Quote:
Originally Posted by JB987
Eric,
Doesn't look like T25 allows us to bring "special equipment" to retrieve our minibots from the pole:
<T25> The only equipment that may be brought on to the ARENA is the OPERATOR CONSOLE,
reasonable decorative items, and special clothing and/or equipment required due to a
disability. Other items, particularly those intended to provide a competitive advantage for
the TEAM, are prohibited.
Granted, I don't see what competitive advantage a pole to retrieve a robot provides  |
There is a way to get around it: make the device part of the robot or the operator console. (Obviously the robot isn't "equipment", because if it were, you couldn't bring it on the field; the console is equipment, but exempt.)
The part can be detachable, if you like. What's more, you arguably don't even have to have it attached to the rest of the robot during the match—its a modular component that you chose not to install during gameplay. (Just make sure to get it inspected as necessary; it would count toward weight.)
(Making it part of the robot is a standard solution to having an alignment device. In that case, it's a bit of a grey area whether those can be non-installed parts of the robot at the time of use. In this case, given the relative lack of ways to penalize you for it—because use occurs after the match—it's pretty much moot. Note that "moot" is distinct from "strictly legal"....)
An alternative is to ask the Q&A; they'll probably end up amending the rules to allow unpowered retrieval devices anyway.