Signalling Methods during Hybrid

Technical Programming
1

In Hybrid mode, the rules do not specify that IR must be used to signal the robot, are any other more reliable signaling methods which are legal and easily implementable?

2

RF will give you extended range and I think they mention that is ok in the rules.

Ponders…
I wonder if using the digital inputs from channel 5 and 6 of a vex remote and outputing from a Vex controller would work…

3

Not according to this.

Active SIGNALING DEVICES shall:

  • use visible light, infrared communications, or sound as the transmission method – no
    other form of electro-magnetic radiation is permitted
    a. All radio frequency communications (as defined by the United States Federal
    Communications Commission) are explicitly prohibited.
    b. All laser-based communications by any device classified by the U.S.
    Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
    as a laser are explicitly prohibited.
    c. All communications must satisfy Rule <S01>.
4

RF is specifically PROHIBITED in the rules.

5

From R65:

Active SIGNALING DEVICES shall:
• use visible light, infrared communications, or sound as the transmission method – no
other form of electro-magnetic radiation is permitted
a. All radio frequency communications (as defined by the United States Federal
Communications Commission) are explicitly prohibited.
b. All laser-based communications by any device classified by the U.S.
Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
as a laser are explicitly prohibited.
c. All communications must satisfy Rule <S01>.

You may only use IR, visible, or sound. We have implemented a visible light device that will, hopefully, avoid some of the issues other teams have experienced using IR.

6

All such methods are extremely susceptible to interference then, the preference would be a system which is both very distinct, and has enough room for error that interference won’t make much of a difference. I was thinking perhaps powerful light with 4 different colors.

7

oh my bad totally sorry, I thought I read it was ok but obviously I didn’t, maybe it was the sound waves I confused it for…