Flying robots?

[Tytus Gerrish]

stunt idea

[Gary Dillard]

Originally Posted by Tytus Gerrish

stunt idea

As if Tytus hasn't already tried it. Just waitin' for the video.

[tsakshaug]

only if you can do this: http://youtu.be/YQIMGV5vtd4
the fun begins at about 30 sec

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Marc S.

If your robot started on the ground with the bumpers at the bottom of the bumper zone and then hovered close to the ground with a safety margin, then it would be legal.

Marc,
Robots need to maintain the bumper zone except when crossing the barrier or ramp.
As Eric has pointed out, safety is the first issue. As inspectors we would be looking first for ratings on whatever you are using for lift, how it is protected from fingers and other body parts and is it possible for it to come apart during competition. Then we move on to the remainder of the inspection checklist.

[Colin P]

Originally Posted by animenerdjohn

Bumper rule would be violated.

FIRST does have a collegiate pilot called "CARD" which is college level aerial robotics.

CARD is no longer affiliated with FIRST, but it is still effectively the same as it ever was.

[EricH]

Provided that such a flying robot was powered only by the allowed motors and battery, and carried only the legal control system, and started on the floor/ in the allowed position...

...and provided that the bumper zone requirements were met...

...and provided that all size restrictions were met (including the absolute height this year)...

...And provided that you can guarantee, with 100% or greater certainty, and with the inspectors clearing you, that you do not cause an unsafe condition, in accordance with [R08] (and if I was inspecting you, I would require you to demonstrate this in operation on a closed-to-everyone-else area, under worst-case scenarios, if it was even remotely possible to do so)...

Then yes, you would be allowed to have a flying robot.

However, [R08] says that you cannot cause an unsafe condition. I would consider any robot that could go over the field border without touching it or tipping over it to be unsafe in the extreme.

Now, that leaves you with a hovercraft. Is it doable? Probably. Is it practical? Better start practicing maneuvering now, and expect to be pushed around.


A note where I'm coming from on safety: Safety is a top concern. I compete in the SAE Aero Design competition. (OP, you're in CA; if you want to relax the day after the L.A. Regional, come on out to the R/C field in Van Nuys and watch a few dozen teams of college students crashfly their heavy-lift planes.) At this competition, with full aircraft-designed systems and at least decent pilots, flying planes that are roughly 1/3 of the weight of an FRC robot in a wide-open space, spectators are behind a fence, which is behind a row of trees, roughly 50 feet away from the side of the runway. Any plane that looks like it's heading for the trees is ordered downed on the spot, and there are a number of other safety measures in place to prevent injury in case something goes SNAFU. FIRST doesn't have anywhere near the safety measures for full-fledged flight by the robots, IMO. (CARD has better safety measures, including netting around the field to "restrain" errant robots.)

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by EricH

... I compete in the SAE Aero Design competition. (OP, you're in CA; if you want to relax the day after the L.A. Regional, come on out to the R/C field in Van Nuys and watch a few dozen teams of college students crashfly their heavy-lift planes.) At this competition, with full aircraft-designed systems and at least decent pilots, flying planes that are roughly 1/3 of the weight of an FRC robot in a wide-open space, spectators are behind a fence, which is behind a row of trees, roughly 50 feet away from the side of the runway. Any plane that looks like it's heading for the trees is ordered downed on the spot, and there are a number of other safety measures in place to prevent injury in case something goes SNAFU. FIRST doesn't have anywhere near the safety measures for full-fledged flight by the robots, IMO. (CARD has better safety measures, including netting around the field to "restrain" errant robots.)

I'll look into the R/C competition, sounds like something I'd like! Also, I think it'd be helpful (and interesting to see) if FIRST would implement a safety system like the one you mentioned. It would be helpful not just for flying robots, it could prevent any possible runaway robots from leaving the arena.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

It would be helpful not just for flying robots, it could prevent any possible runaway robots from leaving the arena.

In my time in FIRST (since 2003), I've only seen 1 robot completely leave the arena; other than that, they've tipped on the barrier or it's been an arm outside, with only one arm uncontrolled. The netting isn't needed.

The one robot I saw leave the arena behind was during a practice day, before the shielding was added to the guardrails. Instead, there was a cable running the length of the field. This particular team had a low, fast robot, and in autonomous it went over the ramp (2003), took a left, and headed under the stands before anybody could hit the E-stop--right between the angle and the cable. Now there's polycarbonate shielding all along the guardrail. No further incidents of that sort.