Quote:
Originally Posted by mrnoble
I'm worried. I see a lot of posts from folks who are misinterpreting the rules, and I'm worried that we'll see a host of unusable robots at the regionals. Yes, there is need for clarification from QA about whether the airspace directly above the tops of each rung constitutes a new zone, but I think the clear intention of the rules is that we find a solution that only allows us to touch (or exist in) two zones at a time. We therefore can't slide up the rungs, or use a hooked conveyor belt, or ski up them. Clearly, it would be much easier if you could balance on two rungs as you reach for a third, but you can't. you will have to freely swing from each rung as you try grasp the next one up.
Not trying to be a party pooper. I really do want to see some cool solutions, but I have been to enough events to have seen the heartbreak of teams who misread the rules, and have to play defense as a fallback, or completely rebuild on game day.  |
Touch and "exist in" are not synonyms. The sequential & simultaneous contact rules are about just that (contact). Whether the airspace above the rung constitutes the next level (which it does) is immaterial for this purpose, because contact is based on the steel, not the air. Skiing, driving, hooking, etc are only illegal if they contact the steel in the next level before losing contact with n-2. I don't see anything in these posts that indicated teams don't understand this?