Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector

[Wayne Doenges]

If it isn't easy to turn off we will all just sit and watch it burn and toast marshmallows.

MMMMMMmmmmm Marshmallows

[Bill_B]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

MMMMMMmmmmm Marshmallows

Get Peeps to make red white and blue marshmallows in the three Archimedean solids for FIRST. Talk about Dean's Homework!

More on topic, though: Can an extension of the "off" button be made? Labelled properly of course. There's always the trade-off between efficient electrical path battery-to-breaker-to-PDB and accessibility for safety. Additional incentive to not burning is not getting technical foul and red card for field damage.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Bill,
If you are suggesting a push rod that couples to the breaker "off" button there would appear to be no rule that prevents that as long as you are not modifying the breaker. However, it seems that the complexity to make such a device and prevent it from accidentally triggering the breaker off is beyond what is really needed and would take away needed weight needed for other functionality.

[Bill_B]

Al,
The reputation scores don't go high enough to handle yours. If the push rod or lever had a snap-over in the vein of fire-alarm boxes, inadvertent tripping could be minimized. I'm sure you've seen those hoods for toggle switches that reduce the chances for accidental operation too. I think our switch is in a good place this year, but there is some sentiment for having a cover for the control board. I'd like to preserve the access and noticeability for the switch in case they go wild with decorations. thanks again for this and indeed all your advice.

[johnr]

I looked thru the inspection check list and didn't see anything about appendages being deemed legal during inspection. Will appendages be checked to make sure they adhere to rules and wether they obscure team numbers on bumpers?

[ratdude747]

Originally Posted by Jaxom

And please remember that all hands are not the same size; small hands fit in large holes but not vice versa.

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Breakers behind lexan while looking good make it harder for field people to protect your investment. A hole in the lexan needs to be big enough for my hand to go in. Ask anybody, it is pretty big, I can bridge almost an octave and a half on the piano. Much bigger than a mouse. If it isn't easy to turn off we will all just sit and watch it burn and toast marshmallows.

By "mousehole" I was referring to shape, not size.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Bill,
I was thinking about the rod vibrating while the robot drives around. I know that a couple of good taps on the button is enough to open the breaker.

John,
Appendages are checked in the second to last line of the Mechanical section. Teams either have to demonstrate that the appendage(s) is under mechanical or software control to prevent it from extending beyond the 14".

[wireties]

Originally Posted by ratdude747

By "mousehole" I was referring to shape, not size.

Last year our breaker was easily reached (a baseball glove could go through the access 'hole') and easily visible from the top of the bot but the inspector made us move it to the exterior.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Keith,
We cannot make a judgement on this decision but there is no rule that indicates the breaker has to on the exterior of the robot. It needs to be easily accessed by a human and impossible to reach by a robot.

[wireties]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Keith,
We cannot make a judgement on this decision but there is no rule that indicates the breaker has to on the exterior of the robot. It needs to be easily accessed by a human and impossible to reach by a robot.

I wasn't looking for a judgment, just warning that some inspectors take the accessibility rule to extremes. I thought the move was ridiculous - still had to move it to play.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by wireties

I wasn't looking for a judgment, just warning that some inspectors take the accessibility rule to extremes. I thought the move was ridiculous - still had to move it to play.

If you have doubts about an inspectors call then ask the head inspector. Remember inspectors are great guys but we all make mistakes. Even Al

[Wayne Doenges]

Eye nevr' maek misteaks

As a rule of thumb, if the breaker can be seen and easily accessible, then I have no problem. I may ask you to make up a sticker or use red tape indicating the switch location.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Remember inspectors are great guys but we all make mistakes. Even Al

When?

No really Sam is correct. Please do not start making a major change without checking. You may have misunderstood or we may have not communicated correctly. I remember telling a team that they had to change a #18 to a #14 since it was used in a particular way. The team interpreted that suggestion as all wiring needed to be changed to #14. It was my fault for not checking that they understood and their fault for not asking. I won't make that mistake again.

[PayneTrain]

Quick Question: If bumper covers cause the bumper zone to go up to 10.25", would this need t be rectified? the plywood and undercover do not exceed the 10" zone.

[engunneer]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

Quick Question: If bumper covers cause the bumper zone to go up to 10.25", would this need t be rectified? the plywood and undercover do not exceed the 10" zone.

Yes. Bumper covers are part of the bumper and so must be under 10".