Q&A Q26: PDB (and router and digital sidecar) location

[MrRoboSteve]

Q&A has this question and answer:

Q.Rule R39 - what does "easily" mean? Does it mean that the PDB must be visible if the robot is in it's
normal upright position, or is it OK to turn the robot on its side to look at the PDB? Is this during
inspection only, or does it have to be visible while the robot is on the field?

A.The Team must be able to put the ROBOT in a configuration where the PD Board and circuit breakers
are easily visible to the Robot Inspector. There is no requirement for the PD to be visible during a
MATCH. However, having the PD visible with the ROBOT in its "normal" position can aid in on-FIELD
troubleshooting.

Here's some scenarios you need to think about when laying out the electronics on your robot.

1. Your robot didn't move during a match, stopped moving during a match, or parts of your control system have stopped working. Can you see the PDB and the Digital Sidecar and the cRIO well enough to see the indicator lights for troubleshooting purposes?

2. Your robot is on the field, but the robot is not connecting to the FMS. Can you and the FTA/CSA easily see the indicator lights on the router?

Extra credit: explain why experienced teams generally mount the router higher up on the robot in a visible location, using sticky Velcro.