Al's Annual Inspection Thread 2013

[Jon Stratis]

All teams should be familiar with Bag and Tag now, but there are still teams every year that don't have their form easily available when they get to the venue - get a plastic sheet protector and tape it to your bag, then put the form in there!

My list of items every team should check now, while they still have time to fix them:

- Check that the FRAME PERIMETER is <= 112”
This does NOT include minor protrusions like bolt heads.

- Check the starting configuration
Everything on the robot must be within the vertical projection of the FRAME PERIMETER
This can be checked by pushing the robot against the wall

- Check that the weight of the robot is <= 120 lbs, and the weight of the bumpers is <= 20 lbs.

- Check that all motors are on the legal motor list
Make sure there are no Fisher Price motors, and compare all motors to Table 4-1.

- Perform a basic check of the electrical system
Use a multimeter to ensure the chassis is electrically isolated.
Check for appropriate wire gauge sizes

- Perform a basic check on any pneumatic systems
Ensure proper stored and working pressure
Check the system against the minimum system shown in R79

- Ensure the robot has appropriate belaying points (required for every team)
These can be eyelets with a ¾” opening or exposed structural members
If you doubt the robot can be supported by these points, have the team lift it
Be extremely strict about sharp edges near the belaying point
Suggest wrapping edges of the belaying point in duct tape, if frame is used

- Check that the battery is secure
Think about what would happen to the battery if the robot was upside down