Can we use a gopro helmet camera?

[brysonhicks]

Hi, I had a few questions about if we can mount and use a go pro camera during the competition.
-Does the fact it has its own internal battery pack cause a problem with the rules?
-Can we start it recording when we turn on the robot? (Will will auto record when you turn on the camera.)

It will be totally separated electronically. It is simply for recording the game.
There are a few videos of people using them last year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKQ6vksrLDU

Thanks!

[savage]

First off i would read through the rules one more time because I dont know. But I think aslon it is on the robot during inpection then I whink you will be ok.

[Marc S.]

The use of a camera with a separate powersupply from the main robot is leagal as long as it does not transmit or recieve data during a match.

[Brandon Holley]

Ours will be donning 2 GoPros all season.

-Brando

[jyh947]

The YouTube video you linked to is the MSC competition, where every robot in the Semi-Finals and Finals had to have a camera mounted on the robot because a television channel (I can't remember which one) was making a documentary about MSC.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Ours will be donning 2 GoPros all season.

-Brando

Ditto here Brandon. One HD Hero 2 and a standard Hero. The fun part is trying to figure out which to put where.

[Dusk Star]

Originally Posted by billbo911

Ditto here Brandon. One HD Hero 2 and a standard Hero. The fun part is trying to figure out which to put where.

One on the rotating turret, (the HD one) and another facing forwards?

[andreboos]

Originally Posted by Marc S.

The use of a camera with a separate powersupply from the main robot is leagal as long as it does not transmit or recieve data during a match.

Can a camera (video or otherwise) be considered a COTS computing device?

[Marc S.]

Originally Posted by andreboos

Can a camera (video or otherwise) be considered a COTS computing device?

That's a good question(off to read manual...). The cool thing with the camera is that unless you modify it, it's concidered a cots item and won't add to your 30lbs.

[cgmv123]

Yes, but it's not exempt from weight or cost restrictions.

My dad had a goPro attached at various points during our test run. Witness the results: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=276200042453874

[brysonhicks]

Thanks for you help! It appears that the camera should not cause any problems then and it does not cost over $400 so cost should not be an issue. I plan on using it during the competition.

[andreboos]

Its separate power supply would disqualify it per R36, regardless of cost or weight, unless it is classified as a COTS computing device (arguable).

[brysonhicks]

Have any people done it before? If so, then it seems like it would be allowed. Also, what is a cots computing device?

[andreboos]

A COTS computing device would be something like a laptop or PDA mounted on the robot. COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) means that it is not modified from its original state (apart from software). The intent of R36 is to prevent non-approved power sources from being used, while permitting the use of portable computing devices that operate on their own battery. An example use might be to perform advanced image processing without slowing the cRIO. However, per R52, the device cannot control the robot in any way besides perhaps relaying information to the cRIO to use for its control decisions.

[jvriezen]

We had two GoPro cameras on our robot at Lake Superior, and our robot was inspected by "Big" Al, the head robot inspector for all of FIRST.

I think he was unaware of the Q&A cited earlier, because he said the camera need not be included in the BOM (we had done so). He also said it was not a COTS computing device. He classified it as a 'decoration' It does need to be included in weight, and it does need to be inspected for safety purposes and any other applicable rules.