The Lead Robot Inspector / Inspection Manager Application

The LRI application has two parts: one runs on a laptop at the LRI station and the other on the RI’s mobile device.  It automates most of the administrative aspects of the LRI and IM roles.  It tracks teams, RIs and queues.  Information is dynamically updated on the laptop screens and on the mobile app.

On the laptop, the current inspection status is reported by color coding teams on the pit map and on the team table.  The LRI can set the target state.  Teams that are at or ahead of the target state are colored green.  Teams that are one state behind are colored yellow, and teams that are two or more states behind are colored red.  The target state can be set manually or automatically.

If a team is queued for inspection, then the current queue number is displayed in a column.  This column indicates the current location of the robot: red indicates that the robot is on the playing field or queued for matches.  Yellow indicates that it will be queued soon.  This information is estimated by using the match schedule sequence.  The current match delay information is derived from a variety of sources: Match Observer reports (see the Judge Advisor application for details), match updates from the FIRST web site, Twitter feeds, etc.  Note that Match Observer updates do not require live access to the Internet.

There is also a status summary bar that can monitor the progress rate.  The current match number and match delay times are displayed.  As a bonus, the LRI can drill down and easily access team information and history.

Robot and bumper weights can be recorded for each team.  The Notes column lists all interactions with the team.  

(click on image to enlarge)

NOTE: the teams and colors in the diagrams are randomly simulated situations and do not reflect or imply a team’s capabilities.

The LRI can click on the team’s state to advance it to the next state, and click on the queue button to add or remove them from the queue.  A team can be inserted into the middle of the queue if desired. 

Clicking on the team name displays the current Checklist for that team.  This list can be updated either from the LRI/IM station or from a RI’s mobile device.

Clicking on the Log column for a team (or clicking the ‘History Log’ button) displays a list of all inspector transactions for the team at the current event.  Each list entry is tagged with a time and the name of the inspector (or LRI/IM).  Columns can be sorted to find specific events.  Logged entries can contain changes to the robot’s weight, inspection state changes, queue entries, and changes to the check list.  The entire set of logs can be saved at the end of an event for future reference.

Clicking on the team number will display team details, including all comments made by Match Observers for that team.  This helps identify teams with repeated safety problems, like batteries or bumpers falling off.  Each comment is tagged with the MO’s name and the time of the match.

An RI is assigned to inspect a team by clicking in the RI column and selecting an available RI.  Almost everything is point and click.  This screen displays which team each RI is currently inspecting, their (the RI’s) affiliations and experience with FIRST.

All displays can be sorted by team number, queue, state or RI.  This helps to quickly locate teams or view queuing orders. 

The Mobile App

RIs can use their own mobile phone or tablet.  The application can be easily downloaded and installed on Android and Windows8 devices (no iOS).  The same application is used for both RIs and Judges.  It performs different functions based on the authenticated role of the user logged into it.  The address of the LRI station must be entered in the login screen.  This information will be provided to each RI at the start of the event.  The RI’s password can be set at this time.

After logging in, they will see a color coded pit map.  The colors indicate current inspection status.  In addition, teams that are currently assigned to the RI are colored blue.  The teams at the head of the queue are displayed below the pit map.  Note that the RI is not obligated to inspect teams in order of the assignment or the queue.  There is a status line at the very bottom of the screen, where error messages can show up.

Clicking or touching a team on the pit map takes the RI to the ‘team” screen.  The three screens (Windows8 and Android) are shown below.

The ‘team’ screen allows the RI to access more detailed team information.  Though not color coded, a team’s schedule and current match delays are displayed.  This gives the RI an idea of when the team will be available in their pit.  Match Observer comments for that team can also be viewed.  Team details include the team’s motto, sponsors and award history.  Those three screens are shown below.

Pressing Start on the Team screen starts an inspection by displaying the current inspection checklist for that team.  Line items in the checklist can be checked ‘OK’ or ‘not OK’.  The Resume button is similar to Start, except that questions that have been answered are not displayed.  The RI can also add notes and take pictures.  At the end of an inspection, the RI can assign a new state to the team by pressing the ‘Completed’ button.  The inspection checklist and notes are communicated back to the RI station and the team is taken off the queue.  The ‘Back’ button allows the RI to save changes and notes and continue the inspection later.  It does not change the team state and leaves the team in the queue.  The updated checklist and notes will be immediately available at the LRI station and to the next RI that inspects the team.  The next RI inspecting the team can resume where the previous RI left off.  This helps provide a consistent front to the teams.  The checklist and state selection screens are shown below.

The application has been designed so that it can deal with RIs that have mobile devices and also those RIs that prefer to work with paper checklists. 

The RIs and Judges use the same mobile app.  One big difference in behaviors is that Judges get to review their notes in an ‘offline’ mode, while RI’s can only operate when the LRI Station is available.

Team and mentor signatures (after completed inspections) are a future feature that can be considered.  The application can also send inspection notifications to teams when they get close to the top of the queue.  This will help them prepare and will improve overall efficiency of the process.  Of course, there will always be team members coming to the Robot Inspection desk asking when they will get their turn.