Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Ross
A reasonably astute observer would watch 118 remove their robot after the match without releasing anything, as they did in their video. Then the reasonably astute observer would come to the conclusion that they aren't attached.
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I don't know. Is a grappling hook attached to the castle walls? No, if you mean, do you need to release a latch or a mechanism to remove it. But I think the common man test (aka the reasonably astute observer test) would say they've attached to the rail.
I think FIRST was remiss in not giving a clear answer when they had a chance but after 15 years of doing FRC, I can tell you that there is nothing new here. FIRST sometimes makes bonehead rulings or as in this case passes on making a tough ruling early and then makes it later.
I know it is difficult for us to understand, and frankly, the folks at FIRST are scratching their heads too at what they have done (how did we get to this point?). FIRST is like all human institutions: Flawed it the DNA level.
AND YET... ...for all their flaws (cough, control system complexity, cough) FIRST has put together a system that is "fair enough." I am sorry to those teams that lost out. I wish it were otherwise. But a perfect system is not on offer.
Yes, let's seek to do better next year. But let's not lose site of the larger picture. If watching the Alamo is any indication, the GDC has done an amazing job. The elims in TX were about as exciting as one could have hoped for.
Joe J.