Tech Checks

Can someone take me through what is generally involved in a tech check? I know the basics, just some of my robots electronics are pretty buried away...how much of them needs to be accessible for the check?
Thanks
Dave

Its mainly going through the functional ability of the robots set-up rather than actually looking inside and checking for wiring faults - though any obvious ones would obviously be commented on.

Just make sure that your bot has a good radio signal to a reasonable distance (probably 20m or so is advisable, the more the better), that the power light is nicely visible (and works) and that the failsafes work when the transmitter is switched off (the standard test). Youll need to wire the removeable link to cut all robot power too (though reciever power could be maintained if you use a separate battery I suppose).

Make sure youve got a good stand / block of wood to raise your bots wheels off the ground for testing and make sure the bot remains stable. Make sure all the required safety pins and/or sharp edge protection is in place.


the end

This is the form that the person tech checking will fill out, make sure you pass all checks, some though might not apply to your robot.

http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/documents/techcheckform04.pdfhttp://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/docu...heckform04.pdf

Alan

and dont go out to buy failsafes before asking people about your robot, it may already have them built in without you knowing!!

Just to add a point onto what Ewan said about radio range.

Ideally you should be able to have full control over your robot with the aerial on the Tx down from 10m to 15m away. When you reach the point where by your bot loses its signal, put the aerial to half way and you should be able to walk the same again. All the way up and you should have a greater distance still.

This is for the ideal though and your range might be slightly less due to your design. But what you have to remember is that any arena is in effect a faraday cage (a rather open one but one none the less) and so your signal will be slightly weaker by the time it reaches your robot.

i didnt really want to post, but itll give geoff something to think about.

As to range of the transmitter, it is not a part of the tech check, it never has been tested, and to my knowledge nobody else before today has asked that it be, except when I brought it up after the DRG event I went to, but that was last year, so prob forgotten all about by now.

The rules do not say it, but basically you should have complete and reliable control of the robot at all times while switched on, and if not, the robot should sit quietly in failsafe mode. If it doesnt you should not have got through tech chech.

tech checks are a simple, yet very complicated affair, so do your best, but be prepared to fail first time. Event organisers are usually very good and will try to let you run as long as your robot is not made dangerous by the failure, and as long as you fix it for next time.

In short, dont worry too much, just show up with the best prepared robot you ca, and dont feel bad if you missed something, it doesnt neccessarily mean a wasted trip.

OK, all of that is fine as far as my robot goes, cept one little detail.
The robot failsafes fine, as in when I stop touching the controls, it comes to a dead stop. However, when I turn the transmitter off with the bot still on, it does twitch around. This could be due to me being in a uni, with a lot of electical equipment around, but Im not sure. Thats the only problem I seem to have with it though.

Try different methods to get a better signal - many of these should also help to restrict interference - or at least interference caused by your machine.

You will need to get the bot to stop pretty dead if the transmitter is switched off, Ive had the problem that youve mentioned on previous machines, and better ariel and power cable placement seems to have helped.

Make sure your arial is away from power cables and motors, it shouldnt be under a metal cover either.

Dave, just want to clarify you are doing the test properly as from your post above it sounds like your not. You should put the robot into full drive then turn off the transmitter, if it stops it is failsafe if it doesnt then its not. (do this on a bench with the wheels off the ground). If it doesnt stop your failsafes are not set properly.

Failsafe means making your robot stop dead in its tracks when there is no more signal, like when you are out of range or your transmitter is turned off.

By what you are describing your speed controller(s) do not failsafe.