Tips from a veteran Robot Inspector

[Mark McLeod]

Quantity is limited to the most recent list.
So the first two CIMs are free.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Remember that the GDC in the Q&A covers items that are previous KOP that have been modified prior to the 2012 season.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Now that week 1 is under the bridge (pun intended) let us take a look at some additional items.

This weekend it seems that bumpers continue to be an issue. Regardless of previous year's rules, the minimum bumper segment must be 8" long and be supported by robot frame. The ends may not extend past robot frame and be unsupported. In other words, if you have constructed your robot frame to be 6" wide on either side of a ball handler opening in your frame, this is an illegal design. The frame and bumper must be a minimum of 8" and the bumper must be fully supported by the frame (except with certain exceptions listed in R33) You cannot have a 6" frame segment with an 8" bumper segment mounted to it allowing the bumper to extend beyond the frame.

Numbers on the bumpers must be in four places and four only. The team numbers must not be segmented or split across an opening or across two bumper segments. The GDC has ruled on this and is very clear in how teams are to implement the rule and how inspectors are to judge the bumper design.

While inspectors will not rule on appendage usage, we will inspect for the distance outside the frame that any appendage can travel during a match. If you appendage is capable of extending beyond 14 inches and has some limit in place (either mechanical stops or software) then they will check that during inspection as well.

Rev C of the Inspection Checklist was issued on Tuesday. This will be the version used at events except if an updated checklist is issued.

I would like to remind everyone that modification of motors is only allowed for very specific reasons...
R49
Motors, servos, and electric solenoids used on the Robot shall not be modified in any way, except as follows:
A. The mounting brackets and/or output shaft/interface may be modified to facilitate the physical connection of the motor to the Robot and actuated part.
B. The electrical input leads may be trimmed to length as necessary.
C. The locking pins on the window motors (PN 262100-3030 and 262100-3040) may be removed.
D. The connector housings on the window motors (PN 262100-3030 and262100-3040) may be modified to facilitate lead connections.

Please note that this does not allow modifications to motors or integral transmissions even if the manufacturer supplies a mod kit. It does not allow the removal of integral transmissions to use the motor only.

I hope all teams participating in Week Two events have a great time.

[Grim Tuesday]

I don't think that the four and four times only number can be stressed enough. I saw a team at Gull Lake in Eliminations competing with the number five times.

[Wayne Doenges]

I'll add what I saw at the Smoky Mountains Regional.

I saw several breakers that were hard to get to. One team had their breaker inside a plexiglass box. I asked them how they turned on their bot and they told me they remove the front bumper, remove the two screws holding the lid down and then turn on/off the switch. I got them to put in a hole in the side of the box.
Also, please go over your pneumatic schematic and be sure everything is in it's place. Just saying.

Also, I had fun at SMR. Ed was great to work for.

FYI, only use one tag on your bagged robot

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

Also, I had fun at SMR. Ed was great to work for.

There is a reason I have Ed as a division lead at Champs.

[sandiegodan]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

This weekend it seems that bumpers continue to be an issue. Regardless of previous year's rules, the minimum bumper segment must be 8" long and be supported by robot frame. The ends may not extend past robot frame and be unsupported. In other words, if you have constructed your robot frame to be 6" wide on either side of a ball handler opening in your frame, this is an illegal design. The frame and bumper must be a minimum of 8" and the bumper must be fully supported by the frame (except with certain exceptions listed in R33) You cannot have a 6" frame segment with an 8" bumper segment mounted to it allowing the bumper to extend beyond the frame.

I had a question on this as we had lots of issues with this in San Diego this past weekend. Since there is no 8" minimum frame requirement on it's own, it would make sense to me that if an 8" bumper carried it's own continuous metal backing and could be securely attached to the frame, that would constitute a legal system? Providing it met weight of course.

We were specifically making teams extend their frames causing substantial rework and missed matches. Not to mention modifications to ball retrieval systems. I will be inspecting at 3 more competitions and I'd like to offer some better alternatives to teams for being in compliance and ensure consistency throughout the competition season.

Thank you,

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

I saw several breakers that were hard to get to. One team had their breaker inside a plexiglass box. I asked them how they turned on their bot and they told me they remove the front bumper, remove the two screws holding the lid down and then turn on/off the switch. I got them to put in a hole in the side of the box.

I do have to say, teams that attend the Rochester Rally every year (hosted by Team 1511) have a great benefit: FLR's chief inspector, the wonderful (and extremely tall) Rob Heslin gives every robot a quick once-over to make sure that the most egregious faults are identified prior to Bag and Tag. Our bumpers were good, but our pneumatics needed modification...

[Duncan Macdonald]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

I don't think that the four and four times only number can be stressed enough. I saw a team at Gull Lake in Eliminations competing with the number five times.

Did the world end?

#1 thing I wish was a non issue this year.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by sandiegodan

I had a question on this as we had lots of issues with this in San Diego this past weekend. Since there is no 8" minimum frame requirement on it's own, it would make sense to me that if an 8" bumper carried it's own continuous metal backing and could be securely attached to the frame, that would constitute a legal system? Providing it met weight of course.

We were specifically making teams extend their frames causing substantial rework and missed matches. Not to mention modifications to ball retrieval systems. I will be inspecting at 3 more competitions and I'd like to offer some better alternatives to teams for being in compliance and ensure consistency throughout the competition season.

Thank you,

I inspected Alamo this weekend and we were allowing lots of ways to extend the frame, most of the time it was just an L bracket, the rules don't really define how sturdy a frame must be as long it is non-articulated. The most important part is the frame counts to your weight and isn't part of your bumper attachment system which is weighed differently, so having 6 inch of frame with 8 inch of metal backing on the bumper would change where the weight is allocated.

[GaryVoshol]

The most common method of "erasing" the 5th bumper number is to put tape over it. So they exchange one rules violation for another. Is that what we really want?

Allowable bumper materials are plywood, noodles, fabric, fasteners and optional angle reinforcements. Nothing else. Which is why the suggestion of integral metal reinforcement of the bumper itself isn't permitted.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by Duncan Macdonald

#1 thing I wish was a non issue this year.

Part of me agrees, but part of me is happy that they're being (at least mostly) consistent about making sure that teams follow the rules, whatever those rules happen to be.

[Cal578]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Allowable bumper materials are plywood, noodles, fabric, fasteners and optional angle reinforcements. Nothing else. Which is why the suggestion of integral metal reinforcement of the bumper itself isn't permitted.

(emphasis mine)

Where in the rules does it say "nothing else"? [R28] mentions some things you must use (noodles, cloth), but does not say "only" or any words like that.

[remulasce]

[R28] begins with "Bumpers must be constructed as follows". If your intended method & materials do not follow, then it is not allowed.

[Jeff Pahl]

Originally Posted by sandiegodan

Since there is no 8" minimum frame requirement on it's own, it would make sense to me that if an 8" bumper carried it's own continuous metal backing and could be securely attached to the frame, that would constitute a legal system? Providing it met weight of course.

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Allowable bumper materials are plywood, noodles, fabric, fasteners and optional angle reinforcements. Nothing else. Which is why the suggestion of integral metal reinforcement of the bumper itself isn't permitted.

The metal backing has been determined to be "fastener" in the past. The reason that a metal backing on the bumper is not considered "frame" is because it's attached to the bumper, not the robot. "Frame" must meet all robot size and weight requirements. It really starts to become a "I need to see the specific implementation" headache, and I'm dreading some of the things we are going to see at Championship with the requisite "But it passed at XXX regional" commentary.