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.
Thanks!
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.
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.
Ours will be donning 2 GoPros all season.
-Brando
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
Sorry I’m on my iPhone, but we asked this exact question to the Q&A and found based off this that we cannot mount then because our robot costs too much.
Its separate power supply would disqualify it per R36, regardless of cost or weight, unless it is classified as a COTS computing device (arguable).
Have any people done it before? If so, then it seems like it would be allowed. Also, what is a cots computing device?
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.
Sounds like a judges question. Do it. Ask questions later
I like your thinking… That does seem like the best option though.
Just make sure when you put them off that it won’t take an hour to take off and that it’s not crucial to anything. Also I wouldn’t point out the Q and A I posted lol. Just do it.
What would the judges have to do with it?
I guess the GDC answer above says otherwise, but I gathered by some of the rules that a camera not used during the match could be considered a “non-functional decoration” and thus exempt from the cost and transmission rules. Specifically…
[R05]
Any non-functional decorations included on the Robot must not affect the outcome of the match and must be in the spirit of Gracious Professionalism.
I would think a GoPro camera intended for PR only would fall within this rule.
[R67]
Any decorations that involve broadcasting a signal to/from the Robot, such as remote cameras, must be approved by FIRST (via e-mail to [email protected]) prior to the event and tested for communications interference at the venue. Such devices, if reviewed and approved, are excluded from Rule [R55].
Thus, it is possible to have a “decoration” that broadcasts a signal. And it is allowed to broadcast…
[R55]
One D-Link DAP-1522 is the only permitted device for communicating to and from the Robot during the match. All signals must originate from the Operator Console and be transmitted to the Robot via the official Arena hardware. No other form of wireless communications shall be used to communicate to, from or within the Robot (e.g. radio modems from previous FIRST competitions and Bluetooth devices are not permitted on the Robot during competition).
And…
[R13]
The total cost of all non-KOP items shall not exceed $3,500.00 USD. All costs are to be determined as explained in Section 4.1.3: Budget Constraints.
The following items are excluded from the total cost calculation:
items listed on any KOP Checklist (qty is limited to the total listed in the most recent checklist), items obtained via a Product Donation Voucher included in the KOP, items ever distributed to the team via FIRST Choice,** any non-functional decorations,**
individual fasteners, adhesives, or lubricants that are less than $1.00 each,
spare parts, and
parts of the Operator Console.
…exempt from cost rules.
I guess the GDC thinks otherwise, though…
