Prelim Photon Cannon Test

[Undertones]

During the photon cannon preliminary tests for 4334, I noticed that even with the light pointed considerably high above one's head, the source of light still makes for a very bright and potentially very distracting element. Especially with extremely high powered light sources such as this one. As a driver, this is something that I am seriously worried about.

[Brandon_L]

Originally Posted by Undertones

During the photon cannon preliminary tests for 4334, I noticed that even with the light pointed considerably high above one's head, the source of light still makes for a very bright and potentially very distracting element. Especially with extremely high powered light sources such as this one. As a driver, this is something that I am seriously worried about.

Being on the opposite end of 25's photon cannon last season, I'd have to agree with you.

Seeing more and more of these on the field wont be fun

[S.P.A.M.er 17]

Our driver greatly benefited from have a photon cannon guided system. Never having to look away from the field made it a lot easier to line up. Since our robot only had one shooting range, the light lined up almost guaranteed the shot. It is definitely something to look into if you are having trouble getting the camera tracking to work for you.

Originally Posted by Brandon_L

Seeing more and more of these on the field wont be fun

Now given the simplicity and the benefits of a light, I wouldn't be surprised to seeing a lot more teams using a flashlight. I would have to agree that to anyone on the field, this could get annoying fast. Six separate beams of photons will not make it easy on the drivers. Though it could be cool from the stands. I don't think Dean Kamen ever imagined FIRST evolving into a ROBOT RAVE.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Undertones

During the photon cannon preliminary tests for 4334, I noticed that even with the light pointed considerably high above one's head, the source of light still makes for a very bright and potentially very distracting element. Especially with extremely high powered light sources such as this one. As a driver, this is something that I am seriously worried about.

Seconded.

I know some of last year's high powered lights were verrrry intense and distracting when I was standing just behind and to the right of a driver's station during a match in St. Louis.

If you are not permitted to drape a sheet over a driver station to block the view of an opposing driver, why is it ok to blind them with a high powered flashlight?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

If you are not permitted to drape a sheet over a driver station to block the view of an opposing driver, why is it ok to blind them with a high powered flashlight?

We're planning on this; if ours sees action, we'll work to keep it in check and Less Obnoxious.

[fox46]

Back in 2001 I participated in a spinoff of FIRST called "Canada First" (As our FIRST had yet to come to Canada). The competition that year involved firing squash balls at targets. Lasers were prohibited so we used a 35W household halogen 12V pot light in a cardboard tube with a magnifying glass mounted inside the tube at the appropriate focal length to project a perfect "spot" on the targets. We inserted a piece of aluminum with a + slot machined in it and the result was a perfect crisp projection of a crosshairs on the targets. It worked magnificently well.

This being said, that competition, all the drivers were oriented to face the same direction and the targets were opaque so nobody was exposed to any aiming lights. I must say that if I felt it was impeding my drive team's ability to compete I would not have any bad feelings about launching a complaint against the offending device. FIRST has given you some incredible tools at your disposal (CRIO and Axis Camera). You should be endeavoring to use them and learn as much about the technology as possible.