Adding, removing, then adding a part

[epylko]

Originally Posted by dawonn

I was quite surprised by the inspectors at FiM Escanaba this year. They made announcements and passed out flyers to each team saying that every time a team added or removed a tethered ramp they would need to be reinspected or 'face serious consequences'.

We didnt use a ramp so it didnt affect us, but I was still rather erked that they were making other teams follow that impromptu rule when the written rules clearly allow for subsystems to be swapped so long at the total weight is under 120lbs and they were all inspected.

I do like that they are trying to monitor teams legality through the event rather than just once and done. I think they just took it one step too far at Escanaba....

Another impromptu rule here at Essex (unless I missed it in an update) is that the teams DO NOT have to have their robot in transport configuration onto the field. If they are queued, they are allowed to put together their robot. Same with leaving the field - they can take the robot off the field when components are outside the transport configuration.

I've seen teams walking into the pits carrying pieces of the robot while the main robot is on the cart.

Did I miss an announcement around rule T6 that this was now allowed?

And just one other thing. This is our second regional. The robot itself is in the exact same configuration as it was at the FLR. At Essex, our first RI asked us to move the RSL because he didn't like that from some angles our sponsor stickers blocked the light. No problem. We move it to WHERE THE RI TOLD US TO PUT IT. After we move it, a new RI tells us we need to move it again because it can't be seen from every angle if you walk around the robot. We moved it again because it was quicker and easier to do that than try and get an official ruling on it.

I suppose we could (should) have quoted R54(a) which states that the RSL must be visible when standing 3' in front of the robot. I think it probably was. Sure, seeing it from every angle is a noble goal but not really a requirement.

We've always gone to the FLR. Our rules experience there has been great. How common are different interpretations of rules at different regionals?

[Chris is me]

A re-inspection is as simple as waving down a guy in a green hat, putting your robot on the scale, and getting a thumbs-up from the inspector. We got reinspected every time we changed configuration and it took no more than a few minutes each time. Not a big deal at all.

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

A re-inspection is as simple as waving down a guy in a green hat, putting your robot on the scale, and getting a thumbs-up from the inspector. We got reinspected every time we changed configuration and it took no more than a few minutes each time. Not a big deal at all.

Green? I could have sworn all the RI hats were neon yellow...

[FrankJ]

First realize there is a wide range of experience of inspectors. The need for re-inspection was heavily emphasized at the 3 regionals I competed in or inspected at. But T9 is very clear.

T9 At the time of Inspection, the ROBOT must be presented with all MECHANISMS (including all COMPONENTS of each however, for a ROBOT to play MATCHES with a subset of the MECHANISMS that were present during Inspection. Only MECHANISMS that were present during the Inspection may be added, removed or reconfigured between MATCHES. If
MECHANISMS are changed between MATCHES the reconfigured ROBOT must still meet all Inspection criteria.

T10 does not enter into unless you are adding new mechanism or modifications. As long as your robot passed inspection with the ramp (mechanism), you are allowed to play with it or without without re-inspection. Something as obvious as a ramp, I would ask the inspector note the multiple configurations on the inspection form, but that is not technically required. As with any disagreement with an inspector, ask respectfully & graciously to verify the question with the lead robot inspector. The LRI essentially has the final say of far as the teams are concerned. So if the LRI is misinterpreting a rule, you still need to follow their interpretation. Something this blatant, that could have an effect on game play, I would be inclined to give feedback to FRCTEAMS & in the post event survey.

Different events require different rules on documenting re-inspections. The ones I was at required an inspector signature on a form documenting the change & new weight.

The rules about being being in transport configuration until you are on the field have not changed. Some events may have relaxed them to speed field reset times. Presumably they would get permission from First to do so.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by CalTran

Green? I could have sworn all the RI hats were neon yellow...

Yeah, neon yellow. That weird florescent color. Point being, they're easy to find if you need them.