Rope Exchange
 

Because A DRIVE TEAM may elect to switch one of the ROPES on their AIRSHIP for their own ROPE AND Once the DRIVE TEAM has installed their ROPE on the AIRSHIP, it is part of the FIELD
My question is: Can a team exchange their rope for one of their alliance members ropes, since once placed it qualifies as both a field element, and a ROPE on their AIRSHIP

If so,

Team A exchanges TEAM A ROPE for STOCK ROPE, making TEAM A ROPE a field element, and holds STOCK ROPE
Team B exchanges TEAM B ROPE for Team A ROPE, making TEAM B ROPE a field element, and holds TEAM A ROPE
Team C chooses not to exchange ropes with the airship, and holds TEAM C ROPE

Now, the airship has Team B's rope, and two stock ropes.

At the end of the match, because no order of rope removal is specified, Team A exchanges their STOCK ROPE for the TEAM B ROPE, walking off the field with it. Team B then exchanges their TEAM A ROPE with the STOCK ROPE that is now hanging from the airship. Team A can then leave the field with a stock FRC rope, and because their Team B rope is now a field element, it can stay attached to the field.

Per R08. ...Note that a Team provided ROPE may be removed from the FIELD and is no longer considered a FIELD element once removed from the DAVIT

The rules never specify that the rope must be removed, unless I'm missing something.

What are your thoughts?

Re: Rope Exchange
 

My thought? Sharpie your team number onto the top of your rope so you make sure you get it back.

And, if GDC sticks with the "may be removed" language not changing it to "must be removed" language, I think that means all of the field provided ropes eventually leave the field. Say a match happens and all six teams leave their ropes on the field. Under the "may be removed" standard, those six ropes stay out there until they are either replaced by another team or a team leaves a davit empty and the stock rope is placed.

There's no provision in the rules for putting a stock (field-provided) rope back on the field unless there is an empty davit. So, if you get out there and someone left a rope you don't like, you can say "here's our rope, we are replacing it", but you can't say "replace that rope with the stock rope, please".

Interesting, if it holds up to Q&A scrutiny.

Re: Rope Exchange
 

If I put a custom rope out there, I want it back at the end of the match so I can use it in my next match. I'll have to re-read those rules in fine detail.

Re: Rope Exchange
 

Ah, but the rules read specifically that ROPES (plural) must be inspected <I04>. There's a limitation that you enter only one robot into the competition, but no limitation that you enter only one rope into the competition.

So, have three identical ropes, that way you can leave one out there. If it's taken down, you'll retrieve it on your next trip to the field.

Re: Rope Exchange
 

I'm really missing the point of this. Is the intention to arrive at a state in which the airship is pre-stocked with 3 custom ropes? Or is the intention to get a rope that some other team made? :confused:

Re: Rope Exchange
 

I'm going to opine that the GDC doesn't want teams sandbagging alliance partners by stealing their ropes, nor do they want teams sandbagging later teams by permanently replacing the FIELD ROPES with 8 feet of dental floss.

3.8 says teams "can expect default FIELD ROPES to be installed". That section wouldn't say that if there was an expectation of random team supplied ropes being installed.

So yes, I fully expect the GDC to tell you that you do, in fact, have to remove your custom rope from the arena at the end of the match. It'll probably be an edit to 4.2 Match Setup, noting that the arena will be cleared of robots, ropes, and operator consoles. I expect they'll be a bit grumpy about having to tell you not to handicap other teams, break the game, and steal parts of the arena.

EDIT: I feel like I should note that the bit about being allowed to remove your custom ROPE was obviously put in as an option to simplify robot removal. You can remove your robot+rope assembly from the field instead of removing your robot from the field and then removing your rope. The "may" in there was allowing the removal of the rope before disentangling the robot. Not making the rope removal optional.

Re: Rope Exchange
 

Error: Team A never holds the Stock Rope.

If Team A wants to put its rope on, the Field Reset people will remove the Stock Rope allowing Team A to install their rope.

Field Reset will not remove Team A's Rope. The exception might be if Team A's Rope looks like a Stock Rope, and removes it to allow Team B to install a rope. In that instance Field Reset will have Team A's Rope, and Team A can recover their rope from Field Reset.

At the end of the match, Field Reset will make sure that all non-stock ropes are removed. If a Team's rope looks like a stock rope, it could be left on the field. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck ... is there any harm to the next match?

Re: Rope Exchange
 

If the COF or the like is at all different, then yes the potential for harm exists. It will sure look like a stock rope until team ____ with their stock rope friction hanger tries to hang and.... *SMACK*...

PersonallY I forsee rules being added that will require teams to mark/label custom ropes and/or special labels being added to stock field ropes that teams cannot replicate.

Re: Rope Exchange
 

I'm waiting for an enterprising team to set up a rope Kiosk in the pits(sponsored by Home Depot) in the pits to sell to teams who break their ropes or just want a different rope to try out.

Re: Rope Exchange
 

E08 prohibits the selling of anything

(Not in the game manual but part of the Rules & Expectations for FIRST Robotics Competition Events)

Re: Rope Exchange
 

Custom ropes already have a serialized inspection tag. Field ropes won't (probably)