Bring Back the Rotating Light

[sanddrag]

Those LEDs are hardly visible at all. The flags are okay, but it they kind of look cheesey and they aren't bright and flashy. I know the plastic covers always broke, and they used power, and they took up weight and space, but I really miss those darn rotating lights. I don't think anything since has been as visible as those were. I say FIRST should bring them back. What do you say?

[George A.]

I concur wholeheartedly. Those things were a) awesome b) made identifying allainces easy and c) were awesome.

It's a shame that the last year (if memory serves me correctly) was 2001 where there were no "allainces" perse since all four teams were on the same team...and the only real people who needed to know which robot was which color were the refs/scorers.

[Rick TYler]

Just say no to police lights.

[sanddrag]

The last year of the rotating lights was 2003 when they got smashed on the field. But it was also a different light than 2002 and previous.

[Daniel Brim]

Honestly, I was not a huge fan of the rotating light because of how they broke. If they do bring it back, it should be with a tougher cover that won't crack (and in several cases shatter). Also, it would be better if it didn't count towards the weight limit.

[Cory]

don't bring it back. It's too big and weighs too much.

It was definitely easier to see though.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by DanielBCR

Honestly, I was not a huge fan of the rotating light because of how they broke. If they do bring it back, it should be with a tougher cover that won't crack (and in several cases shatter). Also, it would be better if it didn't count towards the weight limit.

You hit the nails on the head(s).

[Mike AA]

What about a bubble of LEDs say, 20-30 bi-color, red/blue. with a constant on controlled by the controller for which color it has. Simmilar to the LED this year but about 20 times brighter and constant on. I liked the visability of the rotating light but not the size nor weight. A bubble of LEDs would weigh probably around 4 ounces and would be highly visable and still small ( and cheap/inexpensive).

-Mike

[ahanktcd]

Originally Posted by Mike AA

What about a bubble of LEDs say, 20-30 bi-color, red/blue. with a constant on controlled by the controller for which color it has. Simmilar to the LED this year but about 20 times brighter and constant on. I liked the visability of the rotating light but not the size nor weight. A bubble of LEDs would weigh probably around 4 ounces and would be highly visable and still small ( and cheap/inexpensive).

-Mike

I'd agree with this! I've got 192 white LEDs grouped into 16 vertical bars under a clear plasic cover. A solid-state rotating light. I use this on my bicycle at night... low power and VERY, VERY cool. (Also useful at robot demos) With cheap LEDs from ebay, it cost about $30. It may be too expensive for FIRST, but it's low-power, lighter weight, silent, and much more durable. We just need a really good, solid Lexan cover (unbreakable) and we'll be all set.

[Tim Delles]

I have to say I much perfer the LED's we have now. The light was pretty hefty and if it wasn't in good enough site for the inspectors it was a pain to move. Also that thing had to weigh a bit more than we all thought.

[Richard Wallace]

Still no poll?

I'm against bringing back the rotating light. Yes, it looked cool and conveyed the "danger, stay back" message better than blinking LEDs or flimsy flags. But its weight, ampere draw, space claim, fragility, and inconvenient lack of electrical isolation from its own mounting studs combine to make it a really undesirable robot part.

I like the flags as alliance IDs. And I'd like to see a slightly more robust LED for use as an IFI diagnostic.

[Chris Hibner]

Originally Posted by ahanktcd

I'd agree with this! I've got 192 white LEDs grouped into 16 vertical bars under a clear plasic cover. A solid-state rotating light. I use this on my bicycle at night... low power and VERY, VERY cool. (Also useful at robot demos) With cheap LEDs from ebay, it cost about $30. It may be too expensive for FIRST, but it's low-power, lighter weight, silent, and much more durable. We just need a really good, solid Lexan cover (unbreakable) and we'll be all set.

My old team (308) did this in 1999 and it worked very well. We had an array of about 50 LEDs on each side arranged in a ~4" X 8" rectangle. If I find a picture, I'll put one up.

[mtaman02]

Originally Posted by M.O.R.T.

I concur wholeheartedly. Those things were a) awesome b) made identifying allainces easy and c) were awesome.

It's a shame that the last year (if memory serves me correctly) was 2001 where there were no "allainces" perse since all four teams were on the same team...and the only real people who needed to know which robot was which color were the refs/scorers.

Yep 2001 was the year were everyone worked together to achieve some diabolical dynamics =). The LEDS wouldn't be soo bad if FIRST could provide two more of them. I think it was in 2004 were teams actually recieved 4 LEDs that needed to be placed on all sides of the robot so that the robot was visible from all angles to see what alliance it was on. Since 2004 though first has only sent out 1 or 2 to each team.

Personally I miss the rotating light it made field reset fun b/c then you would have to vacuum up the broken bulbs left behind. However I also like the LEDS because you don't have to change lens covers and its lighter and less space & power consuming.

Either or I like them both. =)

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I say FIRST should bring them back. What do you say?

I agree (I was just talking to a teammate about this, last weekend!) They were so much easier to see!

[Rich Wong]

Electro-Luminescent lamps maybe a solution.
They are flat, lite weight and flexible.