Important Rules - 2007 Season

[Conor Ryan]

So today they released the first four sections of this year's manual, now granted every word in the manual is important, however some require additional attention. That's what this thread is for, drawing attention to the minor details that some of us will trip up on if we don't see.

Just in what I've read so far I've found a few:

Originally Posted by 2007 FIRST Manual

3.3.4 NEW: Mandatory Safety Glasses - They aren’t forehead protectors
FIRST requires all teams to bring and supply, for each competition, ANSI-approved safety glasses for its team members, mentors, and guests. Students and adult team members an guests must wear them when:
• Uncrating the robot
• NEW: At all times while in team Pit Stations and everyone in the general Pit as well
• Working on the robot
• When observing any robot building/repair work
• While competing – mentor, human player, 2 operators
Operators, players, and mentors will not be allowed on the competition field without approved safety glasses. Regular glasses do not qualify as safety glasses, and you must use approved safety goggles over them. Goggles are not required over glasses only if the glasses are ANSI-approved with side shields.

This next one is rather important for everyone out there that uses a cart to move your robot around:

Originally Posted by 2007 FIRST Manual

3.3.7 NEW: Robot Carts
To protect team members and mentors from muscle strains and other injuries as they transport the heavy robot from the Pit to the competition area, we recommend that team members and mentors use some type of cart, keeping the following in mind.
• Carts must remain in the team pit area when not in use for robot transportation
• All carts should fit through a standard 30-inch door
• Wheels on the cart must not damage site flooring
• Do not add music to the cart.
Prior to competing, your competition team should practice lifting your robot onto and off your cart. Refer to the “FIRST Robotics Competition Team Safety Manual” for robot lifting techniques. By practicing these safe techniques, your team members will also develop a quick, fluid routine.

Here is another for all of you out there who like to work on their robot

Originally Posted by 2007 FIRST Manual

3.8.3 NEW: Pit Closing Etiquette
For many reasons, it is necessary that teams adhere to the Pit closing time each day. Many people working in the Pit are volunteers and deserve to have a set closing time met. Assign team members and mentors to the clean up/organization of your pit station. The mentor in charge of your robot shipment must take care of the shipping process early with a plan in place to have everything packed and out the door by closing time. This means having a crew ready to get your robot crated and labeled for shipment on the last day. When your play in the competition ends, pack your crate; notify the shipping/drayage company that it is available for removal and clean up your area. It is not gracious to the Pit staff or the drayage company to leave these details to the last minute. This advance preparation also applies to teams in the event finals, especially at the Championship. The shipping and exit process for the Championship is huge.

People are tired.
Do your part.

Remember all the broken crates last year? Looks like the stiffened up the rules (and crates too).

Originally Posted by 2007 FIRST Manual

4.3.1. NEW* Crate Construction Specifications
Build your crate(s) with more than one shipment and season in mind. Remember weight of your materials. For instance, if 3/8” or 1/2” plywood is sturdy enough,
heavier, costlier 3/4” product?
All Crates must:
1) Comply with the “Wood Materials Regulations Across U.S. Borders” the crate ships into the U.S.
2) Loaded crate must weigh 400 pounds or less in order to avoid charges
3) Be sturdily built to prevent damage to your equipment
4) *Use 3/8” or 1/2” plywood
5) *Use 3/8” or 1/2” Oriented Strand Board (OSB), a solid panel quality with no laps, gaps, or voids.
6) *Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is Not recommended for the material makes crate construction too heavy, and MDF can if the correct safety precautions are not taken. MDF contains formaldehyde, which may be released from the material through and cause irritation to the eyes and lungs.
7) *Don’t use particleboard because it collects moisture that adds cause the crate to fall apart. Remember, your crate may be exposed
when loading and unloading trucks.
8) Ensure your crate construction can withstand stacking during
9) "Sit" on 2 pieces of 4" by 4" lumber, spaced at least 28" apart forklift.
10) Have a footprint no greater than 4' by 4' and be no taller than
maximum includes the 4" by 4" lumber mentioned above.

Remember, all crates most pass all 10 rules!


Ok, thats all I've seen from what I picked up, what other rules have you seen that are interesting from this year (particularly the new rules)?

[chris31]

The saftey glasses for everyone in the put area was required at the VCU regional. So thats not new to those people. However no music on the cart is a bummer as one of our members does alot of work on cars and wanted to do sound and lights for our cart.

[Greg Marra]

• Do not add music to the cart.

[Lil' Lavery]

• Do not add music to the cart.

While music carts may be cool and all, they really don't serve any practical purpose other than being cool, and are kinda distracting in the pit/transit area. Pit+Tools+Distraction=bad

[Richard Wallace]

This one isn't a rule, but it is an excellent suggestion:

Originally Posted by Section 2 Team Organization

2.5.1 Game Rules Monitor
Responsibilities
Learn Game Rules: Read and understand the rules of the game and communicate them to the team members so they know the ins and outs of the game.
Know Point System: Be sure the team understands the system; implement the best strategy.
Know Penalties: Be sure all mentors and operators know and understand all penalties.
Learn Web System: Check the on-line Manual for rules, changes, and web-based question and answer system.
Monitor Team Updates: Communicate any changes in the updates to the team.

Some of you students out there may be asking yourselves, "can I aspire to be a FIRST legend and all-around great person, like (e.g.) Billfred?"

Becoming your team's Game Rules Monitor would be an outstanding way to start down that path to glory.

[ChrisH]

For the past several years we have been using the same crate. It has a welded aluminum frame and skin on a wood base with provision for forklift handling. When closed it will support a couple of grown men on top (approx 400lbs).

But from the sound of these rules it is no longer acceptable. Have they opened Q&A yet?

BTW at least one damaged crate I saw met the above specifications. But in that case it looked like the damage was not inadvertent. Seeing as it was all in the area around the lock

[Raul]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

For the past several years we have been using the same crate. It has a welded aluminum frame and skin on a wood base with provision for forklift handling. When closed it will support a couple of grown men on top (approx 400lbs).

But from the sound of these rules it is no longer acceptable. Have they opened Q&A yet?

BTW at least one damaged crate I saw met the above specifications. But in that case it looked like the damage was not inadvertent. Seeing as it was all in the area around the lock

Chris,

That same rule has been in the manual for many past years. They are not saying it is against the rules to have your crate weigh more than 400lbs. They are just saying that you will have to pay an extra fee at the competition if it does.

Raul

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Raul

That same rule has been in the manual for many past years. They are not saying it is against the rules to have your crate weigh more than 400lbs. They are just saying that you will have to pay an extra fee at the competition if it does.

This is true; are crate last year required $50 extra to ship because it was over the 400 lb. limit. I'm not worried at all about it getting busted though.

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by Raul

Chris,

That same rule has been in the manual for many past years. They are not saying it is against the rules to have your crate weigh more than 400lbs. They are just saying that you will have to pay an extra fee at the competition if it does.

Raul

I wasn't concerned with the weight. Empty, we have one of the lightest crates around. What I'm concerned with is that they are apparently mandating the use of plywood for crate construction. There are other alternatives that can be made lighter and are just as effective.

On the other hand if we need to build a new, conforming crate I'd rather get started now. Assuming they don't declare the crate to be part of the robot and therefore must be built during Build season in another, yet to be revealed, section of the rules.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

While music carts may be cool and all, they really don't serve any practical purpose other than being cool, and are kinda distracting in the pit/transit area. Pit+Tools+Distraction=bad

I agree, IN THE PIT. Now, when you're oustide and stuff (like one team did in ATL) and play music, I think that's fine. As they said, no music, not no speakers.

[chris31]

Originally Posted by Joe Matt

I agree, IN THE PIT. Now, when you're oustide and stuff (like one team did in ATL) and play music, I think that's fine. As they said, no music, not no speakers.

Agreed. In the pits it would be a distraction but what about outside of the pits? Well it says " • Do not add music to the cart." so what good are speakers without music.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by chris31

Agreed. In the pits it would be a distraction but what about outside of the pits? Well it says " • Do not add music to the cart." so what good are speakers without music.

Personally I plan on going around the pits blasting audiobooks....

[ChuckDickerson]

4.3.4. Required Crate Contents
Teams must include the robot and may include the two batteries and other equipment. When shipping the batteries in the crate, carefully and completely follow all instructions listed above in “Battery Packaging.”
1) Non-North American teams cannot ship batteries with their crate(s). They must make arrangements with FIRST to pick up a battery for competition at their initial event.)
2) SAFETY NOTE: Don’t pack all of your safety glasses in your crate. You will need them when uncrating!
FIRST will allow you to keep all of your robot controls (Operator Interface, OI power supply, joysticks, etc.) and not ship them with your robot on Tuesday, February 20, 2007. This will allow you to continue to work on your programming. If you decide not to ship controls with your robot, remember to bring them to your initial competition. FIRST does not have replacement controls.

It looks like they have cleared up one of the questions that comes up year after year. You do not HAVE to ship the 2 batteries but you MAY if you want to. I suppose you cannot ship more than 2 though?

It also looks like they are still going to get hit with the obligatory "Can we keep the Robot Controller? Is it part of the robot controls?" question. I am pretty sure we couldn't keep is in 2005 and 2006 but I seem to remember we could in 2004. Someone correct me if I am remembering incorrectly. In any case, if we can't keep the RC the what is the point of the statement "This will allow you to continue to work on your programming."?

[Andrew Blair]

Originally Posted by DeepWater

It looks like they have cleared up one of the questions that comes up year after year. You do not HAVE to ship the 2 batteries but you MAY if you want to. I suppose you cannot ship more than 2 though?

It also looks like they are still going to get hit with the obligatory "Can we keep the Robot Controller? Is it part of the robot controls?" question. I am pretty sure we couldn't keep is in 2005 and 2006 but I seem to remember we could in 2004. Someone correct me if I am remembering incorrectly. In any case, if we can't keep the RC the what is the point of the statement "This will allow you to continue to work on your programming."?

My question- what happened to the "no programming after Ship" ?

[eugenebrooks]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

My question- what happened to the "no programming after Ship" ?

This statement also appears in the 2006 crate contents rules,
so I would not get excited yet...

Eugene