Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

My team was having trouble interpreting this years rule book. We are thinking of having arms that extend out of our robots frame in order to pick up and stack crates. The rule in question is 4.2r3b where it notes a travel configuration of 28"x42"x78" being met with minor disassembly. Does this mean that our robot may have one configuration for travel that fits inside the dimensions, but after minor disassembly at a competition site has a different configuration with arms to lift crates which extend past the 28" width or 42" length before the beginning of the match?

The definition of transport configuration in the glossary notes "transferring robots between locations (e.g. the teams's pit, the practice field, inspection, the arena, etc.). Might this mean our robot can extend out beyond these dimensions for length and width before a match begins with minor modifications as long as it can be moved from between these places within the specified dimensions?

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

Yes, you are correct. The robot can have parts that when attached to the robot extend beyond the transport requirements when on the field, but it can only be 78'' tall. Keep in mind that attachments must be easy to put on and should not delay the start of a match.

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

This is the meaning of the rule.


Let me put it another way, that might be clearer: When your robot is ON the field, it can be any size as long as it is less than 78" tall (and meets any implicit size constraints, like not occupying part of the Auto zone or Landfill prior to match start). When your robot is IN your pit (or other similar areas), it can be any size, again with the limitation of implicit size constraints (10' square pit area, for instance).

But when your robot is MOVING between such places, it must be within the Transport Configuration size, and you will need to convert it to and from from Transport Configuration (if necessary) within about 1 minute.

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

Okay so you could have a bolt on, bolt off arm that could be attached to the robot in a timely manner before a match?

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

Yes.

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

Yep. Make sure you can get your match configuration set up on the field in less than 60 seconds.

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

In addition, something that my team noticed immediately this year was the lack of constraint regarding the size of extensions outside the frame. A change from last year, when extensions could only be 20" or less. Your robot can be as long/wide as you want this year as long as it can fit into the transport configuration when disassembled/retracted.

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

You can be as long or wide as you want as long as you remain inside the field. I can guarantee that a 10 foot arm swinging outside the field smacking a Ref or FTA will be met with very little amusement. :)

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

Keep in mind the Q and A update, all zones are defined as a volume. Therefore, whatever extends out of your frame must start completely inside the allowed staring zones' invisible planes extending infinitely upward.

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

In addition to the sixty second setup/takedown, make sure your transformation takes less than sixty seconds with two people. Only drive teams are allowed onto the field to set up the machines in qualifications, and the way queuing works at events usually necessitates one person to go right to the alliance station wall and another person to wheel over the cart to another area.

So, only two people will be able to set up over the course of sixty seconds (you also may not want too many pairs of hands on your robot to make transforming more efficient). Depending on how elaborate your robot setup has to be, you will want to consider modularity in your design for parts extending outside of the TC, and train the drive team on expeditious setup.

Re: Can you extend outside your frame in recycle rush?
 

60 seconds setup and takedown is important ,a team can not delay matches.