Heads Up - R93 is a Hard Dimension (operator console)

[sircedric4]

I know this will effect the way that we have done our OPERATOR console so I want to make everyone else aware of it as well. In the previous years we would use a small aluminum toolbox to contain our laptop and components for the OPERATOR console. It was a really nice, small package that would let our team members tote the console without throwing out their back and would protect our valuable electronics. I know other teams do as well.

If your laptop is longer than 12 inches you can't use it. If your aluminum carrying case is longer than 12 inches you can't use it. All this is based on a Q&A we submitted 4 days ago that was finally answered.

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Q283 Q. Is the intention of R93 to provide a hard dimension in the depth direction. In previous years our console carrying case was 13", and this years donated console laptop is 12.5", both now illegal under R93. If the console can be completely supported by the shelf and velcro can it be longer than 12"?
FRC2992 on 2013-01-21 | 9 Followers
A. Yes, the intent of [R93] is to provide hard dimensions for the OPERATOR CONSOLE.
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Prior to asking this questions I had searched the entirety of the internet to try and find a small briefcase / suitcase / toolcase that was small enough to fit the shelf but deep enough to hold our components to no avail. I was hoping for a reasonable judgement that would allow a operator console up to 15 inches or so. I mean a 12 inch shelf can support a much longer console if the CG of it is within that 12 inches. We almost got burned on this last year but our regional inspector was reasonable, as long as it didn't fall off the shelf we could play that weekend. I was aware of the issue and trying to make sure we didn't screw ourself this year, so asked the question trying to open up the requirements.

Needless to say we are disappointed because it means that the laptop we had donated and was going to use is no longer useable, so I guess we'll go back to the E09 classmate we have on our limited budget. It also means that we will have to build some conglomeration instead of using a nice briefcase, because I can't find one that isn't longer than 12 inches when opened but 6 inches deep when closed.

Does anyone have a COTS briefcase that meets this requirement they can share? I really didn't want to build a console because we can't seem to make one that doesn't look bad that closes everything up.