Originally Posted by EricH (Post 998538)

Last year's rules don't apply this year... but last year, multiple balls scored after the buzzer, simply because they were in motion.

There are two ways to look at this, and both have valid points. That's why it's one for Q&A.

boomer, I'll answer as best I can.
1) Nope, unless it's pinning.
2) Depends on maneuvering. If it clearly has the opportunity to try to exit and does not, then penalties would probably be thrown. However, if it's getting pushed around by the offense robot who is trying to score over it, no penalty (again, it's being forced into the situation). If you're the defense robot in this position, you need to be attempting to get out if you can. If you're not, the refs would probably be justified in throwing a penalty.

Originally Posted by CodeMonkeyMatt (Post 998578)

The Q&A's up to post questions, but I'm a little confused. I saw about 6 questions in there earlier today, but now there's only 2, and there's no posts in the answered part of it. This is the first year (sadly) that we've been focusing enough on the rules to use the Q&A, so if someone with more experience could tell me if that's normal, I'd appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Vikesrock (Post 998587)

In previous years questions posted by teams were not visible until they were answered.

Originally Posted by EricH (Post 998029)

1) Minibots at the top of the pole: Do they have to stay there until after the match, or can they slide down during/after the match under their own power or via gravity to make retrieval easier?

2) Are you allowed to move your own tubes, other than ubertubes, around after they are in scoring position?

3) If a minibot is moving upwards at the end of a match, does it still get the 10 seconds to finish for points?

4) Assuming an NXT is used, are the internal batteries allowed power sources?

5) Wiring rules/conventions/schematics for Minibot--where are they, if there are any?

6) What methods are acceptable for removing the Minibot from the post? For example, could it drive itself down autonomously? Could someone bring a long pole out and activate something on the robot to make it come down?

7) For determination of "above the line" during deployment, is the top of the Minibot supposed to be below the line, or just the hostbot device?

8) Pneumatics rules are unclear: How many and what type of a) storage tanks, b) cylinders, and c) other pneumatic actuators are allowed to be used on a robot?

9) Can a tube intentionally be placed over the minibot tower?

10) Who records the coopertition points? How does anyone know if a scoring minibot has been loaned by another team?

11) Does <R14> have any exemptions for fastener heads?

12) What are the exceptions for objects/manipulators passing through the Bumper Zone?:

a) Is it legal for an arm to enter the bumper zone and not be protected by bumpers?

b) Assuming (a) is legal, what if the object entering the bumper zone is not intended to manipulate a game piece (ex. wheels to support a larger structure which deploys from the starting configuration at some point during the match)?

Originally Posted by EricH (Post 999892)

The GDC has only answered 3 questions at this point in time ...

Originally Posted by goldenglove002 (Post 993722)

This question came up earlier today, I don't think a conclusion was made.

Is there a limit to how many minibots can be deployed by one robot?

Originally Posted by SAMBURGER (Post 999910)

The rules say nothing about how many you can carry, but you may only DEPLOY one of them. And even if you could, you only have two alliance towers, and three robots, as well as only ten seconds in the end game. So, unless both your alliance members can't deploy, the rules say you can deploy more than one, and you think that 10 seconds is enough time to deploy two, I don't see why you couldn't.

Originally Posted by DBortnick (Post 1000836)

According to <G32>: Neither ROBOTS, HOSTBOTS, nor MINIBOTS may break the planes of the vertically projected borders of the opponent's ZONES.

It goes on to say: "<G32> allows ROBOTS to complete HANGING a GAME PIECE, as designed, without being hindered."

My question is this, the ZONES are 84" long, the maximum length your robot could have at any given time is 84" long. However, the ends of the scoring pegs are 16" away from the wall. If my robot is fully extended at roughly 84" and I am trying to place a piece on the end of a peg then 16" of my robot will be extending out into the Caution Zone.

Is my robot still protected from opposing robots if ANY part of my robot is out of my zone?