A Warning to Human Players for safety's sake.

[nightrenegade00]

Originally Posted by Starman

At the scrimmage before the Peachtree Regional, we saw a robot launch a vision tetra over the top of the center goal. Cleared it by several feet before crashing to the floor. The robot had the tetra on a long arm and did a quick rotation. Made me think just how dangerous this year's challenge is. Those tetras are 8 - 10 pounds each.

I hate to say it, but I think the playing field needs to be a hard-hat area. I know no one wants to see this as a requirement, but too many people are too close to the action and there is too much action going on to watch it all. A tetra can easily come from out of the field of view with really bad results.

Bike helmets might be enough, though no one can accept the liability for an injury with one on since they aren't designed for this application. A construction hard hat would be better, though they won't stay on the heads of fast-running human players. They would work fine for drivers, referees, etc.

How about it FIRST? How quickly can you make helmets a requirement, before somebody really gets beaned?

I fully support the helmets being a requirement. Injuries can come out of no where. I know this is only a robotics competition but the injury doesnt care where or what you are doing. Sometimes and injury can change people's lives. If you some how tear your achillies tendon you won't be able to walk again. Think about that human players. I wrote a long thing about helmets and the site screwed up and I don't feel like typing it over. Bascially I said that the drivers and operators should wear hard hats and so should the human players if something better isnt available. I recommend for human players to wear full cage helmets whether it be a football helmet or lacrosse helmet. After I saw the human player from Gus get hurt and realizing that I was the only human player at UTC with a helmet I feel that it should be required. I'm not saying that the human players should wear full armor, but to definately be aware of their surroundings and be ready for anything. I don't want to be the only one wearing a helmet at nationals. If I have to I will go around to every team and ask if their human player wears a helmet. Being injured sucks as anyone who plays sports can tell you. I don't want to see anymore injuries especially at nationals. If you happen to get hurt, I will personally try to see if you are ok and do anything to help. Please take the necessary precautions and make sure your drive team is safe when they are up on stage.

-Crash