Cameras Getting Smashed

[steven114]

We have a hood made of aluminum and plastic - looks somewhat like an upside down helmet visor.

[Greg Marra]

We have the camera mounted behind our turret with an extra bar of aluminum going in front of it to keep balls out.

What you really should be worried about is the camera falling out. Last year, our camera fell and we ran it over and bent all of the pins. Luckily it wasn't destroyed; we bent the pins back. In testing, our camera lens FLEW off and landed about five feet from our robot in the grass, simply from the force of a ball in our turret. We're getting small screws to mount it securely in place.

[ThomasP]

At the velocity balls are launched at, I don't think they can mess up the camera... we tried to get our robot to power off by throwing a ball at it as hard as we could but it wouldn't flip the power switch so I doubt a ball could break the camera.

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by ThomasP

At the velocity balls are launched at, I don't think they can mess up the camera... we tried to get our robot to power off by throwing a ball at it as hard as we could but it wouldn't flip the power switch so I doubt a ball could break the camera.

I would still be wary. last year we had our camera working (and in a plastic box) and it got bumped by a tetra i believe. No visible damage (we still have it) but it didn't work after that. these cameras are more fragile than most people think; the power switch should not be your only concern.

[Éowyn]

I think that one camera will break(as in:shatter ) and three to four will just quit working per regional.