Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

It was initiated entirely by the refs via match notes. The head ref individually reviewed that match (among many others) overnight and discussed it with the rest of the crew the next morning. There was no team input at any stage.

Hopefully that alleviates any concerns you might have.

How were they allowed to play in elims with illegal motors? Did you bring it up to the inspectors or the referees?

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

Must be an automotive motor.

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

It was brought to the attention of inspectors during the course of eliminations, who, after a brief check of the robot in question, examined the manual, discussed it amongst themselves, and subsequently opted to take no action. Why they chose not to I can only speculate.

I would love to see the car that has a linear actuator on it.


I'm not trying to point fingers at the team in this case, my guess is they just didn't know any better, but if inspectors cannot identify illegal motors or can but choose to not intervene, there's a problem somewhere.

Also, I'm pretty sure the actuator in question is one of these, and per the discussion in this thread, could be used but only if the motor was switched out for an FRC legal motor and the internal switches bypassed.

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

Can't say it's too hard to figure out who the team is...

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

It is worth noting that my team was NOT competing at this competition, I was just there as a spectator. And like I said, my beef is not with the team, it's that the inspectors allowed a robot with illegal motors onto the field that may have given it's alliance an unfair advantage.

To be honest, the alliance probably would have won the event anyways, they had put up enough points in previous matches that the mechanism didn't make any difference in the outcome, had the match been replayed, even with the mechanism disabled, the outcome probably would have been the same.

I guess it's more the principle of it than anything, and that if something so obvious like a motor that CLEARLY looks nothing like any legal FRC motor is allowed to play for an entire competition, what else are teams getting away with? On top of that, now this team may think that their robot has nothing wrong with it, so when they go on to their next event and an inspector does catch it, they'll have to scramble to find a fix instead of having time during the out of bag window to deal with it.

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

Ye I saw countless fouls that were never called. Which would be ok if it was like that every game but then you get some games with 40 points in fouls..... There is just no consistency. the refs can directly determine the outcome of games and regional winners completely depending on how many fouls they chose to call... or not call....

I don't know how much of a factor volunteer bias is but that may also be a possible factor

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

While not fouls, during the end of elims at west valley a couple teams lost their bumper numbers.

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

Here is an example of a legal automotive linear actuator motor.

It is much smaller than the device in question, but I thought you might love to see it :D

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

We shot a ball straight up and out (driver hit button inadvertently) it was not called a foul.

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

I think it more getting used to the game rules. The refs got much better the second day in SD but did miss a foul or two.

I don't think refs have favorites. I was asked to ref today so I "may" be one of them in orange county week 5.

I would do it just because:

They need help desperately ( several regionals are short refs) its a 90 minute drive for myself over three days .
I know all the rules
We got RP taken away over not registered crossings yesterday ( I would watch that teams get proper credit)
More cool bots to watch! Many teams whom I know and watching them play in a new regional is enticing.

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

I've seen power liftgates on minivans that looked to have linear actuators doing the lifting (such as the late 2000's/early 2010's Chrysler vans).

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

Well played sir, well played. :rolleyes:

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

Re: Rules violations spotted on webcasts
 

I am not one to be a stickler about numbers and bumpers but I am watching 5310 in qualification 71 in Mount Olive and they should not be allowed to compete like that.

I only saw 3 sides of there robot and the numbers on two of the sides was 530, and another was just 3.