Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

Sorry, I did find an entanglment rule in the robot section of the rules.

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

Wouldn't have to do it during the 15 second autonimous mode?

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

Not if they dont get the balls off the tees. But it is possible to do it in the autonomous mode. A good dead reckoning program can take a goal and drop it off quickly, if your fast enough, which we should be. Also you could defend at least the ball tee on your side until the deposits are blocked off. Plus you can let them get some balls, but this would limit their supply. It not neccessary to shut them out, but this can reduce their score. Also it doesnt have to be a full time strategy. You can draw thier robots away from what they're doing to take a goal out of the way, which could give you invauluable time. This is more of a strategy for stiuational use I think, than an all the time one.

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

i thought i read some where in the rule book that doin that was illegal

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

Official answer from the FIRST Q&A system:

Section: 4.1 Date Posted: 1/10/2004 Status: Answered
Q: How many of the doggy doors which let the robot push balls to the human player are open at a time, and can we block them?
A: The "doggy doors" are open cutouts aka Ball Chutes in the diamond plate so they are always open. Regarding blocking of the Ball Chutes, please refer to new Rule <G26>... 1 robot can only block 1 Ball Chute of the opposing alliance at a time.

So, building robots that block both chutes is definitely against the rules, now.

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

hmm guess andy's message isnt sinking in...plz search i already posted about this...

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

please disregard my earlier comment because i somehow misread the question/statement and was getting my signals crossed.

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

I wasnt refering to the ball drops, but rather to the human player stations. In the new rule <G26> it talks about the ball corrals, not the human deposits.

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

No...they are talking about the chutes...which are the human deposits.

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

What do they considering blocking a ball chute is my question.

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

This is the year of common sense.
Figure it out.

It's NOT hard.

www.dictionary.com

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

Are the human deposits marked MEN and WOMEN?

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

I have to agree with John on this one it's not that hard to figure out what blocking a ball shoot is... if the robot is in front of it and no balls can get in, guess what? You're blocking the ball chute

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

LoL, if that isn't captain obvious then I don't know what is!

Re: Blocking the ball deposits
 

Ok so your saying by definition of this rule if a team blocks every inch of a ball chute except for 13inches that is fine? That to me is blocking but in the rules I read that it isn't cuse a team possesses the capability of scoring therefore there is no blocking. Go ahead and tell me the idea does not exemplify gracious professionalism and in three months I'll point you to a team that thought it was with medals around their neck. I don't think personally the strategy is a good idea however, I know that there are teams out year that live on the vague rules of FIRST and exploit them and I really don't think the rule in Team Update 1 really did anything to stop a robot from controlling the ball chutes. Another question I pose to the forum is where do you draw the line as to where blocking a ball chute occurs. For example Robot A extends winds across the field but he's a good 10ft away from the ball chutes is that still considered blocking? I think a definition for blocking and blocked need to be added this year so these vague rules don't get circumvented and the wall bots begin to rule the stages on saturday.