Laser Pointer on Bot for alignment only: Legal or illegal?

[BEEKMAN]

why not put a little U shaped holder on teh front, and have one of those $1.00 laser pointers that you just place there for alignment, then remove before the match, that way, its not actually a part of your robot

[EricH]

Originally Posted by BEEKMAN

why not put a little U shaped holder on teh front, and have one of those $1.00 laser pointers that you just place there for alignment, then remove before the match, that way, its not actually a part of your robot

<G11> forbids that.

[Tom Line]

No question is a stupid one. You know why people say that?

Because NERF sells a non-laser focussed light beam (using a lens and a normal tiny bulb) that extends well over 30 feet but that can be stared into. You can get it for under 20 bucks at hundreds of locations - though you'll have to buy the gun too to get it. I'm sure you can figure out SOMETHING to do with the gun though

As long as you power it from your power board, you should be good (obviously no batteries allowed). Make sure it's permanently attached to your bot, then you've covered the laser rule AND G11.


The light beam is on the lower part of the front end of the gun and is only clips on so you can move it gun to gun. It's also made for kids and can be stared into without any danger of eye damage, so it's pretty doggon safe too!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nerf-N-Str...ci_sku=9863513

Of course, you could always just wait till your robot boots up and use the camera image too...

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Tom,
An inspector would have to see it to rule on it. A device like this comes under this rule if it is on for the entire match.

<R02> ROBOT parts shall not be made from hazardous materials, be unsafe, or cause an unsafe condition. Items specifically PROHIBITED from use on the ROBOT include (but are not limited to):
A. Shields, curtains, or any other devices or materials designed or used to obstruct or limit the vision of any DRIVERS and/or COACHES and/or interfere with their ability to safely control their ROBOT
B. Speakers, sirens, air horns, or other audio devices that generate sound at a level sufficient to be a distraction or hindrance affecting the outcome of a MATCH
C. Any devices or decorations specifically intended to jam or interfere with the remote sensing capabilities of another robot,including vision systems, acoustic range finders, sonars, infra-red proximity detectors, etc.(e.g. including imagery on your robot that, to a reasonably astute observer, mimics the VISION TARGET)

That leaves a lot to be looked at and this may be a good Q&A question.

[gblake]

I have to reiterate what dtengineering said. Just fashion a mechanical "sight". Sheesh.

How is this any more complicated than using a good old #2 pencil to draw (or a rusty nail to scratch) two small dots/lines on the frame of the bot and then lining them up with a 3rd spot (on the field or venue) each time you set the robot down on the field?

Use as many pencil marks as you like in order to make use of as many reference points as you like.

If you care to, use colored pens to create sets of alignment marks for each 3rd of the field, and for red and blue alliance possibilities.

I dare say that I think that the accuracy you will get out of sighting along a few widely spaced reference marks on the bot will equal or exceed anything you could get from trying to connect a wiggly little pointer (with loosely installed guts) tightly enough to the bot's frame to be able to stay aligned after the pounding of a few matches.

Blake
PS: A team that really wants to create a really sexy set of sights will solder/expoy together a few tiny metal tubes (pointing in different directions) gotten from their local hobby shop, and will and attach them to their bot, instead of using mere pencil marks.
PPS: Please pardon me in advance if this message seems to be uninspiring - There is a time for being inspired to use lasers, and a time for remembering and appreciating the simple elegance of a Kentucky long rifle. This seems to call for the latter.

[Jones571]

<G11> ROBOT Alignment Devices - Alignment devices (templates, tape measures, laser pointers,
etc.) that are not part of the ROBOT may not be used to assist with positioning the ROBOT.
Violation: TEAMS that use external alignment devices to position their ROBOT will have
their ROBOT arbitrarily repositioned by a referee before the start of the MATCH.

Emphasis mine.

so attach a tape measure that you can extend to know correct placement then will retract and stay retracted. Or if you can get a laser pointer by R02 then you should be able to use that.

As G11 only disallows EXTERNAL positioning devices or jigs anything that is part of the robot meets all other rules specifications and weights should be allowed.

[Dave McLaughlin]

Thank you team 190. MOH Goat strikes again!