Legality of blocking balls (was: HEy)

[Ahren]

can we block balls purposely? and or accdentaly?
can a ball hit our bumpers and we not get a peanalty???

[fordchrist675]

From what I read your not allowed to block either a ball or a robot on purpose. Especially around the tunnel area.

[Andrew.Jensen]

can we block balls purposely? and or accdentaly?
can a ball hit our bumpers and we not get a peanalty???

Friend, there's a magical thing called the manual. It will tell you the answers. You are able to have one robot on defense, which can deflect balls, but a robot whose sole purpose is aimed at offensive actions against the enemies will be yellow carded.

[Jones571]

Yes you may block balls but can not use an active mechanisum above the bumper zone. read rules G43-47. None which say it is against the rules to play D by blocking a shot with your robot.

[Alex Cormier]

Technically, you can block the balls.




But you will get penalized.

[Jones571]

Technically, you can block the balls.




But you will get penalized.

under what rule alex?

[Alex Cormier]

On the rail system, of course. :p

[Vikesrock]

There is a lot of misinformation in this thread right now.

In Autonomous mode it will be difficult to block balls or robots as you are not allowed to go fully across the centerline. Moving fully across the centerline will result in 2 penalties, plus 2 more penalties and a yellow card if a ball or robot is contacted while fully across the centerline, plus 2 more penalties for any additional balls or robots contacted. <G28>

In Teleoperated mode only one alliance robot may be in the Far zone (the zone near your opponent's goals) per rule <G29>.

There are restrictions regarding the use of active mechanisms above the bumpers (<G45>), so you may not use such a mechanism to block the ball.

There are no restrictions on blocking balls with your bumpers or any other passive mechanism on your robot.

In most cases, robots may be blocked or pushed as much as you wish. If you are pinning the robot (including having one robot block each side of the tunnel) you must back up 6ft. for 3 seconds after each 5 second pin <G39>. Robots in contact with their tower or an elevated alliance partner during the Finale period cannot be defended <G34>. Robots must be given a 10-second grace period from contact when righting themselves or others <G32>.

I believe I have covered most of the common scenarios regarding ball and robot blocking, but as always the manual itself (and the Q&A) is the only source of official information.

[Steve W]

Robots in contact with their tower or an elevated alliance partner cannot be defended <G34>.

This applies only to the finale otherwise there can be interaction to a suspended robot as per Q&A. Also any penalties caused by the suspended robot, even if caused by another robot will be charged against the suspended robot.

[Billfred]

Adjusted the title to be more specific (and thus reader-friendly) and moving it to the rules forum (which, of course, is no substitute for reading the manual (http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=452) and FRC's official Q&A (http://forums.usfirst.org/forumdisplay.php?f=1353)). :)

[Vikesrock]

This applies only to the finale otherwise there can be interaction to a suspended robot as per Q&A. Also any penalties caused by the suspended robot, even if caused by another robot will be charged against the suspended robot.

Thanks Steve, I knew that, must have had a disconnect between my brain and fingers. I adjusted my original post to reflect this correction.

[EricH]

One other one: Blocking balls in contact with the ball return is 2 penalties per ball under <G47>.