Thread: Velcro tread
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Unread 18-09-2014, 23:04
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FRC #1197 (Torbots)
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Re: Velcro tread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Hill View Post
This isn't an issue of safety though...it's a completely different thing.
Just to run this to ridiculous...

Suppose two higher-CG robots are in a pushing match. Neither has Velcro tread--but in a previous match, a robot with Velcro tread got into a pushing match and shredded the carpet near that area--but, due to the nature of Velcro damage, it wasn't spotted and covered. Now, suppose that one robot is winning already... and then the other hits the slick area left by the Velcro-bot and loses traction. The pushing robot now takes a huge power advantage, slams the pushee right through the slick area and to the wall, inadvertently getting under their bumpers and sending them over the wall into the nearest volunteer who doesn't have a chance to get out of the way. Is it still not a safety issue?


Part of any competition environment has to be that the playing area has to be kept as consistent as possible (unless the inconsistencies are specifically noted in the rules, etc., or otherwise accounted for). If the field (generic) is constantly getting extra wear due to one player, all matches after that player are getting an inconsistent playing area unless the grounds crew got in.



And you still haven't answered this: Velcro attaches to the field, which is specifically disallowed in the game rules. The head ref just sent the robot back to the LRI to get that fixed (even with NO damage to the field whatsoever, as determined by the Field Supervisor, the FTA, and the Head Referee). Can the LRI send the robot back out with no changes? Yes. Can the head ref immediately disable the robot prior to the match? Yes, and he most likely will.
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