Banging the driver station

[GreyingJay]

Originally Posted by TDav540

While I don't believe that teams should run into the wall in autonomous, I don't find it a serious enough issue (especially with velcro on the driver station) to warrant a card.

The problem is that I've seen stories where even though the operator consoles were attached with hook and loop tape, the force of a 120-pound robot hitting at 10 mph was still enough to send them flying. That kind of shock force is enough to damage hard drives and jostle hardware connections enough to cause BSODs. Just browse the threads here and you'll see teams that lost expensive laptops that fell down, or lost matches because their laptop was damaged after a hard shock.

Generally speaking the expectation that "it's going to happen" is warranted, for many of the reasons already stated. But look at the goals of auto this year compared to, say, last year. Last year one could certainly expect robots to bump and bang the driver station while trying to get a 3-tote auto stack. But you would not expect, except by freak accident, a robot to aim itself directly at the driver station wall and charge at it. But this year that's exactly what you're supposed to do.

If FIRST's answer going forward is "deal with it" then I would recommend at the very least adding more hook and loop tape to the operator console (not just one strip) or provide other options for mounting, like straps or bolts. They should also provide rookie teams with SSD-based netbooks.

[TDav540]

Originally Posted by GreyingJay

The problem is that I've seen stories where even though the operator consoles were attached with hook and loop tape, the force of a 120-pound robot hitting at 10 mph was still enough to send them flying. That kind of shock force is enough to damage hard drives and jostle hardware connections enough to cause BSODs. Just browse the threads here and you'll see teams that lost expensive laptops that fell down, or lost matches because their laptop was damaged after a hard shock.

Generally speaking the expectation that "it's going to happen" is warranted, for many of the reasons already stated. But look at the goals of auto this year compared to, say, last year. Last year one could certainly expect robots to bump and bang the driver station while trying to get a 3-tote auto stack. But you would not expect, except by freak accident, a robot to aim itself directly at the driver station wall and charge at it. But this year that's exactly what you're supposed to do.

If FIRST's answer going forward is "deal with it" then I would recommend at the very least adding more hook and loop tape to the operator console (not just one strip) or provide other options for mounting, like straps or bolts. They should also provide rookie teams with SSD-based netbooks.

I completely agree with this idea. Having more options to secure the driver station is always a positive.

[ToddF]

As an engineer, I prefer to find a technical solution to the problem, rather than complain about it. Here are some resources to help.

Computer:
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Ultra-D...ve+shock+mount
Cable strain relief:
https://www.tethertools.com/product-...le-management/

Note that there are 108 square inches of velcro at the drivers station for you to anchor your driver station to the shelf. Using published strength ratings, (http://qualitythread.com/Download/Ve...ty-Tapes-2.pdf) you should have 702 lb force in tension, and 810 lb force in shear to retain your drivers station. I'll suggest, in the kindest way possible, that teams whose drivers stations "fly off" the shelf perhaps aren't taking advantage of what they have been given.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by ToddF

As an engineer, I prefer to find a technical solution to the problem, rather than complain about it. Here are some resources to help.

Computer:
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Ultra-D...ve+shock+mount
Cable strain relief:
https://www.tethertools.com/product-...le-management/

Note that there are 108 square inches of velcro at the drivers station for you to anchor your driver station to the shelf. Using published strength ratings, (http://qualitythread.com/Download/Ve...ty-Tapes-2.pdf) you should have 702 lb force in tension, and 810 lb force in shear to retain your drivers station. I'll suggest, in the kindest way possible, that teams whose drivers stations "fly off" the shelf perhaps aren't taking advantage of what they have been given.

QFT.

FIRST has stated that impacts with the alliance station (especially during autonomous) WILL occur, and that the Velcro is there FOR THAT REASON.

I do agree that continuous purposeful impacts to the drivers station during teleop can be construed as 'Damage to the field' and penalized that way but teams should plan for some impacts to happen.

[philso]

Originally Posted by ToddF

As an engineer, I prefer to find a technical solution to the problem, rather than complain about it. Here are some resources to help.

Computer:
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Ultra-D...ve+shock+mount

The laptop linked is rated for resistance to vibration and temperature (thermal) shock and is not claimed to have resistance to mechanical shock. It probably will be more tolerant to mechanical shock than most laptops.