Electronics Inspection

[kevin.li.rit]

Originally Posted by PingPongPerson

Hey Everyone
I was just wondering if it was legal to mount the electronics facing down. Our electronics were facing down (against the ground) where you cannot see the lights. I was wondering if it was legal. We can flip the bot up so the inspectors can see the lights, but they cannot be seen otherwise. The signal light and the router can be seen.
Thanks,
Michael

However the components do need to be accessible during robot inspection.

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by Coffeeism

However the components do need to be accessible during robot inspection.

Technically only the RSL and d-link lights need to be visible, but the field personnel can tell many things from the lights, even the lights on the jaguars and spikes can help troubleshot a problem. Think very carefully about doing this.

[Justin Stiltner]

If at all possible, mount them so they are accessible without flipping the robot over, you will regret the decision to mount them under the bot many times at the competition and afterward when you need to access it, or check the connections (which you should do before every match).

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guys,
There are more rules that require visibility of components than those already listed. Turning over the robot to show inspectors and field personnel is not something you should consider good design. Electronics mounted upside down also expose them to parts lifted from the field by your robot just driving around.

[kevin.li.rit]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

Technically only the RSL and d-link lights need to be visible, but the field personnel can tell many things from the lights, even the lights on the jaguars and spikes can help troubleshot a problem. Think very carefully about doing this.

That is true for the field but as Al mentioned, if you have electronics mounted that are not visible, the inspectors cannot pass your robot.