Charged system during inspection?

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

Slightly off-topic but related cautionary comment:

Relying on a charged pneumatic system to keep your robot in its legal starting configuration can be risky. One extreme scenario has occurred when robots are on the field, ready for the first match of the day, and a visiting dignitary makes a longer-than-anticipated speech.*

I have seen teams DQ'd when their pneumatically constrained appendages sagged out of starting configuration after 20+ minutes sitting idle during opening ceremonies. A slow air leak that would not otherwise be a problem, became one.

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*A 30 minute check for slow air leaks is sometimes called a Kamen Test. Dean is not the only visiting dignitary who waxes eloquent, but he does have the highest visibility.

That is sad if the FTA and Refs let it play out that way. If the robot lost enough air to fall out of dimensions, because it sat for 30min during ceremonies, then the team should be allowed to tether and charge their pneumatics. A team should not be penalized simply because they are in the first match after ceremonies.

Yes they should have checked their pneumatics for leaks to prevent that from occurring, but if it wouldn't be a problem in a normal match then they shouldn't be penalized.

Now if the fall out of dimensions between the time they place their robot on the field, during the normal team introductions and flag waving, before the MC says 1, 2, 3, RUSH, er I mean go, then yes they should be DQ'ed.