Quote:
Originally Posted by Tristan Lall
[T32] captures a policy that was enforced by FTAs previously, but not formally part of the tournament rules. It's also kind of a cop-out: if FIRST is providing teams with specifications, and they do a competent job of assembling the field, what's the problem with proving it? By all means restrict the measurements for logistical reasons (e.g. only during downtime, when a field crew member or official is present to observe, etc.), but don't deliberately keep teams guessing as to whether you screwed up, in ways that are very likely to be pertinent to gameplay. The rule should instead allow the head referee to override specifications in extenuating circumstances (i.e. irreparable damage to the field)—so FIRST still has its out if the field isn't quite right.
[T30] and 5.6.2 are pretty much unchanged (except for a correction to a 5-year-old error).
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Last year, in Seattle, our team just wanted to measure the heights of the pegs to set our PID properly for game piece placement. I was informed of this "guideline" then... I wasn't going to complain... I just wanted to set our robot up properly. I challenged this and asked to see the rule. Since there was none at that time... I went with the TSA's "guideline" but asked why. I think this year's change in the rules may have been a direct response to this.
I have always wondered why teams are held to real numbers and the field has a tolerance. I will give you an example. In our inspection at Portland this year our team was dinged for having an operator interface that was 3/32 too wide (we were 12 and 3/32) The team member who designed and made the interface had cut the end panels to 12" and had not taken into account the thickness of the sheets of aluminum outside the end panel.
I had not caught the change in this year's rules ...(a maximum size requirement for the operator interface...is in the rules...)
We were eventually allowed to compete...
I saw several other OI's during competition that were well over 12" so this allowance must have been extended to other teams... (or not caught)
I totally understand the length because of the short driver station this year. I am not sure why they instituted a rule on the width... it is the same width of shelf we have used for many years...
The problem is that the shelf and the width of the driver station for the field both have tolerance....but your operator interface does not...
It was interesting...