Al's 2016 Inspection Thread

[IKE]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

OK,
...snip...
2. Loose #6 terminals (on the PDP, main breaker or battery) will produce brownout or loss of primary electrical power. If it moves, it is resistive. Even tight connections will loosen in this game. Check your batteries now.
...snip...
7. Check all of the above after every match!

Having now attended 5 events in 5 weeks, this has been a killer. Please, please, add these to pit check lists.
As an LRI, once everyone has passed, this is an item I try to verify on every single robot. I typically do this in the queue before matches.

My tug is not terribly hard, but teams I have specifically tugged connections have had a failure later on (IE a couple matches later). This means that historically decent connections are coming loose. Though on occasion it has been due to teams disconnecting and reconnecting the breaker)

Starting week 4 this year I take a 7/16 wrench with me. To help tighten lugs on main breaker.
I have been in serious debate on whether or not to bring a small torque wrench and torqueing each of those leads to the spec (or roughly 75-80% of max torque callout). I may end up doing that for MSC/Worlds.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by IKE

... Starting week 4 this year I take a 7/16 wrench with me. To help tighten lugs on main breaker.
I have been in serious debate on whether or not to bring a small torque wrench and torqueing each of those leads to the spec (or roughly 75-80% of max torque callout). I may end up doing that for MSC/Worlds.

Looking for a small torque wrench now. Main breaker lugs are 1/4-28 and their rated torque is 50 inch-pound. [edit: found Texton 24320 at Meijer.]

Battery terminal wrench sizes vary from team to team -- make sure you know what size wrenches YOUR battery terminals require. Have those, a knife, and some electrical tape handy in the queue in case you need to repair a loose battery terminal connection. Of course it is always good to have a spare battery handy as well.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

OK,
Champs is around the corner. Please check the public schedule as pit times and Qualifying start has changed from last year. If you are headed to Champs please remember to have your B&T form accessible at Champs. For inspection you will need to have your CAW available either in printed form or on a laptop as part of the inspection process. It is our intention to have inspections completed by Wednesday night, pit close. We can only do that with your help. When pits open to five team members, please unpack your robots so that your crate can be moved out of the pits. We will be working with teams for the first hour and will begin the inspection process as soon as possible. When ready to start inspection, come to your division inspection station with your bumpers removed from the robot. We will weigh bumpers and robot separately and check your frame perimeter at that time. An inspector will be assigned to you and inspections will be completed in your pit.
To remind everyone...This is the big show. Things that may have been missed or passed at your event inspection will need to be corrected at Champs. This is true of bumpers, motors, and wiring. Be prepared!
I am getting pretty excited, I hope you are. Good luck everyone!

[jspatz1]

Al, will completed inspection be required for Wednesday practice matches?

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by jspatz1

Al, will completed inspection be required for Wednesday practice matches?

I am not Al.

For all the years I have been inspecting, our goal has been to get teams playing by the rules as soon as they can. I think this is the intent of section 5.5.2, third paragraph:

Originally Posted by Manual

5.5.2 Eligibility and Inspection

This section describes the rules governing MATCH participation. A Team has participated in a MATCH if any member of their DRIVE TEAM is in the CASTLE or the SPY BOX, with or without the ROBOT on the FIELD, at the start of the MATCH.

At each event, the Lead ROBOT Inspector (LRI) has final authority on the legality of any COMPONENT, MECHANISM, or ROBOT. Inspectors may re-Inspect ROBOTS to ensure compliance with the rules.

ROBOTS are permitted to participate in scheduled Practice MATCHES prior to passing Inspection. However, the FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA), LRI or Head REFEREE may determine at any time that the ROBOT is unsafe, per Section 3 (3.4.1 Safety Rules), and may prohibit further participation in Practice MATCHES until the condition is corrected and the ROBOT passes Inspection.

If I am assigned to inspect your robot at CMP and, during the inspection, time comes for your team to queue for a practice match, I will stay with the team in queue and continue the inspection -- UNLESS (1) I have seen a potential safety issue that should be brought to the attention of my LRI, or (2) my LRI tells me that the inspection must be completed in the team's pit.

[rich2202]

I am not Al either, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night ....

Given the schedule, it looks like each team gets ONE practice match. A primary goal being to make sure that all robots are connecting to the field before Qualification Matches start in the morning.

Like Richard said, you don't have to pass inspection to participate in the Practice Matches (assuming that a field person doesn't disqualify you for safety reasons). But, if you want to be in the filler line for practice matches (if there is one), then you do have to have passed inspection.

If I am inspecting a robot, and they are called to Que, I would send them off, and finish the inspection when they get back. If no other teams are waiting to be inspected, it would make sense to continue the inspection in the que.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Please remember that you do not need to be inspected to practice. You do have to have bumpers attached to practice.

[orangemoore]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Please remember that you do not need to be inspected to practice. You do have to have bumpers attached to practice.

Do you need the correct bumper color for practice?

If you ran out of time to change them?

[Nyxyxylyth]

Originally Posted by orangemoore

Do you need the correct bumper color for practice?

If you ran out of time to change them?

I saw a practice match with 6 red bumpers at one district. Got a little confusing in the neutral zone!

[rich2202]

Originally Posted by orangemoore

Do you need the correct bumper color for practice?

I lot is forgiven (ignored) for the practice rounds.

Bumpers - check.
Rio/Driver Station correct team number - check.
Anything look hazardous - check.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I don't know how the rule will be enforced during practice. It may be a time when refs are being tested/re-learning and having the wrong color might confuse that process.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I don't know how the rule will be enforced during practice. It may be a time when refs are being tested/re-learning and having the wrong color might confuse that process.

At some districts, practice matches are run without referees.

I doubt that will happen at DCMPs or CMP divisions. Referees want to make sure all matches are scored correctly, and practice is the only way to improve. When teams try their best to practice the same way they will play, that enables volunteers to do the same.

[IndySam]

Can't say I have ever seen a lot of practice reffing at Champs. Lots of times the field crew or FTA's are running the scoring pads to keep matches moving.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I don't know how the rule will be enforced during practice. It may be a time when refs are being tested/re-learning and having the wrong color might confuses that process.

FTFY. Trust me, it really badly confuses the process. Really, Really badly.

And yes, I've seen that firsthand.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

Who is higher than Al?

Al, Just Say No.