Al's Annual Inspection Thread 2013

[dtengineering]

Wow! Absolutely nothing in there about safety shields for high speed rotating equipment.

Given the number of shooters that will be running wheels at several times their design speed, I really expected something about "high speed rotating mechanisms are shielded to reduce the likelihood of injury during testing or in the case of failure of a rotating component".

I mean R08 covers the general concept:

ROBOT parts shall not be made from hazardous materials, be unsafe, cause an unsafe condition, or interfere with the operation of other ROBOTS.

But I was hoping for something more specific, so that all teams would know, in advance, that exposed shooter wheels likely "cause an unsafe condition".

Jason

[Wayne Doenges]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

Wow! Absolutely nothing in there about safety shields for high speed rotating equipment.

Given the number of shooters that will be running wheels at several times their design speed, I really expected something about "high speed rotating mechanisms are shielded to reduce the likelihood of injury during testing or in the case of failure of a rotating component".

What do you mean absolutely nothing about safety shields? ^ there it is

Remember that the Robot Inspectors are your friends and are there to help you. If we find something wrong, with your robot, don't take in personnal.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Well,
Now that everyone has bagged their robot using the official FRC bag and secure seal tag, you are good to go right? Not quite yet.
One of the biggest issues for inspectors every year with B&T is having teams produce the B&T forms. You should have filled this item out when you bagged the robot on Tuesday. Now is the time to make copies and insure that the original goes to someone who will be moving with the robot to competition. On a number of occasions, we have had teams with the form in the hands of a teacher who didn't travel with the team or the team captain who got the flu just before the competition. If you want to maximize your time on practice day, be sure to have the form handy when you arrive.

This year, the new rules will confuse some people. At this time, all robots must have two belay points on their chassis. It doesn't matter if you can't climb or intend to climb or even wish to climb, you must have them on the robot to pass inspection.

While there are a lot of motors on the allowed list this year, some past motors are no longer legal. Now is the time to check if your motors are on the allowed list and be prepared to change them at competition if they are not. Notably, the Globe motor and Fisher Price motors are no longer legal. The motors must be identifiable so no painting or other than allowed modifications are legal.

Bumpers...Every year this is a problem. We have gone to great lengths to simplify this. Bumpers must cover 8" of frame on either side of any exterior corner. Bumpers can be built after stop build, they do not count towards the 30lb allowance of parts to be carried in at competition.

First has tried to think of everything you might come up with in design and planned for that. However, you are really good and sometimes there are things that we didn't think of. The Q&A is your friend. If you thought of something, I bet someone else did too and already asked the question. If it was of some great importance, FRC also added it to a Team Update. Now is the time to check through both of these resources. Inspectors will have up to date lists of items that affect your robot construction. Each week they will be inspecting for these items. If needed, a revised inspection checklist (also available on the First website) will be issued.

That is all for this installment. Good Luck everyone.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Well,
Now that everyone has bagged their robot using the official FRC bag and secure seal tag, you are good to go right? Not quite yet.
One of the biggest issues for inspectors every year with B&T is having teams produce the B&T forms. You should have filled this item out when you bagged the robot on Tuesday. Now is the time to make copies and insure that the original goes to someone who will be moving with the robot to competition. On a number of occasions, we have had teams with the form in the hands of a teacher who didn't travel with the team or the team captain who got the flu just before the competition. If you want to maximize your time on practice day, be sure to have the form handy when you arrive.

The best way I've seen to avoid forgetting your form is to securely attach it to your bag! Get some duct tape and tape a sheet protector to the bag. Slide the form into the sheet protector and you'll never forget it.

Please note, that if you're transporting your robot to competition in the back of a truck or on an uncovered trailer, you'll want to keep wind in mind... You don't want the form blowing away while cruising down the highway 100 miles from competition!

[Wayne Doenges]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

Please note, that if you're transporting your robot to competition in the back of a truck or on an uncovered trailer, you'll want to keep wind in mind... You don't want the form blowing away while cruising down the highway 100 miles from competition!

If you are transporting your robot this way, please cover it up.
Last year, at SMR, a team brought their bot in a truck bed. They also used aluminum duct work for the basketballs. The ducts shredded their bag and it took awhile for them to get inspected.
Also, I hope you didn't put your B&T sheet inside the bag with the robot

[nicholsjj]

After pre-inspecting a team I would also encourage every team to look at their robots in the bag and see that they have the right wireless bridge. Veteran teams really need to make sure that they use the bridge that they got in the kop to pass. The old rev. A bridge will not pass inspection this year. I would also like to remind teams to update their drive stations.

The best way to get through inspections quickly is to go into the thursday of regionals with a plan. Make a list of every thing that your team will have to do to get through inspections. Be safe and do not get in a hurry when you do start making these changes and you will have a successful thursday.

[lcoreyl]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

Wow! Absolutely nothing in there about safety shields for high speed rotating equipment.

Given the number of shooters that will be running wheels at several times their design speed, I really expected something about "high speed rotating mechanisms are shielded to reduce the likelihood of injury during testing or in the case of failure of a rotating component".

ditto to that! I'm also noticing a lot of this in videos (some labeled as reveal) with no wheel covers.

I'm having flashbacks to breakaway when we spent precious manhours making sure we didn't allow balls under our bot only to have FIRST decide that as long as a whole lot of people are doing it, then lets not follow the rules...

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by dtengineering

Wow! Absolutely nothing in there about safety shields for high speed rotating equipment.
Jason

Add me to the list for this one too. I think this could be a major safety issue. I've seen a few with wheels/discs spinning UN-captured or UN-encapsulated at very high RPM's that are probably beyond tolerances of the wheels/discs.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

OK,
I will bring this up but consider that rotating devices do come under the Safety Rule
R08
ROBOT parts shall not be made from hazardous materials, be unsafe, cause an unsafe condition, or interfere with the
operation of other ROBOTS.

A greater concern is materials used for friction on the rotating device. Please be sure that you have chosen wisely when you assembled your spinner/wheel/tire. Some of the wheels used in the past are not meant for the high RPM you may be running on your shooter.

[dchartley]

We built a curved 1/8" thick aluminum guard for our high speed pneumatic wheel so we wouldn't have problems during inspection because this had been mentioned in another thread.

Doug

[Wayne Doenges]

We are using the AM plaction wheels but we rivet and glue the tread on.
No failures yet.

Rememer, when you get to your regional, do not unbag your bot until told to do so.

[Iaquinto.Joe]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

Rememer, when you get to your regional, do not unbag your bot until told to do so.

Oh yes, we had someone open it at our second regional too early. It was a sticky situation explaining that.

[Hebrew]

Is there any rule that can actually make our robot illegal if our shooter is not shielded? We are going to Lake Superior next week and the attached image is what it looks like (Our robot is slightly upgraded since then but the shooter is pretty much the same)

Adding a shield to our robot would be difficult since it is extremely close to the weight limit and we cannot mount it very securely. We have tested our shooter rigorously in the 2 weeks leading to the stop build day and never had an issue with it or the bolts loosening once setup properly.

If inspectors would require us to not use our shooter or shield it, it would be devastating.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Hebrew

Is there any rule that can actually make our robot illegal if our shooter is not shielded?

<R08> applies.

The TechnoKats ran unshielded high-RPM wheels on the disc shooter for weeks with no failures. The practice 'bot still lacks a shield at the moment. But the robot in the bag right now has a guard in place to keep it safe in case something comes apart at speed.

[Hebrew]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

<R08> applies.

The TechnoKats ran unshielded high-RPM wheels on the disc shooter for weeks with no failures. The practice 'bot still lacks a shield at the moment. But the robot in the bag right now has a guard in place to keep it safe in case something comes apart at speed.

If the shooter is securely mounted, and lock tight is used would that really cause a more unsafe condition than the Frisbee which is being shot? It will be interesting to see if an open shooter will pass inspection....but if not:

Would a simple shield over the wheels suffice, or would it have to be over the entire top if inspectors claim it to be unsafe? We will probably have to prepare a piece of metal to be mounted just in-case inspectors deem our robot unsafe.