5.2 Safety Requirements
Safe operations are a priority for the RoboBoat staff. All considerations to maintain safety for operators and the surrounding environment must be made. These guidelines are the minimum requirements for all teams and their vehicles during the competition.
All Radio Frequency (RF) equipment must be operated within the rules and regulations of the host country. This includes, but is not limited to, frequency, transmitting power, antenna height, etc.
ASV power systems must follow the safety rules and regulations of the host country as well as the team’s home country.
RoboBoat staff may suspend team operations at any time for safety considerations. The staff is not required to advise the team prior to the decision to terminate the run attempt. In all matters of safety, the decisions of the RoboBoat staff are final.
5.2.1 Safety Inspections
Before operating in the water, all systems must pass a safety inspection. This includes, but is not limited to:
A Safety Inspector completes a safety checklist, verifying successful operation of all safety features at each unmanned system launch.
Teams demonstrate compliance with all the requirements, to include identifying all actuators, and moving parts and their associated protection mechanisms (shrouds, etc.).
Verification of both kill switches’ operation (remote and physical). This is repeated each time a team enters the water.
Safety Checklist
Demonstrate On-board Kill Switch
Demonstrate Remote Kill Switch
Vehicle killed when transmitter loses link?
Verify tele-operation link (remote control)
Vehicle have forward and/or aft tow line?
Any safety issues related to the propellers?
Any potentially dangerous protrusions?
Is everything properly secured to the system?
Is system properly protected from rain? (recommended)
5.2.2 Battery Safety Requirements
Teams are required to understand and follow battery safety best practices on the battery chemistry selected by the team. Lithium-ion chemistry batteries may become damaged and create a hazard if misused/abused, representing the greatest risk to people, facilities, and the environment. The following safety rules and requirements must be followed:
Teams will be required to attend a mandatory battery safety briefing prior to the start of the competition.
Teams must submit battery specifications, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and proper disposal procedures, sourced from the battery manufacturer for all batteries.
Teams must keep a hard copy of the battery safety documentation for all batteries in Team Village (onsite) at all times, for reference.
Teams must bring a LiPo safe bag(s) adequate for the lithium batteries used. LiPo bag(s) must be available at the competition and the hotel.
Li-Po (Lithium Polymer) battery packs need cell level safety and balancing circuits.
Batteries must be shipped according to required shipping regulations based on battery weight/type. Note that most batteries are considered HAZMAT and must be shipped using HAZMAT regulations.
Each team must understand and follow their own country’s regulations as well as those of the host nation.
All batteries must be stored, used, and maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.
Teams are required to inspect their batteries daily for signs of swelling, heat, leaking, venting, burning or any other irregularities.
Lithium batteries that become too warm during use or have become swollen or malformed must be removed from use and reported to the Technical Director.
Lithium batteries that do not hold a charge must be removed from use and reported to the Technical Director.
A team member must be present at all times to monitor charging batteries.
At the competition site, if any of the above battery conditions are observed, students must immediately notify the Technical Director or RoboBoat staff and provide the battery specifications and safety information.
At the hotel, if a battery irregularity occurs at any time, students must notify RoboNation’s Senior Events Manager, Cheri Koch immediately by phone at 850.642.0536 and provide the battery specifications and safety information.
Failed or failing Lithium-ion batteries must be handled in accordance with manufacturer’s safety and disposal guidelines. In the absence of specific guidelines, batteries must be placed in a LiPo safe bag, which must then be placed in a bucket, covered with sand, and placed in a designated safety zone.
Teams cannot change or replace batteries when ASV is in the water or while standing on floating docks.
5.2.3 Kill Switch (Emergency Stop) Requirements
The ASV must comply with the kill switch requirements detailed below. The ASV must have two emergency stop systems, also known as ‘kill switches’ or ‘E-Stops’.
On-Board: A hard-wired, on-board, emergency stop system.
Off-Board: A wireless remote emergency stop, located off-board and on its own frequency and link.
Both systems must operate in a failsafe fashion (if any part of the system fails, the battery dies or is removed, the system must enter emergency stop) and upon activation of either system (on-board or off-board), the switch must instantaneously disconnect power from the vehicle’s thruster units. An example of how to implement this is shown in Figure 11. System should be designed such that power, to the thrusters, cannot be restored until the emergency switch is reset.
The Technical team will conduct a detailed engineering and safety inspection including a team demonstration of the proper operation of all emergency systems. This includes the removal of the remote kill switch battery to prove it fails safe. Teams must be prepared to discuss the design and implementation of their fail-safe systems in detail.
Onboard Emergency Stop System
All ASVs must have an onboard emergency stop capable of being actuated by personnel from a support craft. For personnel safety, the switch may be triggered from a distance by a wooden or plastic pole/paddle. Keeping this in mind, teams should select rugged and reliable components for their safety system.
Emergency Stop Button
A large, red button should be installed in such a way that safety personnel, from the support craft can easily actuate the button. The engage/disengage button should be red in color and have a ‘press to activate and twist/pull to reset’ feature. This button, momentary contact switch or not, should cut power to the thrusters immediately on actuation. The thrusters must remain in a powered-down state until the judge gives permission for the team to reinitialize the system. An example of a suitable button is shown in Figure 12 and can be found at www.mcmaster.com.
Wireless Emergency Stop
All ASVs must be equipped with a portable, handheld, Wireless Emergency Stop controller. This controller must immediately (less than 2 seconds) disconnect power to the vehicle’s thruster units when activated or when power/battery is removed from the transmitter. This system must also meet the host country RF guidelines for frequency and transmit power.
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