on airplanes? What did you have to do to get thru the security screening? Does anyone know if there are problems with X-raying the Innovation First OI Controller?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Richard Neese
Team 147

[Toolman]

Last year we brought our control interface as a carry on.

1. make sure it is no larger than a normal carry on.
2. wear your team shirts
3. clearly mark it as a robot interface
4. have your team leader with you at the screening station
5. be prepared to open the interface and show it
6. separete the powersupply from it. (give it to someone else)
7. don, t wait to long to pass the screening area it will take some time to check it out! ( be at the head of the line of your group)

No problem with the x-ray
Ours did go through a very intensive explosive test wipe and it takes time!!!!
DON'T JOKE AROUND WITH THIS ITEM IT CAN BRING BIG TROUBLE!!!!!

Team Leader
870

[Koko Ed]

Why not save yourself the trouble and send it down with the robot in the crate?

[miketwalker]

Because you can use it with the Edubot. You can take the speed of your bot before you ship it, and make a ratio with the Edubot, and code autonomous on there and test it while waiting for competition. That's what we did.

[J2Kraatz]

I don't think you should carry it on the airplane due to the chance of breaking it. I also believe that the x-rays could damage somw of the computer componets.

[Lloyd Burns]

There is a remote possibility you might dislodge a few electrons in your program memory, but the airport machines a supposed to be safe for camera film (remember, before digital cameras ?).

Take your computer (you'll have to boot it up for inspection - charge the batteries, or bring the AC supply) so you can make repairs to your program.

And check the OI early on Thursday, in case you need to borrow another.

[DanL]

I'd think that you could con(vince) the security guys to give it the same treatment as a laptop computer. I know at different airports, they treat laptops differently - sometimes I put it in through the x-ray machine, sometimes I put it in the box that you pass over the machine. If you explain to the guy what it is and that it should basically be treated the same as a laptop, hopefully you'll be fine - if their machines are rated for laptops, pass it through, otherwise, don't.

It all depends on the general friendliness of the airport you're going through (i.e. not New York's JFK).

[mtaman02]

i remember carrying a Camcorder, a 35mm camera and a laptop as carry ons at Newark Airport and when I went to test all the equipment after words nothing really worked the same afterwords. Camcorder Tapes that had footage on them were some how erased ( no these were no blanks to begin with ), the 35 mm camera hada roll of film in it that was used but when i turned the camera on it either said no film or full roll of film in it and the laptop if u tilted the screen a little bit the screen would shut off. No electronics in these devices were loose. All batteries where fresh and all devices were working within normal specs b4 the inspection.

To all those taking KEWR - aka Newark Airport out please make sure that u try and get your devices Visually inspected and carry any items that u purchased from the area your returning from such as ceramic cups and such make sure u take these items or at least highly delicate ones as carry on items so that nothing gets damaged during baggage shipping and claiming.


my .2

[pras870]

I remember last year, we made a really cool cube control box out of lexan for the nationals. It took me about 2 weeks to make the plans and get everything together. Then our leader said "since you built it, you're bringing it on the plane." Granted, this was aronud the time after 9/11 when all the airports were suspicious to anythign electronic.

Needless to say, I didn't have such a fun time getting looked at strangly by everyone there. I'm a robotics operator, not a terrorist! Oh well, it was a lot of fun, and it still looks pretty sweet!