Is this legal? cause its cool!

[pbhead]

can we stick the green bulbs(the ones in the kit of parts) under our robot and still be legal?

we are useing 80/20 so the bulb would NOT be visable to other robots, but would make a cool green glow under our robot.

would we be called on this or what?

[Don Wright]

Honestly... Do you really think that it would be illegal to put something on your robot that might screw with the camera of other robots? And you say it won't mess with the other robots, but if you can see it, then the camera can...

Also...do a search and you will find this question asked many, many times.

And, in case you are having issues with the first statment...it is MOST definitely illegal.

[ahecht]

Your green glow would be visible to other robots, and your cathodes would be visible if your robot tipped over. Therefore, I would assume that it violates R31

[Katie Reynolds]

Expanding on what ahecht said, I believe you would be in violation of R31

<R31> No devices or decorations are permitted on the robot that are intended to jam or interfere with the operation of the vision system (i.e. changing robot color to confuse opponent’s vision system).

Now, I suppose if you really wanted to read into that, you could say, "But we aren't intending to mess with the other robots!!" Still, you'd be in violation of R102

<R102> Decorations must not affect the outcome of the match, and must be in the spirit of “Gracious Professionalism.”

On the chance that a camera could see the green light, and could track that, which could screw up the operation of it's vision system ... I'm going to say steer clear of the green bulbs.

If you're really set on the "coolness" factor of the underside of your robot glowing, I'd pick a completely different color and do sme testing with your own vision camera, first, to make sure it won't interfere during a match.

[Richard Wallace]

At St. Louis we saw a couple of robots with undercarriage lighting using this type of tube. One team had already decided to disable the lights because they might affect the outcome of a match, and the other was using lights that were not green -- their lights were programmed to change to match their alliance color. We allowed this decorative light at inspection but told the team that if a field official determined that there was any interference, the lights would have to be disabled.

[Andy A.]

You won't sneak this past inspections at finals for sure.

885 decided to use the bulbs in the robot cart, along with many other lighting effects and such. It came out well, considering the team color is neon green.

And the lights are turned off when the cart is near the field, just in case.

-Andy A.

[Jon Jack]

someone already submitted this question Here on the Q&A

[Cactus_Robotics]

One of my teams drivers had a green glow stick around his neck and was told by the refs to take it off because it might cause a robot to track to him.

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Cactus_Robotics

One of my teams drivers had a green glow stick around his neck and was told by the refs to take it off because it might cause a robot to track to him.

In testing, we found that the camera will track a glowstick for about the first 30 seconds after the stick has been activated. Past that point, it becomes slightly duller and we could no longer get the camera to follow it.

[aksimhal]

Originally Posted by Katie Reynolds

Expanding on what ahecht said, I believe you would be in violation of R31

Now, I suppose if you really wanted to read into that, you could say, "But we aren't intending to mess with the other robots!!" Still, you'd be in violation of R102

On the chance that a camera could see the green light, and could track that, which could screw up the operation of it's vision system ... I'm going to say steer clear of the green bulbs.

If you're really set on the "coolness" factor of the underside of your robot glowing, I'd pick a completely different color and do sme testing with your own vision camera, first, to make sure it won't interfere during a match.

We don't have a camera

[EricH]

Originally Posted by aksimhal

We don't have a camera

Did you get one in the kit? If so, set it up. If not, ask another local team to help you.

[Adam Richards]

Originally Posted by EricH

Did you get one in the kit? If so, set it up. If not, ask another local team to help you.

I believe aksimhal was being sarcastic about it, implying that since they don't use a camera, then why should it pose a problem for another team?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Adam Richards

I believe aksimhal was being sarcastic about it, implying that since they don't use a camera, then why should it pose a problem for another team?

I thought about that too, but decided to give the benefit of the doubt. As a side note, don't try to pass inspection with those lights; they will probably screw up the camera even if it is not your intent to and you guard against it happening, or someone will claim you disrupted their camera. Better safe than sorry.

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally Posted by aksimhal

We don't have a camera

They come standard in the kit of parts (both this year's and last year's), so you should have gotten one at some point. If not, I'd do what Eric suggested and partner up with another team from your area - I'm sure they'd help you out!

[Jack Jones]

So use another color. You'll find neons in the ricer section at your local Auto Zone.