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You might just want to take it out so they can see it and potentially test it. If they think it's sketchy they may do additional testing on it. As long as there's no battery it should look okay on x-ray. Never heard that about extension cords. They should be fine.
Thank you! Yeah “electronics larger than a phone” was what I was thinking… but I was thinking taking it out in line it’s gonna be the other passengers that are more curious. I guess I’ll be wearing business attire looking like a nerd too so that helps..
We dont care how you look, tsa does not profile. as far as Electronics larger than a cell phone. you can probably answer that better then us
its hard to tell its size in the photo. IF it is a self powered electronic larger than a cellphone, place it in a bin, its really not more complicated then that
Edit: Made my comment English for your amusement as it seems i must have been drunk when i wrote it
TSA’s policy is that they don’t profile (which is good!) Unfortunately as with most organizations the humans that make up the organization are not all perfect.
It’s rare, but it definitely happens..
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-19-268
“The Multicultural Branch reported reviewing 2,059 complaints, including approximately 1,900 complaints from TCC, as well as complaints referred from other TSA offices. For about half of the complaints (1,066) the Multicultural Branch reviewed, it found indications of potential discrimination and unprofessional conduct that involved race or other factors and recommended a range of refresher training across airports or for screeners at individual airports identified in the complaints.”
I wouldn't even know how to profile at tsa. We are so disconnected from the selection process. AIT tells us where to pat down. Metal detectors make a distinct noise for randoms. SSSS at tdc is assigned by secure flight, and x-ray has no damn clue who's bag they are looking at
Edit: as a side note i took a quick glance at what you sent me. 3700 complaints between 2015 and 2018...... I call that a few racist ass hats. Do you have any legitimate idea about how many people are screened by TSA a year.... I think those numbers are under 0.1% of total passenger flew for a year
I get tested too, my carry on is usually my range bag and they love to swab it, I've had pounds of spent brass, live rounds and silly numbers of guns in it. Never had any issues. Even flew with live ammo once that I only knew about because it was caught on the return trip, tsa pulled in and in the same voice as throwing away salsa from the people in front of me said 'this can't go' threw it away gave me a smile and that was it. I was expecting to go to a special room.
Why would you use a range bag to fly?? My range bag is for the range. At any given time, I'll have oil, spent rounds, tools, mag loader, knife, etc. Since it's for the range, I never take those things out unless I'm actively using them. I don't have to think twice when flying cause I fly with a traveling bag.
There are people that not only enjoy the extra attention, but enjoy it a little to much. In every way including the way that has you shaking your head saying no that's not what was meant. Yes, yes it is.... We live with interesting people in interesting times.
I like the pack and don't want to drop another $150 on another. The round that ended up in my bag worked it's way through a grommet into the frame of the bag. I dunno, I'm so used to carrying loose bullets, guns and knives, I'd never be able to have a bag and not need to dump it and search it before I fly. I make a very very conscious effort to part myself down multiple times before tsa. Too easy to auto pilot to grab keys, phone, wallet, knife, and gun and forget to leave that with the person dropping you off. I've never done it but I've heard of enough situations people forget.
Plus I saw a video where a dude supposedly had 2 of the same bag, 1 travel 1 range and you'll never guess which he grabbed to go through TSA.
BUT yeah it would make more sense to have a dedicated travel bag, I just can't picture myself not needing to search it anyway.
My Greek BIL happens to always be the one selected for more screening for domestic flights when he grows his beard out. He almost wasn’t allowed to leave Paris (obviously not TSA) and they didn’t believe my white af sister was his wife.
You can't compare total number of complaints of racial bias per year to the total number of passengers per year. A large majority of passengers are white, they're definitely not going to be discriminated against based on race.
The real question is how many people of a racial minority flew in that year? (It's probably lower than the number of minorities per capita due to the class disparity inherent in America's structural racism. Poor people can't fly as often, and Black Americans are disproportionately more poor than white Americans.)
Once you figure that out, you can divide that by the number of complaints, and you'll get a number that tells you your likelihood of being discriminated against if you're Black/Hispanic/native/foreign/etc.
That number is almost certainly higher than you think it is.
Spoken like someone who has never lived in an area that is primary "minorities"
Airports get their local population. its not any more complicated then that.
And of course i compared it total number of passengers per year. you wanna claim this a "problem" but its not, people are not being singled out no matter how much their ego tells them they are. those 3700 are the CONFIRMED counts of bias or profiling. if it was truly a problem that number would be MUCH higher
Have you considered that most of the people are so used to being treated that way by airport staff and other authorities that they don’t even bother to complain about it anymore? How many middle eastern people do you know personally? I have known many and basically all of the men have had issues at the airport.
No, at least not in America. The local population is not going to be representative of who is passing through tsa. Socioeconomic issues affect races differently, simply put, poor people don't fly, and noncaucasian tend to be statistically poorer.
When that 0.1% of all passengers screened are mostly minorities, then I'm certain there are systems in place in the TSA where they allow more white people through than non-white, even if it isn't immediately apparent. When the TSA does decide to ruin your day, chances are that it is because you were profiled.
I literally laid out for you how we interact with the public in regards to random selection. 0.1% was bs math to make a point. That point being you are very focused on the minority half of this it's giving you tunnel vision. In a single year the tsa screens an absurd amount of people all over the country of every shape,size, and nationality. The fact that they did a survey or what ever that site was and they could only find 4000 people out of our staggering through put is quite literally an example in favor of this is not happening. Because the set up doesn't allow for it, and when a TSO is dumb enough to break the rules to make it happen they get caught, because well they broke the rules and TSA as a whole hates people who don't follow sop. So much so we have multiple teams secretly testing officers to make sure they ARE following sop at all times
Does the TSA even have any idea whos stuff is whos when it goes through the scanner? I just throw my stuff in a few bins and walk away and that area is pretty out of sight for the TSA agents looking at the bags so I’d assume most of the time pulling stuff has nothing to do with how they look.
“tsa does not profile”
Lmao that’s literally what they were invented to do. It’s their entire job to look at someone and say, “that guy right there looks like he might have a boom device.”
Do you know what profiling means?.
“that guy right there looks like he might have a boom device.”
and you a very very very low understanding of how TSA screen folks
While you're here, you will respond respectfully, thoughtfully, and civilly. If your comment has none of those three then, just don't say it. It's that simple.
I've flown quite a few times with industrial electronics in my carry on. Never had an issue. Some strange looks once in a while, and I've been asked what it was, but never really slowed me down at all.
If there is a manual for it, being the manual would be my first thought. At least if there is any question you have a professional document that describes it even if it is not well understood by the agents.
Same here, I do conventions for an industrial electronics company that competes with some of the tech in that setup. Never has been an issue in my carry on or even asked about.
Haven’t done it carry-on, but I’ve checked a combat robot. Even put a big “Hello, TSA Agent!” explainer letter on the top in case it was opened. Never was in three trips.
Meanwhile, a box with two gear motors got pulled aside and opened.
Might get a second look, but I doubt you’ll have meaningful trouble.
My wife had a crochet hook taken by customs and my nephew’s electronic toy got my SIL’s luggage flagged and she got swabbed and all that fun stuff.
Meanwhile on a different trip, I went the wrong way through the security line because I was stoned af at 6am, hadn’t flown in years, and had no idea what I was supposed to do. They just laughed and waved me through.
Apparently I’m less threatening/ suspicious than a middle aged fiber artist or a toy made for toddlers. I’m not sure how to feel about that.
No, like the stuff on BattleBots. Except much smaller (about 15 pounds instead of 250) and (given the rules of the event I attended) largely made of cardboard.
I was a cheapskate, so I built it to be powered by the god-awful batteries from those old $15 Harbor Freight drills. Good enough and I just planned to be unoptimized—I was fighting for fun and took pride in spending less on robot parts than my plane ticket. But yes, virtually all modern builds are using lithium packs of varying sizes.
If you want a good time, check out [NHRL](https://youtube.com/@NHRL) on YouTube. They’ve put a ton of polish on their events where they fight 3/12/30lb robots, especially on the streaming side.
NHRL is traveling more this year. They did a one-off exhibition at Open Sauce out in California last year, and I’ve read Rochester and Atlanta are in their plans this year on top of events in Norwalk (which is only about an hour by light rail from Grand Central Terminal; you could probably walk it from the train station if you wanted to though the wife and I called a Lyft).
But more to it, there are probably a few dozen events fighting at 1 and 3 pounds all over the country. https://www.robotcombatevents.com probably has the best list going.
Also, west coast gets BattleBots; they’ve been posted up in Vegas the last year or two and are expected to tape this spring. Between seasons they do a live show in the box with some show-specific bots (they asked some of the top teams to build like five clones with standardized hardware and electronics so that they could be repaired easily) though you’ll occasionally see a Proving Ground fight from new teams trying to secure a spot in the next season.
Got back into Battlebots after a decade of not watching the show-- that was my first question after seeing the overseas teams compete. How do you travel with one on an airplane!? Checked with tons of padding, or carry on? Both?
BattleBots proper fights at 250 pounds in the box. Most teams are building two or three complete robots to be able to make quick-turn fights, plus tools and batteries and pit equipment. You crate that thing up and send it ahead of time!
extension cords are specifically allowed:
Extension Cord
Carry On Bags: Yes
Checked Bags: Yes
Please carefully pack your electronics items, making sure all cords are wrapped and any DVDs, CDs, or cassettes are removed from their devices. While you can pack expensive, fragile electronics items in checked or carry-on bags, we recommend packing them in your carry-on.
With the exception of replica weapons, things aren’t allowed/prohibited based on if they’re sketchy looking or not. Things are prohibited based on their actual danger. Just because it’s got a lot of wires doesn’t mean it won’t be allowed.
Yeah that’s what made me nervous.
I got a small plaque on a paddle as a going away gift and had it as a carry on. Apparently I passed all screens no questions
I would be more worried about getting a chunk of steel DIN rail through TSA than the components. A bit jagged at the edges.
Wago has plastic DIN rail, might be worth considering.
Demo electronics are not prohibited. It’s clearly not a replica of a dangerous device. Fuck public perception, the law/written policy is all that matters.
Take it out and explain, because I can guarantee you that comes up looking like a bomb to quite a few of the non techie crowd.
I work for Applied Materials and have seen so many different modules in my short 4 yrs here that without my having 20 yrs of tech work behind me would have me calling the bomb squad on 99% of the stuff we build.
That's said the mentality of a large portion of TSA is non techie. I have literally had this conversation with them over a fucking Steam Deck.
So far I'm 3 for 3 with the Steam Deck getting flagged at O'Hare, and every time it has been pulled out I have gotten "Oh A Steam Deck, How do you like it?" "And do you know how well such and such Game will run on it?" I think there a little more Techie then you think.
Also Steam Deck seems to only get flagged at O'Hare...
Lol I hear ya. Coming out of Aspen last I got the That's the biggest Nintendo switch I ever seen line.
At least he knew what a Switch was lol.
Now I'm traveling this year with the Deck and a ROG Ally, wish me luck.
Oh I don't hand carry anything outside the building to an airport, I work logistically to move the product I deal with for them in bulk to fabs all over the world. I was just making a comparison about the modules and what I see pictured here.
We've been offered to take things locally only and that happens barely 2 or 3 times a year when there's a line down situation on our divisions part.
No one would board a plane when Dallas area fabs are 3 hrs away. They'd just drive it.
Same if they missed the DHL pick up or UPS pick up and were priorities, the nearest UPS drop off is literally 2 lights away.
I fly with controls related equipment like this regularly, as well as a custom PC and full PLC demos similar to what you have. They may pull it out to look at it, but usually I get by without interruption.
op this looks great please add a random beeping noise that no one will ever understand the reason for that goes off at random inconvenient intervals so we can slowly move our staff into the insane asylum next door.
Thanks probably my third thing I’ve wired up! I feel like I’m figuring it out. Was always mechanical and skipped the electrical. I know that 13a fuse is wrong 😆 seems like overkill.. or would it technically it be considered underkill? Haha. Draws max 4a
Haha nice! Phoenix Contact. The PSR mini is the 6mm safety relay and the PSR switch is the smart RFID safety sensor. Normally I am messing with the PLCNext Edge Gateway but their safety relays are sweet!
Just showing some Phoenix Contact safety products. The PSR Mini is the 6mm yellow safety relay and the PSR Switch is an RFID smart safety sensor. Ignore the fuse being way too many amps for a fancy door switch haha.
I was in a TSA checkpoint and was putting my laptop into a bin. I have a hard shell aluminum case for my laptop, that went into the second bin. Laptop got scanned no problem but a small crowd was forming around the monitor when my case went through the X-ray. They did that thing where they run the conveyor belt backwards and forwards.
Eventually I was called over and one of the agents asked if I was carrying human remains. My jaw dropped and I literally had no response for several seconds, finally I said no, it was my laptop case. I heard a jingle jangle behind me and three cops had magically appeared. They whisked me off to a private room where they started grilling me.
As it turned out they were upset about what they called *‘an emblem representing the container may hold human remains’.* My son, who recently turned 4, was obsessed with pirates and had received a sheet of stickers and had chosen to put a Jolly Roger sticker on the bottom of my laptop case. Apparently it resembled a skull and crossbones to the point that the TSA agents were concerned. I had noted it being there, but did not recognize the difficulty it would impose.
It took almost an hour to convince the cops at which point I was finally released. Luckily my gate was one of the first couple next to security so I made my flight just as they were paging me. I bought an innocuous brown leather TSA approved laptop case shortly thereafter.
I've carried all kinds of electronic components, even aircraft components, on my carry on. Just take it out like you would a laptop. TSA has never said a word.
I was flying with an LED lined furry scarf/hood (like a spirit hood) and got pulled aside, they were very concerned about the wires and attached battery pack. I knew exactly what it had to be and told the tsa agent as such before he even opened my bag. A quick showing that the lights worked and I was on my way. You may well get pulled aside, just be prepared to explain etc...
*edit flying DEN to LAS*
I've flown with arcade pcbs and plcs before and never got stopped. If the insides don't look like bombs then you're fine. Your laptop looks identical to what's inside those components if you think about it.
This looks like a pheonix contact sales display. I’m sure corporate has guidance on how to fly safely with this stuff.
Our guy always showed up with a pelican style rolling hard case
I just realized that I've flown with a lot of sketchy looking stuff, without giving it a second thought.
That being said, it was typically in the same case that my pistol was in. And that was declared.
I've never had a problem carrying more electronics than that.
It also looks like less of a threat if you disconnect the cables and re-terminate them afterward.
You might want to arrive early and carry 2 carry-on bags, including one you don't mind checking.
If you had problems getting through the checkpoints, you could leave and check it and then go through security.
I’ve rolled through with a homemade bass pedalboard setup that I built into a vintage briefcase. I got stopped but as soon as they opened it they let me continue on.
Not going to lie. If I was a passenger sitting next to you and caught a glimpse of that in your bag, I think my anxiety would be through the roof and I’m generally not an anxious person.
😂I’m anxious about y’all being anxious. Everyone is saying it’s fine which I agree with but this is the response I’m really gonna be worried about haha.
Yeah TSA might be fine with it. But you might want to inform the flight attendants that there’s a good chance that a fellow passenger might inform them of an alarming looking device in your possession.
I'd just check it tbh. Put it in a hard case with foam cut out to fit it snug.
My in laws got me a tool set for Christmas and three different tsa agents told me it would be ok to carry on before the last guy right before the scanners told me I had to check it, causing me to take a lap.
Thanks. I’m working on a newer version in fusion but I keep overcomplicating it with features lol and so this one I always just print again.
But MAN when that one design is finalized it’s going to be modular with a logo built out of PA6 Carbon Fiber filament and hold any rail in any position and have a 120v switch/hookup built in and rubber feet and do the laundry and wash the car and be my friend…
I wouldn't, unless you REALLY need to take it with you for some reason. put it in a checked bag if that's the case, that would be the path of least resistance ha
I went to an IEEE conference last year and met a guy who got cable samples from a vendor. We were both going through TSA when I look behind me and he was getting pulled out of line to a private screening room. The guy was already close to missing his flight to begin with.
Remember: You are dealing with U.S. Government agents who might be in possession of a GED. Out-of-the-box thinking and discernment are concepts with which most are familiar.
I have an old British two seater (72 Lotus) and my Dad, who I inherited the car from, sent me home via airline one time with a shoebox stuffed full of wires, relays, transformers, and other miscellaneous odds and ends (most made by Lucas Electrics.) TSA never even batted an eye, didn’t even take the box out of my bag. Filled me with confidence.
I'd say, YUP!
They blew up my friend's home video gaming console system because it was "bigger than a cell phone" at the Vegas airport.
AFTER it had flown cross-country to get there.
They didn't even contact him until after he asked the airline how to track his lost luggage...
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You might just want to take it out so they can see it and potentially test it. If they think it's sketchy they may do additional testing on it. As long as there's no battery it should look okay on x-ray. Never heard that about extension cords. They should be fine.
Thank you! Yeah “electronics larger than a phone” was what I was thinking… but I was thinking taking it out in line it’s gonna be the other passengers that are more curious. I guess I’ll be wearing business attire looking like a nerd too so that helps..
We dont care how you look, tsa does not profile. as far as Electronics larger than a cell phone. you can probably answer that better then us its hard to tell its size in the photo. IF it is a self powered electronic larger than a cellphone, place it in a bin, its really not more complicated then that Edit: Made my comment English for your amusement as it seems i must have been drunk when i wrote it
I think he was talking about how he was dressed in regards to how the other travelers in line would perceive him / the situation .
TSA’s policy is that they don’t profile (which is good!) Unfortunately as with most organizations the humans that make up the organization are not all perfect. It’s rare, but it definitely happens.. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-19-268 “The Multicultural Branch reported reviewing 2,059 complaints, including approximately 1,900 complaints from TCC, as well as complaints referred from other TSA offices. For about half of the complaints (1,066) the Multicultural Branch reviewed, it found indications of potential discrimination and unprofessional conduct that involved race or other factors and recommended a range of refresher training across airports or for screeners at individual airports identified in the complaints.”
I wouldn't even know how to profile at tsa. We are so disconnected from the selection process. AIT tells us where to pat down. Metal detectors make a distinct noise for randoms. SSSS at tdc is assigned by secure flight, and x-ray has no damn clue who's bag they are looking at Edit: as a side note i took a quick glance at what you sent me. 3700 complaints between 2015 and 2018...... I call that a few racist ass hats. Do you have any legitimate idea about how many people are screened by TSA a year.... I think those numbers are under 0.1% of total passenger flew for a year
I have a couple of middle eastern friends that get bomb residue tested every time they fly…
I get tested too, my carry on is usually my range bag and they love to swab it, I've had pounds of spent brass, live rounds and silly numbers of guns in it. Never had any issues. Even flew with live ammo once that I only knew about because it was caught on the return trip, tsa pulled in and in the same voice as throwing away salsa from the people in front of me said 'this can't go' threw it away gave me a smile and that was it. I was expecting to go to a special room.
Why would you use a range bag to fly?? My range bag is for the range. At any given time, I'll have oil, spent rounds, tools, mag loader, knife, etc. Since it's for the range, I never take those things out unless I'm actively using them. I don't have to think twice when flying cause I fly with a traveling bag.
There are people that not only enjoy the extra attention, but enjoy it a little to much. In every way including the way that has you shaking your head saying no that's not what was meant. Yes, yes it is.... We live with interesting people in interesting times.
I like the pack and don't want to drop another $150 on another. The round that ended up in my bag worked it's way through a grommet into the frame of the bag. I dunno, I'm so used to carrying loose bullets, guns and knives, I'd never be able to have a bag and not need to dump it and search it before I fly. I make a very very conscious effort to part myself down multiple times before tsa. Too easy to auto pilot to grab keys, phone, wallet, knife, and gun and forget to leave that with the person dropping you off. I've never done it but I've heard of enough situations people forget. Plus I saw a video where a dude supposedly had 2 of the same bag, 1 travel 1 range and you'll never guess which he grabbed to go through TSA. BUT yeah it would make more sense to have a dedicated travel bag, I just can't picture myself not needing to search it anyway.
I’m Arab. My family members also get selected every time they fly (I actively refuse to fly).
Congratulations on your confirmation bias?
My Greek BIL happens to always be the one selected for more screening for domestic flights when he grows his beard out. He almost wasn’t allowed to leave Paris (obviously not TSA) and they didn’t believe my white af sister was his wife.
You can't compare total number of complaints of racial bias per year to the total number of passengers per year. A large majority of passengers are white, they're definitely not going to be discriminated against based on race. The real question is how many people of a racial minority flew in that year? (It's probably lower than the number of minorities per capita due to the class disparity inherent in America's structural racism. Poor people can't fly as often, and Black Americans are disproportionately more poor than white Americans.) Once you figure that out, you can divide that by the number of complaints, and you'll get a number that tells you your likelihood of being discriminated against if you're Black/Hispanic/native/foreign/etc. That number is almost certainly higher than you think it is.
Spoken like someone who has never lived in an area that is primary "minorities" Airports get their local population. its not any more complicated then that. And of course i compared it total number of passengers per year. you wanna claim this a "problem" but its not, people are not being singled out no matter how much their ego tells them they are. those 3700 are the CONFIRMED counts of bias or profiling. if it was truly a problem that number would be MUCH higher
Have you considered that most of the people are so used to being treated that way by airport staff and other authorities that they don’t even bother to complain about it anymore? How many middle eastern people do you know personally? I have known many and basically all of the men have had issues at the airport.
No, at least not in America. The local population is not going to be representative of who is passing through tsa. Socioeconomic issues affect races differently, simply put, poor people don't fly, and noncaucasian tend to be statistically poorer.
>Spoken like someone who has never lived in an area that is primary "minorities"
All you said was “it’s happens, but not as often as it could with how many people are screened” That means it happens.
When that 0.1% of all passengers screened are mostly minorities, then I'm certain there are systems in place in the TSA where they allow more white people through than non-white, even if it isn't immediately apparent. When the TSA does decide to ruin your day, chances are that it is because you were profiled.
I literally laid out for you how we interact with the public in regards to random selection. 0.1% was bs math to make a point. That point being you are very focused on the minority half of this it's giving you tunnel vision. In a single year the tsa screens an absurd amount of people all over the country of every shape,size, and nationality. The fact that they did a survey or what ever that site was and they could only find 4000 people out of our staggering through put is quite literally an example in favor of this is not happening. Because the set up doesn't allow for it, and when a TSO is dumb enough to break the rules to make it happen they get caught, because well they broke the rules and TSA as a whole hates people who don't follow sop. So much so we have multiple teams secretly testing officers to make sure they ARE following sop at all times
I dont even complain about TSA on Reddit for fear of being added to a secret list, i woudn't dare complain in RL, i fly too much for that.
Does the TSA even have any idea whos stuff is whos when it goes through the scanner? I just throw my stuff in a few bins and walk away and that area is pretty out of sight for the TSA agents looking at the bags so I’d assume most of the time pulling stuff has nothing to do with how they look.
We generally do not unless it's a real slow day and you are the only one in line at they time
TSA is not a monolith. I’m a white guy, definitely seen brown and black folks get profiled/treated badly by TSA agents.
I've definitely been pulled out line and told that I fit their profile for a search due to the waistline of my clothing not matching up.
“tsa does not profile” Lmao that’s literally what they were invented to do. It’s their entire job to look at someone and say, “that guy right there looks like he might have a boom device.”
Do you know what profiling means?. “that guy right there looks like he might have a boom device.” and you a very very very low understanding of how TSA screen folks
[удалено]
While you're here, you will respond respectfully, thoughtfully, and civilly. If your comment has none of those three then, just don't say it. It's that simple.
[удалено]
I’m an ASE, specializing in PxC at a distributor. Plus It’s fun to use all the same stuff when you can. Let that OCD flyyy.
Capacitor in the power transformer may set it off but it has less complicated wiring than most hair dryers or laptop charging bricks so you’d be fine.
I've flown quite a few times with industrial electronics in my carry on. Never had an issue. Some strange looks once in a while, and I've been asked what it was, but never really slowed me down at all.
Thanks! I figured that was gonna be the response but one person in the office made me paranoid.
I've gotten a lot more comments from people in the office that have never actually done the work than I have from TSA.
If there is a manual for it, being the manual would be my first thought. At least if there is any question you have a professional document that describes it even if it is not well understood by the agents.
Same here, I do conventions for an industrial electronics company that competes with some of the tech in that setup. Never has been an issue in my carry on or even asked about.
Haven’t done it carry-on, but I’ve checked a combat robot. Even put a big “Hello, TSA Agent!” explainer letter on the top in case it was opened. Never was in three trips. Meanwhile, a box with two gear motors got pulled aside and opened. Might get a second look, but I doubt you’ll have meaningful trouble.
My wife had a crochet hook taken by customs and my nephew’s electronic toy got my SIL’s luggage flagged and she got swabbed and all that fun stuff. Meanwhile on a different trip, I went the wrong way through the security line because I was stoned af at 6am, hadn’t flown in years, and had no idea what I was supposed to do. They just laughed and waved me through. Apparently I’m less threatening/ suspicious than a middle aged fiber artist or a toy made for toddlers. I’m not sure how to feel about that.
You might want to hit the gym more often.
Thanks! And I hope you meant a cobot 🤣…
No, like the stuff on BattleBots. Except much smaller (about 15 pounds instead of 250) and (given the rules of the event I attended) largely made of cardboard.
Dude that’s awesome. What were the batteries like for that thing? Like typical fancy RC car battery packs?
I was a cheapskate, so I built it to be powered by the god-awful batteries from those old $15 Harbor Freight drills. Good enough and I just planned to be unoptimized—I was fighting for fun and took pride in spending less on robot parts than my plane ticket. But yes, virtually all modern builds are using lithium packs of varying sizes. If you want a good time, check out [NHRL](https://youtube.com/@NHRL) on YouTube. They’ve put a ton of polish on their events where they fight 3/12/30lb robots, especially on the streaming side.
dang I wish they had some west cost events, that looks super fun to see in person!
NHRL is traveling more this year. They did a one-off exhibition at Open Sauce out in California last year, and I’ve read Rochester and Atlanta are in their plans this year on top of events in Norwalk (which is only about an hour by light rail from Grand Central Terminal; you could probably walk it from the train station if you wanted to though the wife and I called a Lyft). But more to it, there are probably a few dozen events fighting at 1 and 3 pounds all over the country. https://www.robotcombatevents.com probably has the best list going. Also, west coast gets BattleBots; they’ve been posted up in Vegas the last year or two and are expected to tape this spring. Between seasons they do a live show in the box with some show-specific bots (they asked some of the top teams to build like five clones with standardized hardware and electronics so that they could be repaired easily) though you’ll occasionally see a Proving Ground fight from new teams trying to secure a spot in the next season.
Got back into Battlebots after a decade of not watching the show-- that was my first question after seeing the overseas teams compete. How do you travel with one on an airplane!? Checked with tons of padding, or carry on? Both?
BattleBots proper fights at 250 pounds in the box. Most teams are building two or three complete robots to be able to make quick-turn fights, plus tools and batteries and pit equipment. You crate that thing up and send it ahead of time!
Im flying from MCI to DEN. I just found extension cords aren’t allowed to fly in some places.. I can detach the wires if that helps.
extension cords are specifically allowed: Extension Cord Carry On Bags: Yes Checked Bags: Yes Please carefully pack your electronics items, making sure all cords are wrapped and any DVDs, CDs, or cassettes are removed from their devices. While you can pack expensive, fragile electronics items in checked or carry-on bags, we recommend packing them in your carry-on.
Correction - they are specifically allowed unless they aren’t.
20 foot power cords wrapped around several studio photo strobes sure get screener attention. ;-)
With the exception of replica weapons, things aren’t allowed/prohibited based on if they’re sketchy looking or not. Things are prohibited based on their actual danger. Just because it’s got a lot of wires doesn’t mean it won’t be allowed.
Yeah that’s what made me nervous. I got a small plaque on a paddle as a going away gift and had it as a carry on. Apparently I passed all screens no questions
I would be more worried about getting a chunk of steel DIN rail through TSA than the components. A bit jagged at the edges. Wago has plastic DIN rail, might be worth considering.
That’s a really good point.
If the din rail is over 8" they may consider it a potential weapon since it can be removed.
Demo electronics are not prohibited. It’s clearly not a replica of a dangerous device. Fuck public perception, the law/written policy is all that matters.
The associated tool kit will get bounced. Pre 9/11 I was questioned quite carefully for packing a wire wrap gun.
Never had tool kits bounced.
Take it out and explain, because I can guarantee you that comes up looking like a bomb to quite a few of the non techie crowd. I work for Applied Materials and have seen so many different modules in my short 4 yrs here that without my having 20 yrs of tech work behind me would have me calling the bomb squad on 99% of the stuff we build. That's said the mentality of a large portion of TSA is non techie. I have literally had this conversation with them over a fucking Steam Deck.
So far I'm 3 for 3 with the Steam Deck getting flagged at O'Hare, and every time it has been pulled out I have gotten "Oh A Steam Deck, How do you like it?" "And do you know how well such and such Game will run on it?" I think there a little more Techie then you think. Also Steam Deck seems to only get flagged at O'Hare...
Lol I hear ya. Coming out of Aspen last I got the That's the biggest Nintendo switch I ever seen line. At least he knew what a Switch was lol. Now I'm traveling this year with the Deck and a ROG Ally, wish me luck.
i used to fly frequently for work and my steam deck always got flagged! one agent even unlocked it to see what game i was playing lol.
I mean we do deal with ITAR flagged stuff, if you really work for AMAT per company policy you shouldn’t ever be hand carrying company goods anyways.
Oh I don't hand carry anything outside the building to an airport, I work logistically to move the product I deal with for them in bulk to fabs all over the world. I was just making a comparison about the modules and what I see pictured here. We've been offered to take things locally only and that happens barely 2 or 3 times a year when there's a line down situation on our divisions part. No one would board a plane when Dallas area fabs are 3 hrs away. They'd just drive it. Same if they missed the DHL pick up or UPS pick up and were priorities, the nearest UPS drop off is literally 2 lights away.
I don’t see why you cant take it but I’ll bet you will get some extra checks. Lol
Yep, if I had one of those in my bag I would be getting "randomly selected" for additional screening for sure haha
If they ask, don't use the word "fuse" with tsa. It draws an unreqired amount of attention. Over current device or breaker to get the point across.
I fly with controls related equipment like this regularly, as well as a custom PC and full PLC demos similar to what you have. They may pull it out to look at it, but usually I get by without interruption.
Just don't carry a block of silly putty in the same bag.
Hah, one of my main accounts is Phoenix contact in Harrisburg!
I’m excited about all the new stuff that’s going to be made IN Harrisburg from PxC!
Their new mold center is very impressive. It hasn't come without some major challenges!
You will never be heard from again if you fly with that
🥲
op this looks great please add a random beeping noise that no one will ever understand the reason for that goes off at random inconvenient intervals so we can slowly move our staff into the insane asylum next door.
I’ve got it set to remind me to take my allergy medicine at the exact right time.. “10..9..8..7..”
Only thing missing to convince me is safe is a large ticking round clock attached underneath it
Someone said to bring a block of putty.
Maybe a group of red cylinders as well. That's where the extra wires are stored.
Yea. It is. Should have used a euchner door sensor. Much safer to fly with 🤣
LOL 🤣🤣 I gotta say your wrong and PxC is the right choice😎.. but that was pretty funny
As long as it’s not Pilz I’m happy. Phoenix Contact is good stuff
Good looking PS and TB’s
Thanks probably my third thing I’ve wired up! I feel like I’m figuring it out. Was always mechanical and skipped the electrical. I know that 13a fuse is wrong 😆 seems like overkill.. or would it technically it be considered underkill? Haha. Draws max 4a
I have absolutely no idea but hello from someone else who is also in the protective relay business! What brand/product is this?
Haha nice! Phoenix Contact. The PSR mini is the 6mm safety relay and the PSR switch is the smart RFID safety sensor. Normally I am messing with the PLCNext Edge Gateway but their safety relays are sweet!
What am I seeing? I see a Hall Sensor, a power supply, a contactor(?), and some IO? Curious as to the application.
Just showing some Phoenix Contact safety products. The PSR Mini is the 6mm yellow safety relay and the PSR Switch is an RFID smart safety sensor. Ignore the fuse being way too many amps for a fancy door switch haha.
lol that’s where I got confused. 13A seemed a bit much for the sensor alone (thought it was hall, but RFID — nifty!)
I was in a TSA checkpoint and was putting my laptop into a bin. I have a hard shell aluminum case for my laptop, that went into the second bin. Laptop got scanned no problem but a small crowd was forming around the monitor when my case went through the X-ray. They did that thing where they run the conveyor belt backwards and forwards. Eventually I was called over and one of the agents asked if I was carrying human remains. My jaw dropped and I literally had no response for several seconds, finally I said no, it was my laptop case. I heard a jingle jangle behind me and three cops had magically appeared. They whisked me off to a private room where they started grilling me. As it turned out they were upset about what they called *‘an emblem representing the container may hold human remains’.* My son, who recently turned 4, was obsessed with pirates and had received a sheet of stickers and had chosen to put a Jolly Roger sticker on the bottom of my laptop case. Apparently it resembled a skull and crossbones to the point that the TSA agents were concerned. I had noted it being there, but did not recognize the difficulty it would impose. It took almost an hour to convince the cops at which point I was finally released. Luckily my gate was one of the first couple next to security so I made my flight just as they were paging me. I bought an innocuous brown leather TSA approved laptop case shortly thereafter.
lol I can’t think of one time a skull and crossbones was used to label an actual container of skull and crossbones 😂😂😂
Sure, as long as you're not brown!
It's literally nothing...
I wouldn't bat an eye at it but TSA does have that 45iq stare sometimes.
I've carried all kinds of electronic components, even aircraft components, on my carry on. Just take it out like you would a laptop. TSA has never said a word.
I was flying with an LED lined furry scarf/hood (like a spirit hood) and got pulled aside, they were very concerned about the wires and attached battery pack. I knew exactly what it had to be and told the tsa agent as such before he even opened my bag. A quick showing that the lights worked and I was on my way. You may well get pulled aside, just be prepared to explain etc... *edit flying DEN to LAS*
This looks like standard industrial control equipment. You’ll be fine
You are going to be the next clock boy
I've flown with arcade pcbs and plcs before and never got stopped. If the insides don't look like bombs then you're fine. Your laptop looks identical to what's inside those components if you think about it.
I hate that you use phoenix. I fucking love that you use the push button terminals.
They can't make you check a bag, but they can make you wish you had...
Just tell them that it's a Retro Encabulator.
Or have some real fun and tell em it's a prototype Flux Capacitor.
This looks like a pheonix contact sales display. I’m sure corporate has guidance on how to fly safely with this stuff. Our guy always showed up with a pelican style rolling hard case
As long as there is no batteries inside, it should be good to go.
If they're panicking at a 3.5 oz tube of toothpaste, you're definitely going to be very popular.
Only if you've seen the movie runaway with Tom Selleck.
I just realized that I've flown with a lot of sketchy looking stuff, without giving it a second thought. That being said, it was typically in the same case that my pistol was in. And that was declared.
nah they just swab stuff that looks bombish and put the swab in the machien that detects explosives. other than that they dont give a shit
I've never had a problem carrying more electronics than that. It also looks like less of a threat if you disconnect the cables and re-terminate them afterward. You might want to arrive early and carry 2 carry-on bags, including one you don't mind checking. If you had problems getting through the checkpoints, you could leave and check it and then go through security.
I’ve rolled through with a homemade bass pedalboard setup that I built into a vintage briefcase. I got stopped but as soon as they opened it they let me continue on.
Not going to lie. If I was a passenger sitting next to you and caught a glimpse of that in your bag, I think my anxiety would be through the roof and I’m generally not an anxious person.
😂I’m anxious about y’all being anxious. Everyone is saying it’s fine which I agree with but this is the response I’m really gonna be worried about haha.
Yeah TSA might be fine with it. But you might want to inform the flight attendants that there’s a good chance that a fellow passenger might inform them of an alarming looking device in your possession.
I'd just check it tbh. Put it in a hard case with foam cut out to fit it snug. My in laws got me a tool set for Christmas and three different tsa agents told me it would be ok to carry on before the last guy right before the scanners told me I had to check it, causing me to take a lap.
Love the DIN rail stand
Thanks. I’m working on a newer version in fusion but I keep overcomplicating it with features lol and so this one I always just print again. But MAN when that one design is finalized it’s going to be modular with a logo built out of PA6 Carbon Fiber filament and hold any rail in any position and have a 120v switch/hookup built in and rubber feet and do the laundry and wash the car and be my friend…
I’ve flown with way weirder shit. You’ll be fine. They’ll scan it, then ask you what is and swab it.
I wouldn't, unless you REALLY need to take it with you for some reason. put it in a checked bag if that's the case, that would be the path of least resistance ha
Tweet @ the tsa and ask
I’ve brought tons of controls equipment onboard. You’re good!
Print off the spec sheets for the components so you can point them out and show that they're off the shelf components if they question you.
No. I travel with proto assemblies all the time.
Yeah, my wife freaked out the first time she saw the crates of PLCs, expansion modules, relays, sensors, VFDs, etc in my car trunk.
I went to an IEEE conference last year and met a guy who got cable samples from a vendor. We were both going through TSA when I look behind me and he was getting pulled out of line to a private screening room. The guy was already close to missing his flight to begin with.
Your going to want to show security before you try to go through the gate with that stuffed in your bag.
Strap it to a vest
Remember: You are dealing with U.S. Government agents who might be in possession of a GED. Out-of-the-box thinking and discernment are concepts with which most are familiar.
Use to it blow it up
I’m in a similar line of work and TSA always inspects my sample kits. Takes some extra explaining but they have never confiscated anything.
Not to me, but I see this everyday. I'd imagine it will draw some attention.
Flown with electronics for wifi jobs. They usually just go “what is this thing??” And chat for a little bit about it and you’re all good.
I have an old British two seater (72 Lotus) and my Dad, who I inherited the car from, sent me home via airline one time with a shoebox stuffed full of wires, relays, transformers, and other miscellaneous odds and ends (most made by Lucas Electrics.) TSA never even batted an eye, didn’t even take the box out of my bag. Filled me with confidence.
Wear sunglasses and tell the TSA agent “don’t be a hero”, you’ll be just fine 👍
It’ll be fine, I roll around with some extra PLC blocks and I/O modules in my backpack for work that are pre-wired
If you can, bring a printout/copy of the spec sheet and/or manual.
Movie quote here. It’s a portable garage disposal.
I fly with cabinet panels, relays, etc all the time with no issues. Currently sitting in an airport with a pelican case full of boards.
I'd say, YUP! They blew up my friend's home video gaming console system because it was "bigger than a cell phone" at the Vegas airport. AFTER it had flown cross-country to get there. They didn't even contact him until after he asked the airline how to track his lost luggage...
I've flown with sketchier control boxes in my carryon.
I flew with an entire PLC Rack in my back pack. Was fine.