What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Update 1 has been released, answers many of the questions posed below, read before posting!

The Q&A forum opens tomorrow. I know a bunch of us have questions we want to ask the GDC.

Dump them here, and that way

A) If it's already answered in the manual definitively and you somehow missed it, someone can point that out, and;
B) People don't ask the GDC the same question twice, and;
C) People are made aware of questions they may not have realized they had!

Here are some from our team:

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

I'm curious about the legality of fans in all their configurations: vacuums, downforce generators, and as horizontal thrust producers.
-Do they count as traction-enhancers?
-Are they safety hazards?

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

I want to know if descoring is legal presuming that you still comply with the 28x38x60 rules.

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Descoring has never been in the spirit of FIRST, i doubt it will be legal even if you stay w/ in the dimensions.

-Keaton

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Assuming a trailer tips and game pieces fall out, can they be scored again? If not, would they have zero value, or would you be penalized for using them? How would you be able to keep track of game pieces that have fallen out of a tipped trailer.



(One of the things we've all been wondering.) In the event of a score of 0, will a numerical score by the opposing alliance count as 2x or 3x the 0 score, resulting in cell count modification? Is cell count modification based on pre-penalty or post-penalty scores?

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

you may find this thread of interest

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Thank you for that link, i guess someone understood my post even though my art was really messed up. That clears things up :D Well, not really since we'll still have to ask in the Q&A....

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

not only what was said before but 2007 had pieces that the ability to descore




as far as questions...

FANS
BLOCKING OWN TRAILER (or touching own trailer)

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Beging to differ:

2007: descoring via spoiler
2008: descoring by knocking a track ball off the overpass

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Huh?

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Per Gary's thread:

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

We will most likely ask if using a fan or vacumn for traction is allowed because yes it is another form of traction other than the wheels but it does not touch the ground :cool::cool: :cool:

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

See 25 in 2000, and any robot that knocked over stacks in 2003

On topic my questions are:

1) What happens to the trailer of a no-show robot

2) Will a penalty be assessed and if so, to whom, for an Empty Cell thrown into (on accident or on purpose) a robot hopper by a human player to a robot that already has possession of an Empty Cell?

3) What is the tolerance on the 2-13/16 height specification for the trailer hitch centerline?

4) In what matches will G-14 apply? If Alliance 1 beats alliance 8 in match two of Quarterfinals by 3x score, do they lose Empty/Super Cells in Match 1 of semis?

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

I have a question that perhaps someone here can answer. In the manual in years past it has stated that your maximum dimensions cannot exceed a certain amount. This year it gives a specific length and width. The rules say that your maximum length is 38 and your maximum width is 28. Does that mean no wide robots this year?

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Matt, see Team Update 1

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Will penalties assigned due to <G24> take into consideration the apparent intent of the pilots? For example, how should the following scenarios be ruled?

1. A robot driving around a field with many (90+) orbit balls bumps into 2 empty cells several times (but does not direct it towards airlock, visibly attempt to control its motion, etc.)
2. A robot possessing an empty cell drives around a field with many (90+) orbit balls and hits an empty cell several times (but does not direct it towards airlock, visibly attempt to control its motion, etc.)
3. The above two scenarios, except there are few (<10) orbit balls on the field
4. An opposing robot throws an empty cell onto a robot and it gets stuck. The robot then herds or possesses another empty cell
5. An opposing payload operator throws an empty cell onto a robot and it gets stuck. The robot then herds or possesses another empty cell.
6. In the course of a match, two empty cells get stuck on a robot by opposing robots/payload operators
7. A robot is driving past the opposing outpost when the payload operator quickly pushes two empty cells through the hole. The empty cells enter the robot's feed mechanism (assume that it was done fast enough that the robot could not have easily avoided given the low traction, pilots' reaction time and pilots' ability to see what is going on).
8. The above four scenarios, except allied robots/payload operators are causing the possible offenses.


I might think of a couple more examples, but I think you can see where I'm going with it.

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

What is the order of precedence between the Manual, the Q&A, and Bill's Blog?

I can't ask this (no account), but it would be great if someone else would.

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

The manual and updates are and always have been the ONLY official rules. The Q&A can be used as guidelines for inspectors or refs on the interpretation of rules and for making judgment calls. Bill's blog hasn't been done before. It isn't really official at all, nor does it publicly represent the entire GDC, but probably falls under the category of "input from GDC members" that head refs are allowed to use when making calls.

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

Understood. However, at times, it seems that Q&A is used to make the rules.

Also, it isn't "official writ" what the order of precedence is. FLL is quite clear as to theirs in their rules.

FRC, on the other hand, has the "traditional" order of precedence, which is exactly what you say. But this is nowhere formalized. The main thing is: Where does Bill's Blog fit in (i.e. equal to Q&A, lower than Q&A, etc.) and what is the relation of Q&A to the Official Rules as modified by the Updates (i.e. judiciary: constructionist or traditional?)?

Re: What questions will you ask in the Q&A?
 

I'm also very interested in the order of precedence esp with Bill's Blog.
I find his comment about vacuum systems enigmatic--it seems to imply that if you could design a vacuum system which would not damage the field it would be legal.
Both the vacuum question (Is a suction device which does not damage the field legal) and the order of precedence question need to be asked.