For clarification's sake, what will be the requirement for preloading auto balls with 4 of them? As per the official FRC rule <G05>, each of the three balls correspond to a particular robot/team:
Quote:
G5
For ROBOTS starting in the white ZONE, the TEAM may preload one (1) of their ALLIANCE’s BALLS such that the BALL is touching their ROBOT.
For ROBOTS starting in their GOALIE ZONE the TEAM may decide if the BALL is: staged between the TRUSS and the ZONE LINE and not contacting an ALLIANCE partner, or removed from the FIELD for the MATCH.
If a ROBOT does not report to a MATCH, its ALLIANCE may decide if the BALL is: staged between the TRUSS and the ZONE LINE and not contacting an ALLIANCE partner, or removed from the FIELD for the MATCH.
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Are three of the balls still subject to the stated rule? Can the fourth one be in possession of a robot that already has a ball, or must it be placed in the white zone not contacting a robot?
Depending on the interpretation of the changed rule, I could easily see the dominant autonomous strategies being slightly altered. Would 2 robots each possessing two balls to start and a goalie bot be legal? Would 2 robots, each possessing one ball with a second next to it on the carpet not in contact with a robot and a third goalie bot be legal? Would one robot be able to pre-load 2 balls, while the other must have a ball placed on the carpet not in contact with it while the third robot sets up in the goalie zone?
Basically are there still restrictions regarding the preloading/placement of balls and if so, how is the additional ball handled given that there is now 1 more ball than robot on the field per alliance? The answer to these questions could have significant impact on how teams prepare their auto routines for IRI.