Chief Delphi - We can extend beyond the playing field with our ball-knocker-offer???

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- - We can extend beyond the playing field with our ball-knocker-offer??? (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26828)

Re: We can extend beyond the playing field with our ball-knocker-offer???

Hey Alan is right! Kudos to you!

this whole arguement has been based on a rule from last year.

I have all the manual pdf and update pdf files in one directory, and with the lastest version of adobe you can search them all at once.

the word 'reacting' does not appear in any of them

the word 'react' appears 6 times - but none of them refer to reacting with the field

in fact, the following statement from the rules makes it clear that anything that is ok in normal/driver mode is ok in auton mode - and in driver mode your bot IS allowed to extend past and touch the sides for the field, as long as you dont touch the floor. From the manual:

Quote:

AUTONOMOUS PERIOD - During this 15-second period, the ROBOTS operate and react only to sensor inputs and to commands programmed by the team into the onboard robot control system. Human control of the ROBOT will not be possible during this time. During this period, ROBOTS may perform any activities that would be permissible when operated under human control. All ROBOT operation and safety rules applicable during the operator control period are also applicable during this period.

Hey Alan - next time there is a dispute about the rules Im gonna give you a ring :^)

Re: Buzz, please give us your insight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natchez

Paul & Buzz, congratulations on your win at VCU. Can you give us some insight into Buzz' discussions about the rules and how you came to your conclusions? Before posing the question to FIRST through the Q&A system, I'd like for the FIRST community to understand the legal/illegal logic.

Much respect,
Lucien

Our team, The Killer Bees, interpreted it to mean reaching around the "cage" and hitting the ball from the back. Who knows, though, with all of the Autonomous work the programmers have been doing since VCU, the whips may only open inside of the ball cage now anyways.

Re: We can extend beyond the playing field with our ball-knocker-offer???

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

Hey Alan is right! Kudos to you!

Hey Alan - next time there is a dispute about the rules Im gonna give you a ring :^)

Dear Ken;

Thanks for the kudos.

As Much as I like to get praise (I am already a legend in my own mind!) I have to stress these are my opinions only - I am not representing REP, NASA or FIRST or team 254 when making them.

"My opinions when frankly expressed are like pins and onions. I often get stuck with them and end up crying."

Re: We can extend beyond the playing field with our ball-knocker-offer???

Alan Anderson was right too

maybe even more right :^)

Thanks everyone for your input! After reviewing this issue with my team where we used this thread as a guide, we feel that the rule, without question, prohibits our use of "bonus ball feelers." Please understand that this is strictly our interpretation and recognize that those who interpret the rule differently may be correct.

Since we acknowledge that the bonus-ball-feeling robots will be quicker to the bonus balls, we have altered our strategy to meet these neighbors as quickly as we can. This should make for some exciting collisions at mid field.

Thanks again & full steam ahead,
Lucien

Re: We can extend beyond the playing field with our ball-knocker-offer???

Looking at all of this, I see it as legal. Heck, it's a pretty good idea with regard to simplicity and being very effective.

Sure, the ball-knocker-offer is extending outside of the field, but it is not applying force to the floor. Also, it is only going about 1 foot outside of the field, so it is not a safety hazard.

If the ball-knocker-offer reaches around the vertical pipe and knocks off the 10 point ball, then it is illegal, of course, but that is not what is being debated.

Since there is no rule that says robots cannot contact or react against the pipe surrounding the ball tees, I see this as legal. Of course, that is just my opinion. Maybe I am missing something.

Andy B.