Two questions about keeping it in the footprint

[Petey]

I'm wondering what thoughts people may have on these two rules.


<R16> Once the MATCH has started, the ROBOT may assume a PLAYING CONFIGURATION that is different from the STARTING CONFIGURATION. The ROBOT must be designed such that the PLAYING CONFIGURATION of the ROBOT shall not exceed the dimensions specified in Rule <R11>.

It is clear that a robot must be within the 28x38x60 footprint when it is placed on the field (SC). It also must be within that footprint once it has assumed the PC.

Is it allowed to exceed the footprint in the process of assuming the PC?

What I'm imagining is a robot that begins with a component hanging parallel to the body of the robot in SC. In PC, that component rests perpendicular to the body of the robot. In both SC and PC, the component is within the footprint, but in order to get from SC to PC it (momentarily) must swing outside the footprint.

Is this allowed? Or are we to read this rule as simply allowing multiple playing configurations for the robot without any sort of special allowance for the space spent changing from SC to PC.

some stuff about bumper zones

I'm reading a lot of conflicting quotes in this forum about bumper zones. I think the rules may be in tension.

My reading of the rulebook supports the conclusion that a robot may never extend outside the 28x38x60 footprint, which may (but not must) be the same as its bumper zone.

As a way of understanding this, you could have a 28x28 robot that reached out to 36 inches, because that would be within the footprint, even though it extended beyond the bumper zones.

[Racer26]

As a way of understanding this, you could have a 30x30 robot that reached out to 36 inches, because that would be within the footprint, even though it extended beyond the bumper zones.

You definitely COULD NOT have a 30x30 robot (it wouldn't fit in the 28" dimension).

Also, it must not ever extend outside of the 28x38x60 box, as at any time during the MATCH, the ROBOT is decidedly in some PLAYING CONFIGURATION. A ROBOT can have many PLAYING CONFIGURATIONs, but no one of them can extend beyond the 28x38x60 boundary. Essentially, if you want an arm type manipulator, you need to build your STARTING CONFIGURATION (and by extension, your drive base) to be substantially less than 28x38x60.

[Petey]

You definitely COULD NOT have a 30x30 robot (it wouldn't fit in the 28" dimension).


doh

edited

Also, it must not ever extend outside of the 28x38x60 box, as at any time during the MATCH, the ROBOT is decidedly in some PLAYING CONFIGURATION. A ROBOT can have many PLAYING CONFIGURATIONs, but no one of them can extend beyond the 28x38x60 boundary.

Yeah i figured that was the reading but I wasn't sure because of the use of "assume" which implies a transitive state that exists between SC and PC.

[Racer26]

I know what you're saying about the wording implying some sort of transitive state, but as I said in a different thread yesterday, the GDC typically answers Q&A questions inline with the INTENT of the rule, and the INTENT of this one was to restrict us to the 28x38x60 box.

[Rosiebotboss]

I know what you're saying about the wording implying some sort of transitive state, but as I said in a different thread yesterday, the GDC typically answers Q&A questions inline with the INTENT of the rule, and the INTENT of this one was to restrict us to the 28x38x60 box.

With all due respect, but are you on the GDC?

Petey, I would ask it on the Q & A Forum.

[Petey]

1075 guy is probably right, but I may ask this in Q&A.

And I assume I'm right w/r/t the second question about bumper zones and footprints correct?

[BRAVESaj25bd8]

R11 states
At the start of, and during, the MATCH the ROBOT shall fit within the dimensions listed
below
It then goes on to say the following dimensions:
Maximum Width: 28 inches
Maximum Depth: 38 inches
Maximum Height: 60 inches
Maximum Weight: 120 pounds

While width and depth are basically interchangeable based on how one views the robot, height is referencing the distance from the bottom of the robot to the top of it with a height of zero being at the surface which contacts the ground. Therefore, "flop bots" are illegal if they plan to tip over from a height of 60 inches and then afterwards have a width or depth of that dimension. Along with that, it seems pretty clear that you cannot build a robot with a 38 inch height so your 60 inch dimension could be saved to extend an arm or something. The rule seems pretty clear to me that your switch from starting configuration to playing configuration would violate the rule because the change would occur during the match.

[Petey]

Thanks! "During" seems to clear up my question about the transition betwen SC and PC.