Autonomous assists

[AndyBare]

Can you assist in autonomous?

[Zuelu562]

The balls in play during autonomous are not part of a cycle. Only balls in play as part of a cycle are eligible to receive an assist bonus.

In reality, managing an exchange like this inside of 10 seconds and scoring both balls seems pretty difficult.

[AndyBare]

Indeed it does. But it would make for a heck of a strategy.

[Cal578]

Can you assist in autonomous?
I interpret "can you" as "are you allowed to". The answer is Yes, but you don't get any extra points for it.

The glossary (http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/viewItem/3#6) (section 6) defines an Assist as happening during a Cycle. The glossary and Section 3.1 (http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/viewItem/180#3.1).4 define a Cycle as beginning when a ball is removed from the pedestal, which can't happen until after the autonomous period.

[lethc]

Also worth mentioning is the fact that no assists can be made until all 3 autonomous balls are scored, assuming that an alliance starts with 3 balls on the field. This is because assists are only counted on cycles, which don't begin until you have no autonomous balls remaining on the field.