Driver Station Vision?

[FrankJ]

If you read rule [1.6]

...The match begins with a 15-second Hybrid Period in which robots operate independently of driver inputs. During this Hybrid Period, one robot on each alliance may be controlled using a Microsoft Kinect. Baskets scored during this period are worth extra points. For the remainder of the match, drivers control robots and try to maximize their alliance score by scoring as many baskets as possible...

Using anything not specifically allowed for driver input during hybrid would not be allowed.

[agartner01]

Alright, first of all, I started this thread just to share what I thought would be a cool idea more than anything. Just putting that out there... Is it realistic? Probably not. But cool? Yep!

Now onto the lawyering:

Originally Posted by FrankJ

Using anything not specifically allowed for driver input during hybrid would not be allowed.

I don't see how rule 1.6 would apply to this, it never disallows means of control

By the way, EricH quoted rule T33 awhile back, I'm going to bring that up again:

[T33]
The only equipment that may be brought in to the Alliance Station is the Operator Console and non-powered signaling devices. Reasonable decorative items, and special clothing and/or equipment required due to a disability may be brought into the Alliance or Kinect Stations. Other items, particularly those intended to provide a competitive advantage for the team, are prohibited.

So my question is: how do non-powered signaling devices != hands?

[FrankJ]

The rule says any input (not signalling). Pretty inclusive to me. But I am not the one you have to convince. I don't think you will get much traction with the ref though.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by agartner01

By the way, EricH quoted rule T33 awhile back, I'm going to bring that up again:

So my question is: how do non-powered signaling devices != hands?

If you have something that attaches to your hands, or that is held in your hands, to allow the laptop to see it better (or, more to the point, to make sure that the laptop is getting the correct input hand), then that is your non-powered signaling device. That is the ONLY way you would have even half a chance at being legal for more than the first time you tried this.

And, like Frank said, the rule disallows any input from the drivers. Control with hands is input. As I noted before, when talking about the discussion when automode first came out, that would be akin to using the reset button (or appropriate substitute) to control the robot during automode. Unless it is specifically declared as legal, like the Kinect, then I would assume that this method is not legal.