Safety notice

⚠️ All members must take safety seriously. These robots are big and powerful, and things can quickly go wrong if you are not careful. ⚠️

When powering a robot on, and especially when testing new code, always be careful and assume they will malfunction. The wheel motors are of special concern since the robot can spin out of control or drive into someone or something and cause damage. It is best to place the robot on a mount such that the wheels are not touching the ground; this can be a simple cardboard box. In the event that anything goes wrong, the controller acts as a kill switch and can be powered off to shut down the motors.

Do not test projectile launchers at normal speeds unless in a controlled environment. These robots shoot hard projectiles at high velocities, and they will hurt people if hit. Being struck by a medium-speed 17mm projectile will leave red bruises and has been described as feeling like a bee sting. When full power is not required, flywheel speeds may be lowered to safe speeds for testing.

Do not put your hands in a robot while it is powered on. Even if it isn't moving and the controller is off, things can malfunction. A faulty connection can cause unexpected behavior, and this is especially true if you are doing any electrical work.