Power/failsafe LED

[typhoon_driver]

Power/failsafe LED

i know i may spark up the whole debate about LEDs again but......

In our case i think an LED would actually be a hazard. As most of you know, our robots have the removable link at the end of the flag inserted into the robot. Now I was wondering if an LED would actually be worse for us personnally as if there is anything sticking out the central shaft then the robot is considered live and therefore approached with extreme caution. Whereas the LED could malfunction etc and go out when the flag is in. At that point we would still treat the robot as live and not go near it with caution. We will of course comply with any rules necessary however i was just wondering what peoples thoughts were.

[jim]

Power/failsafe LED

This has been argued to death now. The general consensus seems to be that you shouldnt approach with any less caution just because the LED is off.

As long as you interpret it as:
- LED on means the robot is live
- LED off means nothing, so you must rely on other indications (e.g. the link) to determine the robots status.

Then it doesnt do any harm and can avert some situations where you thought your robot was disabled but wasnt.

[grant_ploughbot]

Power/failsafe LED

As long as you interpret it as:
- LED on means the robot is live
- LED off means nothing, so you must rely on other indications (e.g. the link) to determine the robots status.

Wouldnt this just mean that there is no point in having an LED?
And yes Gary, I can see ALOT of people starting to rely in the LED especially when they are tense and in a rush, Im sure that many people wil start to become just a little bit too complacent.
I sure hope not though for their own sake!
Grant

[mute]

Power/failsafe LED

Grant,

I have been to loads of live events and I have never once seen anyone rely on an LED to determin if the machine is safe or not. The LED is not a Its Safe indicator, it just shows if the main power is on.

If the link aint in your hand then you should assume the bot is still live. The instant you stop respecting your machine it will almost certainly injure you.

As Mike said somewhere above, the LEDs help let the EOs know which bots to disarm first.

[jim]

Power/failsafe LED

No, there definitely is a point in having a warning light... it helps in any situation where you thought the robot was inactive, but wasnt. Disarming robots after a fight is just one example people keep mentioning, there are plenty of other situations where it could help.

[stu]

Power/failsafe LED

On the topic of LEDS - is there any simple way for me to add a LED to my robot which only turns on when my robot has SIGNAL from the TX?

Mr Stu

(Before some people shower me with concerns, i would have 2 LEDS. One to let me know theres power to the robot, and one to let me know if their is signal to the robot. Both would go out when the link is removed.)

[typhoon_driver]

Power/failsafe LED

sorry i that some people may have misunderstood me.........

basically i was saying i dont believe there is any point in our robots having an LED because of the sheer fact that it can be seen easily if our robots are active due to the fact that the link is at the bottom on the flag, hense anything in the central shaft, means the robot is very dangerous, something not there, safe. This is how we have always treated our robots. We will of course fit an LED because of the rule however we feel that on our robots it isnt especially needed due the specific nature of its design.

[Guest]

Power/failsafe LED

Stu, trim a spare channel on the tx to full, add a servo and a microswitch on the bot?

[_jl_]

Power/failsafe LED

You could just connect a led & resistor on one of the channels, this will blink (too fast for you to see) if SIGNAL, off otherwise.
But, this is likely not what you want, since it will only show if there is a signal, or not, not if your failsafe has kicked in properly.

EDIT: Because of the previous post, am I to belive you have a PCM system? If so, it will obviosly not work.

[jamesb]

Power/failsafe LED

Gary, why not put a PP3 pattery in the link with an led attached. it never switches off, but as you are physically removing it from the robot when you pull the link its not viable anymore

[typhoon_driver]

Power/failsafe LED

ye we would put an LED in the link and that is a clever idea james but well see how we do it, currently its not a major issue with us

[fluppet]

Power/failsafe LED

Gary: Of course, make it bright enough and you can see whether the flag is in from the other side of the pits without having to squint. :-)

(Of course, RAF sight tests might mean you never have this problem, but for us mortals...)

--
Fluppet

[babeth]

Power/failsafe LED

Gary, dont planes carry lights ? Should have been obvious... :wink:

[typhoon_driver]

Power/failsafe LED

lol guess we could shove the light they have on the nimrod......

if my mind serves me correct it has the same power as 2million candles and burns out unless the plane is flying to cool it down.

[Guest]

Power/failsafe LED

You mean this?

http://military.szm.sk/fgaleria/nimrod.jpghttp://military.szm.sk/fgaleria/nimrod.jpg