Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

I can see your point regarding pushing a ball with a part of your robot that expands beyond the starting dimensions. In essence, if the robot did not eject the ball, then the "any parts of the robot that contact the ball while and/or after this impulse is delivered" does not come into play. Can we assume that since gravity does not appear to count as ejecting the ball, then this same logic applies to a ramp?

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

I would recommend the Q&A for your answers. The way I read the rules, if energy is use to eject the ball from your robot (Gravity is stored energy) and the ball touches the gate that is outside of the 28 x 38, then it is an illegal shooter. If the ball drops straight down it is not being ejected but dropped. If the ball moves forward into the goal from inside the robot, it is then being "shot" as something is causing the ball to move forward out of the robot.

If the robot pushes balls into the goal then it is not shooting. If however the pushing device is a flipper that moves independently of the rest of the robot then I would call that a shooting device.

All this is only my humble opinion and should be followed up with a proper response from the Q&A.

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

Based on the Q&A Collin linked, it should be legal. Also, as said ramp is only deployed when up against the goal, it should also comply with <R04>

Edit: Also, I intend on consulting the Q&A as soon as I can, but our sponsor with the login information is going to be attending a conference in Austin for the first half of this week.

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread...highlight=ramp


Q: Is a ramp which would allow balls to roll off the robot (and hopefully toward the corner goals) considered a shooter? The only force causing the balls to move would be gravity.

A: This ramp would not be considered a shooter, but be sure it complies with <R04>.

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

I totally agree with this. I believe including the real definition of what is shooting and what isnt shooting in a Team Update this late in the build should be further discussed by the entire GDC. It was very unclear what 'shooting' actually was in the begining of the build, and I'm sure not many (beside team 177, thank you so much..) teams thought rolling the balls at a very low speed (< 3 ft/s) would be considered shooting. So far, ~30% of the people that voted designs have been affected.

Week 2, big deal. Week 5, something needs to happen.

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

How would you go about asking for a change though, is it something easy to do? Also its about 30% just here on Chief Delphi, imagine all the teams who are not active on this forum and/or don't check the Q&A all the time.

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

Ok so in the game animation...
Red harvester robot, in auton. it drives to the corner and dumps its hopper. Is that legal now?

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

That is ILLEGAL according Team Update #6. That mechanism was legal up until Team Update 6 was released.

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

^ really good point.
I voted *no* because I didn't get to the point in the thread that applied to shooters. It seemed to apply to corner-goal loaders.
So, change my little percentage to yes.
This completely changes our guiding system design.

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

So from what i understand, which could be very little, any robot that has a roller that sucks balls in and, when ran in reverse sucks balls out would be illegal?

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

If it was at all outside of the starting envelope than yes

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

I'd read this to mean that a flipper, ramp, or other mechanism that can be in the bumper zone and might contact another robot must always remain within 10 degrees of vertical.

As written, the rule provides referees a method to deal with infractions that they observe during a match.

Since this is a robot rule, it may also be policed during robot inspection. I hope that FIRST will provide some clarification to teams and to volunteers so that this rule is interpreted and enforced uniformly at all events.

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

Wait, how is that illegal? The other Q&A said that any system that depends solely on gravity to move the ball is okay.

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

Well, if a team is planning a fold-out ramp, I don't think they have to worry. As long as the ramp is only deployed at the goal, when attempting to score, there should be no issue, as it could not interfere with another robot. However, drives around with said ramp deployed at all times, it would likely be a violation.

Edit: I believe it would be illegal because the robot is giving an impulse to the balls by moving the hopper. Seems absurd when the update from FIRST causes their animation to be illegal...

Re: New rule Clarification changes plans
 

But it's not really giving it an impulse. Unless the hopper violently flops over and sends the balls flying out, they are simply being released, and moved by gravity.