Safety Code

Operations Safety Code
Category:	Operations
Creators:	Steele Smith
Contributors:	Board of Directors
Created:	January 2018
Updated:	June 2026
Notes:	Operations Safety Code v2.0

Purpose

DroidBuilders members operate full-scale, often heavy, radio-controlled droids around the public -- and frequently around children -- at schools, hospitals, and community events. This Operations Safety Code (the "Safety Code") sets the standards that keep those events safe for everyone: the public we serve, our fellow members, and the operator. Operating safely is also how we protect DroidBuilders' reputation and our STEM-educational mission.

Following this Safety Code is a condition of operating a droid at any DroidBuilders event. It does not replace the instructions of your equipment manufacturers or the rules of the venues we visit -- where those are stricter, follow them.

The DroidBuilders Safety Pledge

As a DroidBuilders member operating a droid, I agree that:

• I will not operate my droid in a careless or reckless manner.
• People always have the right of way. I will yield to everyone around me and use a handler when appropriate.
• I will not operate a droid while under the influence of alcohol or any drug that could impair my ability to control it safely.
• I will keep my droid in unaided visual contact at all times (corrective lenses prescribed to me excepted).
• I will use an established safety zone to separate droid operations from spectators and bystanders.
• I will operate at safe, controlled speeds for the space and the crowd, with extra care around children.
• I will not operate any device, accessory, or effect on my droid that could cause harm.
• If anything seems unsafe, I will stop, secure or power down my droid, and address it before continuing.
• I will report any accident, injury, fire, or near-miss to DroidBuilders leadership.

General Safety Principles

Adherence to the Safety Code is not an obstacle to enjoying your droid -- it is proof that DroidBuilders members are responsible and can operate safely in a community setting. It is to each operator's benefit to ensure that nothing they do results in an unsafe situation or an accident.

Inspect before every operation. Verify the droid's condition and proper function before each use. Pay particular attention to the motors, fuse(s), batteries, wiring, and radio controls, and check the secure fitting and placement of parts.

Test before events. Before participating in a DroidBuilders-sanctioned event, show, or demonstration, test your droid and control systems by successfully performing all intended or anticipated maneuvers in advance. If you are an inexperienced operator, obtain the assistance of an experienced operator for these events.

Mind weight and stability. Full-scale droids can be heavy and top-heavy. Operate so your droid cannot tip onto, roll over, or fall against a person, and take extra care on ramps, thresholds, slopes, and uneven ground.

No pyrotechnics or projectiles. Your droid must not carry any pyrotechnic device that explodes or burns. Devices that propel projectiles, or that drop objects in a way that could create a hazard to people or property, are prohibited.

Use effects responsibly. If your droid uses lights, lasers, sound, or smoke effects, use them safely: never direct lasers toward anyone's eyes, keep volume reasonable, and be aware that foggers can trigger alarms or affect people with respiratory conditions -- clear their use with the venue.

Operating Around People and Children

• People come first. Yield the right of way to everyone. No demonstration or maneuver is worth risking contact with a person.
• Extra caution around children. Children move quickly and unpredictably and may run up to, grab, or chase a droid. Anticipate this, slow down, and never let your droid's movement or moving parts endanger a child.
• Keep a safety zone. Maintain an established zone that separates droid operations from spectators and bystanders.
• Watch the pinch points. Moving domes, panels, arms, and access doors can pinch fingers. Keep your hands -- and gently keep the public's hands -- clear of moving parts, and supervise any hands-on interaction with your droid.

The Handler (Spotter) Role

A handler is a second person who supports the operator in crowded or complex environments. The handler walks with the droid, helps manage the crowd, watches the operator's blind spots, keeps a clear path, and steps in if a situation starts to become unsafe. Use a handler whenever you operate in a crowd, indoors among the public, or anywhere your sightlines are limited.

Batteries (Lithium / LiPo)

Lithium batteries are popular for powering droids because of their high energy density, but that energy brings real risk. The principal hazard is fire, which can result from improper charging, physical damage, or short-circuiting. All lithium battery vendors warn of this danger and recommend extreme caution. Misused Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries have caused fires that destroyed droids, vehicles, garages, workshops, and homes. A lithium battery fire burns extremely hot, can reignite, and spreads quickly -- treat any swelling, smoke, heat, or venting as an emergency.

Follow these practices, along with the instructions that come with your batteries and charger:

• Store and charge in a fireproof container -- never inside your droid, and charge in a protected area free of combustibles.
• Keep fire-suppression means within reach while charging (for example, a fireproof LiPo bag or container and a sand bucket), and follow your battery manufacturer's fire-safety guidance.
• Never leave a battery charging unattended. Serious fires have resulted from this.
• Use only chargers designed for lithium cells, ideally with a fixed setting for your specific pack. Many fires occur with selectable/adjustable chargers that are set incorrectly. Never charge lithium cells with a charger intended for NiCd or other chemistries.
• Use a balancing charger that monitors and controls each cell and stops charging when each cell reaches the proper voltage. An unbalanced pack that allows a single cell to overcharge can fail catastrophically.
• Stop immediately if a pack swells, gets hot, smokes, or vents. Discontinue charging and move it to a safe, non-combustible place away from people -- it could ignite.
• Handle damaged packs with care. After a crash or impact, carefully move the pack to a safe place and observe it for at least half an hour; physically damaged cells can erupt into flames. Never charge a cell with any physical damage, however slight, and discard damaged cells according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Do not build your own packs from individual cells. Use only professionally packaged, labeled units with proper protection and charging features.

Radio Control and Frequencies

• Complete a successful radio-equipment range check (per the manufacturer's recommendations) before operating in a crowded environment.
• Establish safety zone(s) that all spectators and bystanders must stay behind, and keep your droid in visual sight. Use your handler. Only personnel associated with operating the droid should be inside the safety zone.
• When multiple droids operate together, coordinate channels and frequencies in advance to avoid interference between systems.
• Before any event at a hospital, validate with staff the frequencies your droid operates on to confirm you will not interfere with medical or other on-site equipment.

If Something Goes Wrong: Emergencies and Incidents

• Malfunction. If a droid behaves unexpectedly or a control is lost, stop, cut power or otherwise secure the droid, and clear the area around it.
• Battery fire or venting. Move people well clear, and follow your battery fire-safety plan to isolate the pack in a safe, non-combustible location. Do not put yourself at risk -- if the fire is spreading or beyond simple control, evacuate and call emergency services.
• Injury. Stop operations immediately, render or summon first aid, and call local emergency services (for example, 911 in the US) when warranted.
• Report it. Report any accident, injury, fire, or near-miss to the event lead and the Board of Directors as soon as practical, so we can learn from it and help prevent a recurrence.

Acknowledgment and Review

• Members acknowledge that they have read and understood this Safety Code and agree to follow it as a condition of operating a droid at DroidBuilders events.
• This Safety Code will be reviewed at least annually by the Board of Directors and updated as equipment, venues, and best practices evolve. Changes will be communicated promptly to the membership.

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Effective January 1, 2018. Last revised June 2026 (v2.0).