Using a flashlight for aiming

[gblake]

Originally Posted by Zach101

I thought it said more about lights but it talks about which class lasers you can have and I'm not sure if flashlights are classified as Class 1 lasers or are even classified as lasers. So I don't know if "D." has any relations to what we are talking about.
Examples of items that will violate R9 include (but are not limited to):

R9 ROBOT parts shall not be made from hazardous materials, be unsafe, cause an unsafe condition,
or interfere with the operation of other ROBOTS

...D. Exposed lasers other than Class I. ...

Flashlights are not lasers.
Some LEDs are used to emit laser light, but plenty of other LEDs aren't.
Manufacturers/importers who follow the USA's rules must put a label(s) on any laser.
Many other countries have similar laws/regulations, but I wouldn't bet my life that every country does (or that every manufacturer in the world obeys all the rules).

With that said, in typical situations, lasers aren't used in ordinary flashlights.

[IKE]

Be careful/mindful of the aiming of said flashlight. When aimed at the ground or a target high enough in the air, you have a neat solution. If the light can potentially "blind" the drivers of the opponents or the refs standing next to the field, you may be asked to cover your light.

In 2013, I had to ask one team to stop using their light. It routinely blinded refs and during one hanging event, made it nearly impossible to see through the center driver station.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by TimTheGreat

So the reflective tape is special. It's called retro-reflective which means the light only bounces back to its source. If you want to use this for aiming you will probably need a camera because there isn't a bright indicator from the driver station.

And if you use a camera, you don't even need a very bright light. You can use the led rings that came with the old axis cameras. They work very well.

We used one in 2013 and it was very easy to see from the drivers station.

[philso]

There have been many warnings to avoid blinding the Referees and the drivers from the opposing alliance. Only turning the flashlight on when you are lining up to shoot should take care of this. Not many Referees or drivers up in the top of the castle :-)

[Abhishek R]

I believe Spectrum, team 3847, used a flashlight in 2014 to gauge where the ball would land when they fired it from their launcher (not 100% sure on that, so I would contact them about it).

[RoboChair]

We have always used LED ring lights attached to a web cam. The retro tape takes VERY little light to see clearly when reflected straight back. For 2012 we literally had an "iron sight" sitting in the path of our webcam, put the black line in the middle of the green box and fire.

http://www.printrbottalk.com/forum/d...2804&mode=view

[Ceering]

As long as you don't blind anybody it should be fine.