Currently we have our battery and our tank hiding our brain and its screen. There is space on the sides, however, to navigate between different programs. Is it legal to have the brain hidden like this? Thanks
As far as I know there is no rule saying that the brain needs to be visible (there used to be with the cortex), however, it’s in your best interest to keep the brain accessible if you ever want help from field techs (perhaps that’s only valid for large competitions like worlds). If have have, for example, a radio disconnect and the brain is not easy to access for viewing the log etc. then you will get very little sympathy from event technical staff.
2 Likes
None other than R25.
Keep the power button accessible. The on/off button on the V5 Robot Brain must be accessible without moving or lifting the Robot. All screens and/or lights must also be easily visible by competition personnel to assist in diagnosing Robot problems.
If you abide by this, your brain position is probably fine.
3 Likes
I mean one time this season, we had to move our brain because the inspection dude said that our power button wasn’t easy accessible because there was a motor right on top of it. From that experience, I would say that it is legal as long if you can turn the brain on or off.
Er, ok, so there is still a rule.
That’s unfortunate. We have bee tending to be more lenient at worlds the last couple of years, seen several robots with the brain underneath with the screen facing the floor. A team that has a design like that really does give us problems, they have paid a lot of money to attend worlds, but in reality a redesign for better brain placement is often impractical in the few hours teams now have between inspection and matches starting. That is history though, 2024 may have more stringent inspection so I would follow all the rules.
3 Likes
In addition to reading R25, do read this Q&A
https://www.robotevents.com/VRC/2023-2024/QA/1867
Why do you want to make it harder to get help?
Yeah Hawaii is kind of strict on the rules
As @Micahy321 said, R25 says that the power button on the brain must be accessible. Also in every competition, I believe the inspectors have to check to make sure you have your brain connected to the robot, and that it works and is updated; so your brain screen should also be accessible.
1 Like