Robot Inspection Checklist Prior to Matches

I can't say for sure, but I believe Scottydoh means that the pneumatics are charged with an off-the-robot battery before each match. This would not in any way mean adding an extra battery during the match. It would be like me adding 47 extra batteries to our robot when it's not competing. It's not against the rules at all to have pre-filled air tanks. As for the rule stating about not pre-charged electrical things (or something like that), pre-pumped air has no electricity in it. It would be the same if we filled up the tanks with our mouths. And while that is completely legal, it would be stupid to do so. It would be hard to fill your pneumatic tanks to 60 psi by blowing in them.

We are pre-filling our air tanks before each match.

[LLogan]

Off topic, sorry.

To comply with R69, our air compressor is onboard our robot, and used while in play. The only difference is we fill our tanks from an external battery before matches. We then place the robot battery on, take away the old ones, and are left with a completely legal robot, starting off with full tanks of air. It's 100% legal.

THE SUBJECT OF THIS THREAD WAS ASKING FOR OBJECTS ON AN INSPECTION LIST, NOT A DEBATE ON WHETHER OR NOT PRE-PUMPED AIR TANKS ARE ALLOWED. PLEASE EITHER STOP THE DEBATE OR MAKE A NEW THREAD FOR THIS. Thank You.

[jvriezen]

Regarding pre-pressurizing, I suggest reading these threads:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ght=compressor


http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ght=compressor


I believe the net is that using a second battery or even a second compressor is not permitted.

John Vriezen
Team 2530 "Inconceivable"
Mentor, Drive coach, Inspector

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by jvriezen

I believe the net is that using a second battery or even a second compressor is not permitted.

Using an additional battery or compressor is pretty clearly against the rules. I'm not so sure about the practice of swapping batteries between precharging the pneumatic system and running the match. You're never using more than one battery to run anything, so you don't run afoul of the rule requiring only one battery.

Can anyone find a rule that states the pressurized air in the robot at the start of the match must have been supplied by the exact same battery used to run the robot for that match? I don't think there is one.

[scottydoh]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Using an additional battery or compressor is pretty clearly against the rules. I'm not so sure about the practice of swapping batteries between precharging the pneumatic system and running the match. You're never using more than one battery to run anything, so you don't run afoul of the rule requiring only one battery.

Can anyone find a rule that states the pressurized air in the robot at the start of the match must have been supplied by the exact same battery used to run the robot for that match? I don't think there is one.

I don't believe it says it directly in the rules, but I remember seeing somewhere that as long as you have a complete second system (battery, CRio, pressure switch, etc.) that is in fact legal. But stand by, I'm looking for a source now...

EDIT: Upon checking the rules, I retract my statement.

[wireties]

We pre-charged our pneumatics during the San Antonio Regional. I described exactly what we were doing (and in what order) to the inspector (since we had never left the pump off before) and he said we were in compliance. It is hard to believe it is against the rules to change to a fresh battery after charging pneumatics, testing the robot, pre-positioning arms etc. What purpose would such a rule serve?

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by scottydoh

I don't believe it says it directly in the rules, but I remember seeing somewhere that as long as you have a complete second system (battery, CRio, pressure switch, etc.) that is in fact legal. But stand by, I'm looking for a source now...

I'm certain you won't find that written anywhere official. The rules are clear: the compressor must be controlled and powered by the ROBOT, not by an external system.

[scottydoh]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

I'm certain you won't find that written anywhere official. The rules are clear: the compressor must be controlled and powered by the ROBOT, not by an external system.

I'm sorry, did I say my answer was official?

[Mike dennis]

We always try to have a checklist but this year it has actually been used every match because we put it on the back side of a piece of lexan on the robot and check it off with a dry-erase prior to each match. This allows us to have it on the field where stuff like turn it on and remove safety pin comes into play.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Mike dennis

We always try to have a checklist but this year it has actually been used every match because we put it on the back side of a piece of lexan on the robot and check it off with a dry-erase prior to each match. This allows us to have it on the field where stuff like turn it on and remove safety pin comes into play.

That is a really really good idea.

[fyrefrost]

Our team has a checklist as well. We print off several copies then check off every item on it before each of our matches. Always make sure that everything is plugged in right on the electrical board. Sometimes one thing out of line here can make the entire robot stop working. We usually test our drive train before each match too, just to be sure that if all else fails our bot still has defensive capability.

[BrendanB]

Our team has learned the hard way at the Week Zero and thursday at GSR, make sure every pnuematic end is closed.

[11douglash]

Shure. This is what our team used for two regionals this year:

1. Check Bumper Color
2. Change the Robot's battery
3. Is everything plugged in? (it listed specific line items)
4. Turn Robot on, with the tether
5. Retract the arm to starting configuration (specific instructions followed)
6. Make shure the robot moves
7. Robot off
8. Fresh minibot battery
9. Fresh robot battery
10. Check loose screws (listed specific locations)

We've done checklists for two years now. We've found it helps alot, when we actually use them. Probably the best example to use is the emergency checklists for airplanes. All small airplanes have an about 20 page series of checklists for normal operations. This is all well and nice, but 20 pages is too long, seeing as we don't have all the time in the world. Look at the language of the plane's emergency checklists. We try to emulate that.

Example checklist: http://www.atlasaviation.com/checkli..._checklist.htm

(granted, it's not in the real format, but it'll give you a good idea)

mabye this'll help for you too?