Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

Is it just me or is there a general lack of rules regarding removing game pieces from trailers?

OK, I know the robot can't extend beyond the 28x38x50 size, so it's hard to make a boom to reach out and remove balls from your own traler, or from a team mate's... but if your robot was built smaller, eg: 28x24 it's possible that you could reach out 14" into a team-mate's tralier and remove their balls (so to speak).

Can't see where the rules prevent this.???

Likewise, any reason why your robot can't reach back and sheild your own trailer or flick balls out when they get deposited?

What have I missed?

Phil.

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

Yeah, I was thinking/looking at the same thing. One thing that makes it very hard to block/descore from your own trailer is the trailer needs to behind the short side (28). So, since the trailer is 7 inches from your robot and assuming you need atleast 3 inches to descore, I think it would be very hard to build a robot in at the very most 18 inches.

Descoring from other's trailer's may be more plausable, but unless done with insanly skill, two robots will have to be stopped, which would allow for two very easy targets.

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

the bold part might include alliance bots too, I might be mistaken

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

Whew! I was wondering when this thread would start ... and I didn't have the gumption to start it myself ... but you've let the cat outta' the bag.

The only relevent rule I could find is: G32 Robot-to-Robot Interaction

It says that "contact outside of the BUMPER ZONE is not acceptable" which could rule out trying to stick an arm into somebody else's trailer (but not necessarilty your own trailer)

It's not really spelled out for us yet, but I don't think they want us digging around in each others trailers, trying to eject balls.

Perhaps the size envelope limitations are enough to ensure that we don't attempt that strategy. ... but I felt really good there for a while this morning thinking that my camera could detect a SUPER CELL in my trailer and toss it OUT as the timer reaches zero.

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

I found where it says that:
Reaching into another trailer violates the out of bumper rule and might be considered attaching or climbing onto a trailer

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

ok, and what about blocking the 'entrance' to your own trailer?

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

That's prbly not allowed cause if you were to cover it, you would have to use your robot to do that, cause you can't build a cover on top of it, and if your robot does cover it, that violates the out of the bumper zone rule.

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

At all times the robot MUST fit in the 28" wide x 38" long x 60" high envelope

contact outside of the prescribed BUMPER zone is prohibited.

these two rules rule out

1) covering the trailer, or blocking the entrance
2) reaching into a trailer and removing rocks


It also means we cannot 'reach' over and drop rocks into a trailer
but we can 'shoot' them, similiar to the 2006 Aim-High game.


This game looks a lot like Aim-High, but with much shorter shooting distances.

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

Keep in mind that the robot must not exceed the 28"x38"x60" size restrictions at any time during the match.

It looks like the trailer tongue will stick out 4" from the trailer, and that the trailer is 28" edge to edge. So to meaningfully grasp a ball and extract it from your own trailer, you might need to reach out about 18-20" (I'm sure this can be optimized down a bit with careful design) That leaves about 20" (of the 38") to build your robot.

So, it could be done. It would probably be easier to descore them from one of your alliance member's trailers, however, as you wouldn't need to account for the trailer hitch.

I would place 50-50 odds on there being a "no descoring" rule clarification on the Q&A forum this week.... but only 50-50 as the GDC may feel that the size limitations are already sufficient disincentive for this strategy.

Jason

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

According to drawing GE-09009a, the tongue will protrude about ten inches from the trailer.

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

So basically, trailer + tongue will be equal to 38 inches total. It's possible (but difficult) to grab a ball out of your own trailer, provided they've rolled around to the back. It's pretty much impossible to block your trailer from being scored in.

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the bumper zone is your robot's bumpers, and not the trailer's bumpers, but if there is something that I didn't catch, go ahead and correct me.

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

I think even if somebody figures out how to eject balls from a trailer, they will still be counted. I say this because, in the rules it says if a trailer tips over and the balls are lost, however many there were in there at that time, before it tipped, are still scored.

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

Sorry i'm on hold with Walmart trying to get more of those orbit balls haha...
little bored so i have to add...
What if you were to, say, direct a current of air at your trailer?

Re: Removing game pieces from Trailers
 

I have to ask, So your saying that we can't "reach" (ie outside of size limits), Right?

Or are u saying a "dumptruck" type design, even provided it fits while "dumping" would be out because of possible contact?