[FVC]: Transporting your robot to the Championship

[ManicMechanic]

Found this post on the FLL forum
"Our experience in traveling to Atlanta from Tucson last year – a team member carried the robot on the plane and our spare RCX on a simple chassis went in checked luggage.

There was no problem with carry on at all.

The RCX in the luggage was a different story – the luggage received some extra attention from the TSA staff. Our checked luggage RCX had been opened and the cables and batteries had been removed but left in the suit case. I would not put anything with batteries and wires which you want to stay assembled in the checked luggage."

Our hotel won't accept packages . Has anyone successfully transported a Vex robot in carry-on luggage? My suspicion is with all the metal parts, unlike LEGO, they're not as likely to allow you to carry on.

If checked luggage is the only choice, we plan to disconnect the wires and batteries and store them separately.

[Chuck Glick]

Team 1712, both the VEX team and FRC team will be shipping their robots within our shipping crate to ATL. We also need to fit all of our tools and other things needed for the pit as well in the crate, so it's gonna be a tight fit! Good luck to everyone in ATL!

-Chuck

[Chuck Glick]

Originally Posted by ManicMechanic

Has anyone successfully transported a Vex robot in carry-on luggage? My suspicion is with all the metal parts, unlike LEGO, they're not as likely to allow you to carry on.

If checked luggage is the only choice, we plan to disconnect the wires and batteries and store them separately.

Yes you can transport vex parts, but only unassembled on carry on. I found this out traveling back from Texas last year, however it probably depends who gets you through security (may not be the case anymore do to rise in security, I don't suggest risking it). You still need to check in the controllers and batteries (I suggest in a bag with clothes, nice and soft!) and if you are ambitious enough (and ready to answer lots of security questions, or risk the bot being confiscated) try to check it in as well. If you take this path I suggest you to talk to right airport officials and show them exactly what it is before they clear it; go to them before they come to you.

Good Luck and Keep us posted!

-Chuck

[Jessica Boucher]

Bring it in a box and bring a roll of packing tape with you. That way you can open the box, show them the insides, and then tape it back up once you're done.

[John Gutmann]

Find a team that is taking a bus to ATL then ask if you can overnight it to them and have them bring it.

-John