Inspections -- Solutions/Ideas

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I like visiting teams in their pits and that is what I recommended. It gives another set of eyes for safety reasons. Too often I have found 50 amp battery chargers, homemade electrical distributions and air compressors in the pit. The Underwriters people can't catch everything.
The number of inspectors varies with event size. With 50+ teams 8 inspectors will see an average of 6 teams during the inspection day. In general, at least 3 or four will be new inspectors and perhaps all of them might be seeing a robot event for the first time. It's just the way it goes. With a thirty team event, have two each for electrical, mechanical and pnuematics and one or two at the main inspection area for weigh, size and safety checks and one Lead Inspector. At a larger event you could add one each to mechanical and electrical. Fewer teams use pneumatics. I think the inspection stickers need to go on the robot so field people can tell who has passed which inspection. That also allows the field people to remind teams that they need inspection.
The base sticker is applied when you pass weight, size, and safety. A small color for mechanical, electrical and pneumatics and then a large one for complete. Then a second one for the finals inspection on the second day. I would recommend keeping at least half the inspectors for finals inspection.
This will be a small issue to deal with. Many inspectors who are available on practice day, also serve as refs, cuers, or other volunteers on the second and third day when inspection duties are less.
Note to GDC: You might want to consider letting MI teams (who only register in MI) have one or two more days before ship/lock/bag to compensate for teams who have all practice day to modify and rebuild at other events.