possible solution to the static problem

[David Brinza]

There are some of us in FIRST who do understand the importance of ESD control.

If you work on or near sensitive electronics hardware ESD controls are generally the rule. In my experience involving spacecraft hardware at NASA/JPL, there are very tight restrictions and mandatory training to avoid ESD issues. Dave's "other cars on Mars" (Spirit and Opportunity) were built with great care to avoid ESD.

We have requirements for use of grounded equipment, wrist straps, conductive garments and work surfaces (including floors), ESD-safe chairs with chains that drag on the floor, minimum relative humidity (>30%), air ionizers, avoidance of static-producing materials (i.e. no paper, styrofoam, teflon, adhesive tape or other non-conducting items) within one-meter of critical hardware. We use bleed resistors (10-100 MOhm) between electronics chassis and power/return line to avoid static charge build-up.

One of the tricky issues with ESD is that it can cause "latent" damage. A piece of equipment might continue to work after a "zap", but in reality some internal damage may have occurred. The next zap - even a tiny one, can cause a permanent failure.

I think we're learning lessons this year in the importance of ESD control. Basically, we've got six van de Graaff generators running around on a good insulator with equipment that is likely more susceptible to ESD than what was used in the past. The fact that we're seeing DS and robot resets attributed to ESD is frankly frightening to me. The guidelines from FIRST to deal with this threat needs some beefing up.

There's another thread dealing with this matter as well: Field Static Solutions

That thread should be merged with this one. Those out there with real-world experience in ESD control should post recommendations for teams. FIRST needs to take the appropriate measures with the field (some of which are already in place, like the earth ground at the alliance stations).