[EricH]

We've gone into the "zipties are a load-bearing surface" argument from 2005. If you have to lawyer the rules that much to show that a given arrangement is incompatible with the rules, you're probably going too far in. Common sense interpretation, anyone? (Oh. Wait. This is the FRC GDC we're talking about. Define grapple, please. Oh, and while you're at it--what would a reasonably astute observer think on seeing this picture? Obviously, two different things from two different observers.)

The refs called it balanced. That I disagree with--the bridge is not balanced because there's a third robot in contact with it (and it's not an opposing robot on an alliance bridge, which would make this entire discussion a moot point). However, lacking any evidence that one of the robots on the bridge is in fact in contact with, let alone supported by, the robot not on the bridge, that's 1 CP per alliance.

P.S. Tristan, I fail to see how the load, from 3743, is transferred to the bridge via 488 while 488 is on top of 3743. You're dealing with frictional forces, maybe--but if there isn't any motion, friction is a moot point, as whatever frictional force is available is more than enough to stop any impending acceleration.