Al's Annual Inspection Thread 2013

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by DRH2o

This is the reason for the database with weight and picture. If my robot weighs the same as it did two weeks ago then nothing has been changed -- most likely.

"And frankly, teams that have already been to an event and passed inspection once can pass it again very quickly as is "

If the inspectors know to get to them --- express line -- they still get inspected and things missed will be checked.

We don't deal with "most likely"'s. If a team makes a small wiring change, it won't show up on the scale... but it could have serious side effects. If a team removed their shooter to use on their practice bot and then put it back on, it won't show up on the scale... but they may have attached it wrong and it's sticking outside their frame perimeter now. Weight isn't everything, it only indicates big changes that were made, not small ones. And all it takes is one small change to short a wire to your chassis or have your robot die on the field.

Inspectors know to get to them when the team comes up and tells us they're ready to be inspected. I've always seen inspections handled on a "first come, first served" basis - whoever comes up first gets an inspector in their pit first. The teams who have already been to a regional and been inspected should be the first ones in line, but often they (and a lot of other teams) lollygag around and don't come up to inspections, causing a delay themselves. The concept of an "express line" would give teams fortunate enough to attend multiple events a larger, unfair advantage over other teams who may be ready for inspections at that particular event first.