Camera on banner???

[Watamelon]

our team thought of having a camera on our banner to have a birds eye view of the court/playing field. Can anyone verify that its legal or illegal?

[maxnz]

Q&A response Q593 deemed that illegal

[The Doctor]

..never mind

[pandamonium]

Could a birds eye camera be part of the driver station? Does not have a height limit.

[The Doctor]

I suppose if you hacked something together with a battery powered camera that was somehow able to transmit wirelessly.. If you used a transmitter in the visible or IR spectrum, it would probably be legal: https://frc-qa.firstinspires.org/Que...d-that-it-tech

[maxnz]

I guess that could be legal... I'd check via q & a before trying it

[phurley67]

Originally Posted by The Doctor

able to transmit wirelessly..

G29 - DRIVE TEAMS may not use electronic devices which have the capability of receiving communications from persons outside of the CASTLE

Any wireless receiver would run afoul of G29. That said without a height limit, you could put a camera on a tall pole with a long USB/HDMI cable down to your driver station computer/spare monitor. Probably still worth another QA.

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by phurley67

That said without a height limit, you could put a camera on a tall pole with a long USB/HDMI cable down to your driver station computer/spare monitor. Probably still worth another QA.

[Obligatory warning about last year's rules not applying to this year]

We employed the same strategy last year with identical operator console rules without any issues.

[Fusion_Clint]

I'm curious. Just submitted Q851 "Are teams allowed to mount approximately a ten foot pole with a wired camera on top to their individual driver station and get a bird's eye view of the match for driver use during the match?"

[ScandallB225]

Originally Posted by Watamelon

our team thought of having a camera on our banner to have a birds eye view of the court/playing field. Can anyone verify that its legal or illegal?

Note the size limitations for the banner do not extend down to the drivers station; 24 inch height. That would mean that it would have to be wireless. ... 3 pounds would not allow much for the gonfalon.

[maxnz]

The GDC responded to the Q&A question and from what they are saying, it seems legal to have the camera on a tall pole on the driver station but you have to keep safety in mind, such as things hanging from the ceiling that could interfere with it and safety while transporting it.

[darkorbit]

Originally Posted by Fusion_Clint

I'm curious. Just submitted Q851 "Are teams allowed to mount approximately a ten foot pole with a wired camera on top to their individual driver station and get a bird's eye view of the match for driver use during the match?"

We were wondering about this as well.

GDC responded with:
"A. There is no legislated maximum height of the OPERATOR CONSOLE. However, be aware that some venues and production setups may have basketball hoops, lighting fixtures, or other installments that can not be moved and may inhibit exceptionally tall OPERATOR CONSOLES. Also, please keep safety in mind when moving and setting up tall OPERATOR CONSOLES like this."

So we were testing out some poles... I think concluding to this ruling,
This would be legal?
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-...Up2azFVQVl0eFU
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-...UVxUkFzdXNiekE

It's not the final product, but this looks like it should work. We're planning to use a flash stand and an umbrella flash bracket to extend the Microsoft lifecam webcam up 10ft. The feed will be live on the driver station laptop. We are not sending the feed to the driver station itself and not to the FMS. It will be live locally on the driver station laptop.

As long as it meets the Operator Console dimensions?
"R94 The OPERATOR CONSOLE must not exceed 60 in. long by 14 in. deep (excluding any items that
are held or worn by the DRIVERS during the MATCH)."

[engunneer]

As long as it is safe and secure, I agree with your interpretation of the rules and GDC response.

[Sperkowsky]

At a practice event I saw a team with a giantic driver station complete with a 46" TV, and a gopro on a 10ft long truss. They used suction cups to mount it to the glass but, the problem I see with it is the fact that the platforms are only designed for maybe 30 pounds. I know this because I saw someone put a baby on one once and noticed it bowing considerably.

[Jacob Bendicksen]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

I know this because I saw someone put a baby on one once and noticed it bowing considerably.

...what?