Ban on Infrared?

[Jecht22]

A few of us are creating some LED suits to wear and they are controlled by IR. A team member mentioned something about IR connections being banned at competition. As far as I know and as far as the rules states the only type of wireless connection being not allowed is an 802.11a from a router or phone. Maybe a person who has already attended a competition could clarify this for me?

[DonRotolo]

Ask that Team Member to show you the rule.

Note: This may be difficult for him/her to do.

[neshera]

I think Mr. Rotolo is correct - probably no specific rule.

Our team is using infrared lights on our camera to find the reflective targets. Some teams are using various colors of lights for the same purpose. So I think you'll want to make sure you're not interfering with the function of any robots on the field.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

[R08]
Robot parts shall not be made from hazardous materials, be unsafe, cause an unsafe condition, or interfere with the
operation of other Robots.
Examples of items that will violate this rule include (but are not limited to):
C. Any devices or decorations specifically intended to jam or interfere with the
remote sensing capabilities of another Robot, including vision systems, acoustic
range finders, sonars, infra-red proximity detectors, etc.(e.g. including imagery on your Robot that, to a reasonably astute observer, mimics the Vision Target)

While not specifically making IR illegal, it could be deemed to be interfering under this rule.

[Kevin Selavko]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

[R08]
Robot parts shall not be made from hazardous materials, be unsafe, cause an unsafe condition, or interfere with the
operation of other Robots.
Examples of items that will violate this rule include (but are not limited to):
C. Any devices or decorations specifically intended to jam or interfere with the
remote sensing capabilities of another Robot, including vision systems, acoustic
range finders, sonars, infra-red proximity detectors, etc.(e.g. including imagery on your Robot that, to a reasonably astute observer, mimics the Vision Target)

While not specifically making IR illegal, it could be deemed to be interfering under this rule.

But it never says anything about a person's deccorations

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Kevin,
Paragraph C begins with "any device".

[Alan Anderson]

And the whole rule begins with "Robot parts". Something worn by a person isn't a robot part, so it won't run afoul of that rule.

If a "personal decoration" interferes with robot sensors, I'm okay with it being banned, but it wouldn't be because it violates a robot rule.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

While not specifically making IR illegal, it could be deemed to be interfering under this rule.

That's a robot rule, though—and I think they're talking about clothing with LEDs on it. Edit: Somehow I missed Alan's reply....

Event staff would probably have to fall back on the venue representative's prerogative to eject persons interfering with the event.

[DonRotolo]

Though I do have to note that wearable suits controlled by an IR signal sounds...interesting. Good catch Al, if we assume that their suits only receive IR and the transmitter is unlikely to interfere with any other robot - and that's the wearer's job to find out if it will - they should be OK.

The rule doesn't ban IR, it bans devices that will interfere with IR on a robot.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Only someone who was doing FLL in the pre NXT days will really understand the reason behind some of these rules. The original brick used IR to communicate with the programming computer. IR sensors in schools, and IR security cameras wreaked all kinds of chaos in those days.

[remulasce]

Kevin,
Paragraph C begins with "any device".

[R08]

C. Any devices or decorations specifically intended to jam or interfere with the
remote sensing capabilities of another Robot, including vision systems, acoustic
range finders, sonars, infra-red proximity detectors, etc.(e.g. including imagery on your Robot that, to a reasonably astute observer, mimics the Vision Target)

Take precautions to ensure it doesn't cause problems, of course, but do so because you're a decent person. This rule does not ban even an LED suit that does interfere with another robot, so long as it's not specifically intended to do that. Also, people are generally neither robots nor fielded by teams as such, and thus not subject to any [Rxx] rules.

More relevant is [T15]:

The Head Referee may assign a Yellow Card as a warning of egregious Robot or team member behavior at the Arena. A Yellow Card will be indicated by the Head Referee standing in front of the team’s Player Station and holding a yellow card in the air after the completion of the Match. In the first Match that an team receives a Yellow Card, it acts as a warning.

Once a team receives a Yellow Card, its team number will be colored yellow on the audience screen at the beginning of all subsequent Matches as a reminder to the team, the Referees, and the audience that they have been issued a Yellow Card.

If the Head Referee thinks that your team members are displaying egregious behavior, presumably by not turning off their lights after being asked to do so, and probably some steps in between, s/he could assign you a yellow card. It's unclear whether this rule applies beyond Matches, since it is implied that this rule requires a Match in progress in order to present a Yellow Card at the end of, however Arena would seem to include the entire event. There may be a different Arena definition which I'm erroneously not applying in this situation, but don't be a lamewad.