Not in a zone?
 

This anomaly in the rules occurred to me during kickoff review and I have not heard it mentioned since. I thought I'd wait to see if I were crazy and with company if someone else pointed it out. Not yet, so maybe I should get my application paperwork for the FIRST nuthouse in order.

Here goes. A robot is defined to be in one of the field's colored zones if all contact with the carpet is in the same colored zone {page 22}. If a robot straddles the line between zones, it is in neither of the zones and should not receive credit for possession of a ball in either of them. Suppose such a robot receives possession of a ball and then, without moving enough to gain occupancy of a zone, it passes the ball to an alliance member. I contend that the alliance is therefore not eligible for an assist score on the basis that the ball was not possessed in a definite zone.

Further, if the pass was made to an alliance robot in the same situation with relation to two zones (either the same two or the other possible pair), that pass would not accrue assist scoring either, unless the receiving robot were to move wholly into one zone or the other while still in possession of the ball.

I take this to mean that teams must be mindful of the zone boundaries if they expect to gain the maximum assist scoring for their efforts. I also expect that the scoring refs may not be aware of this situation and pass out "undeserved" scores as a result.

Re: Not in a zone?
 

From what I gather from your question - if Robot A gains possession of the game piece in one zone and then transfers position to another zone - and then passes to Robot B - should it be considered an assist?

IF that is your question, yes - it is an assist. Only because Robot B is now a different robot in possession of the ball in a different zone from where Robot A gained possession.

EDIT: Now after re-reading your post - I would say that you are riding a fine line (pun intended). I would assume that Robot A would be considered in the zone nearest the aliance goal. Al or Stratis care to step in?

Re: Not in a zone?
 

"ASSISTS are earned when a unique ALLIANCE ROBOT POSSESSES the ALLIANCE’S BALL in a unique ZONE". Your interpretation is accurate, and I don't see anything particularly crazy about it.

Presumably the scoring input panels will require referees to select zone and robot using a panel similar to figure 3-4 (though I hope the UI is rotated if they're standing beside the long edge of the field). That will serve as an overt reminder of the need to identify specific robots in possession in specific zones.

I'd be more worried about the fact that referees won't be able to see underneath robots' bumpers to determine when the robots are actually in particular zones, rather than straddling the lines.

Re: Not in a zone?
 

I agree this is the letter of the rule.

I suspect that in practice a) this won't actually happen very often. It would be unusual for an FRC robot to acquire a game piece and pass it off without travelling more than ~2.5ft, and b) Referee's doing the scoring will have a tendency to just say that robot POSSESSED the BALL in both ZONES they were straddling, because humans do funny things in fast paced environments.