Solving static electricity problems by grounding the frame

[sbrumund]

Whenever you have two different materials sliding against each other there is a possibility of building up a static charge.

Last year at a scrimmage several teams had problems with static discharges that required reloading their control program (plastic wheels on dry carpet).

The simplest solution is to install a lightning rod. The main purpose of a lightning rod is to dissapate charge so there is no lightning strike. Usually the sharp edges of the robots frame will so this. If you are concerned several nails installed with the points up can be used as air terminals to dissapate any charge that builds up. If you know a physics teacher ask them for a demonstration with their VanDeGraff generator.

This may be a safety problem but if not located appropriatly