Petition to end the shouting of ROBOT

[Mark Sheridan]

I have been to Mcmaster-Carr's facility at Sante Fe Springs, I am amazed how crazy it is, and I never seen forklifts driven so fast. Yet, its so quiet. Everyone knows where they can stand and where shipments flow through. I was there for 2 hours and the only time I hear a forklifts horn is when they are driving through the parking lot. Sometimes quiet is important so you can hear the real emergency.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

HUMAN!!!!!!

REFEREE!!!!!!

(I tried that once; didn't work.)

[xXhunter47Xx]

I tried not to yell it at the SD Regional, but just loudly pronouncing it did not help. People would continue to stand in the way even if I yelled it. It wasn't just general public in the pits either, it was other teams standing blatantly in the middle of the pathway and they still wouldn't move.

[brandon.cottrell]

While walking through the pits I have the sudden urge to shout robot and then quickly walk through crowds of people just to see their reaction.

Reminds me of that one video where the guy has the bicycle bell and he rings it to get past people on the street.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

In my many years in FIRST, I have seen people step backwards, unawares, into a robot that was in the crowded isle because nobody yelled "robot".

In a place where people who do not understand dangers can walk into them (IE a crowded and noisy pits, with thin isles), I will yell out the danger to them, including the word 'ROBOT'.

No one deserved to get injured to avoid another being annoyed.

Safety trumps annoyance in my book.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

In my many years in FIRST, I have seen people step backwards, unawares, into a robot that was in the crowded isle because nobody yelled "robot".

In a place where people who do not understand dangers can walk into them (IE a crowded and noisy pits, with thin isles), I will yell out the danger to them, including the word 'ROBOT'.

No one deserved to get injured to avoid another being annoyed.

Safety trumps annoyance in my book.

That's why have someone walk in front of the robot quietly and respectfully telling everyone, "Excuse us, we have a robot coming through".

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

That's why have someone walk in front of the robot quietly and respectfully telling everyone, "Excuse us, we have a robot coming through".

Brendan. You know that is usually what I do (Being at GSR for 12 years), but every once in a while a "ROBOT COMING THRU" is needed and more efficient.

Now I'll agree that many times yelling 'ROBOT' is not needed, but I won't sign a petition that prevents me from keeping someone else safe.

[Mark Sheridan]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

Brendan. You know that is usually what I do (Being at GSR for 12 years), but every once in a while a "ROBOT COMING THRU" is needed and more efficient.

Now I'll agree that many times yelling 'ROBOT' is not needed, but I won't sign a petition that prevents me from keeping someone else safe.

Yeah, next time I am getting groceries I will tell people to get out of my way cause I might hurt them with my shopping cart.

Seriously, if safety is an issue when you move your robot, your moving it wrong. I have moved a lot heavier stuff at an IKEA without incident. That is a lot harder to do with IKEA crowds and little children everywhere.

May I ask, why do you feel moving your robot is unsafe? I feel very safe with my robot, its properly supported by the cart, there are bumpers on every edge of the robot, I fold up my robot to reduce protrusions, we are walking slowly and there is a person in front of the cart kindly saying "Excuse me, I have a robot coming through" seems easy and safe to me.

[Wayne Doenges]

Originally Posted by Oblarg

Please, do not do either of these things at competition. If you shout "HUMAN" at the top of your lungs in response to someone shouting "ROBOT" at the top of their lungs (as people have mentioned doing earlier in the thread), you are contributing to the problem just as much as they are. It is not witty, it does not discourage bad practice, and it generates unneeded animosity. Don't do it.

I have NEVER, NEVER, NEVER yelled "Human" at the top of my lungs. I turn toward the yelling student and tell them "Human".

[MrBasse]

Originally Posted by Mark Sheridan

...Seriously, if safety is an issue when you move your robot, your moving it wrong. I have moved a lot heavier stuff at an IKEA without incident. That is a lot harder to do with IKEA crowds and little children everywhere...

You didn't even mention the fact that Ikea has those goofy carts with casters on all four corners. That makes it a wonderful challenge to avoid unsuspecting passers by.

I don't think anyone would say that you can never call out "robot" if there is an emergency (think moving down an isle and a texting student approaching), just that nobody should be walking around screaming it at every possible chance. I hate the sound of yelling. We have been lucky enough to compete where pits are actually decently quiet, and I truly enjoy having a conversation as if I wasn't at a construction site. If someone doesn't heed our tap on the shoulder and polite direction, I'm going to raise my voice. But I won't do that to every person I see as I walk to the field.

[Oblarg]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

I have NEVER, NEVER, NEVER yelled "Human" at the top of my lungs. I turn toward the yelling student and tell them "Human".

This isn't all that helpful, either, unless you follow it up by telling them that yelling is unproductive and contributes to an unsafe environment (in which case it doesn't really add anything).

Originally Posted by MrBasse

I don't think anyone would say that you can never call out "robot" if there is an emergency (think moving down an isle and a texting student approaching), just that nobody should be walking around screaming it at every possible chance.

This seems to me to be a correct appraisal of the situation.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Mark Sheridan

May I ask, why do you feel moving your robot is unsafe? I feel very safe with my robot, its properly supported by the cart, there are bumpers on every edge of the robot, I fold up my robot to reduce protrusions, we are walking slowly and there is a person in front of the cart kindly saying "Excuse me, I have a robot coming through" seems easy and safe to me.

I have seen a person take a step backwards on to a short robot on a low cart and fall on top of the robot (where there are no bumpers). The team pushing the robot did not yell anything (especially not "robot") and the person in question backed out of a pit (was not directly in front of the robot). Said person was taken to the first aid station with a few cuts. Needless to say, in this day and age of lawsuit silliness, I will on occasion yell "robot".

You may do as you please, but again I believe safety trumps annoyance (It seems that this is a minority belief here ).

[Mark Sheridan]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

I have seen a person take a step backwards on to a short robot on a low cart and fall on top of the robot (where there are no bumpers). The team pushing the robot did not yell anything (especially not "robot") and the person in question backed out of a pit (was not directly in front of the robot). Said person was taken to the first aid station with a few cuts. Needless to say, in this day and age of lawsuit silliness, I will on occasion yell "robot".

You may do as you please, but again I believe safety trumps annoyance (It seems that this is a minority belief here ).

I think yelling robot is no excuse for unsafe practices of moving a robot or moving around your environment in general.

Do you see where I am coming from? There are many similar situations you described above, airports luggage, production lines, and etc. Many production lines had streamline safety to avoid sirens and etc.

[Nirvash]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

I have seen a person take a step backwards on to a short robot on a low cart and fall on top of the robot (where there are no bumpers). The team pushing the robot did not yell anything (especially not "robot") and the person in question backed out of a pit (was not directly in front of the robot). Said person was taken to the first aid station with a few cuts. Needless to say, in this day and age of lawsuit silliness, I will on occasion yell "robot".

You may do as you please, but again I believe safety trumps annoyance (It seems that this is a minority belief here ).

Excuse me while I go walk backwards across an intersection and I will make sure to get mad at anyone who hits me because they didn't hook their horn to alert me that they were there.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Mark Sheridan

I think yelling robot is no excuse for unsafe practices of moving a robot or moving around your environment in general.

Do you see where I am coming from? There are many similar situations you described above, airports luggage, production lines, and etc. Many production lines had streamline safety to avoid sirens and etc.

I do see, and understand where you are coming from. And I agree that yelling is no excuse for unsafe practices (BTW: your statement is called a strawman argument, as I never said it was an excuse for acting unsafe, but you insinuated I meant that). That being said, informing those, who may not be paying attention, that there is a hazard in the area is prudent.

Again, I'm not for yelling "ROBOT" all the time, but I refuse to sign a petition that will keep me from alerting an otherwise oblivious person to a clear and present danger.