[EricH]

Originally Posted by Fusion_Clint

It is legal or not? Without clear rules to the contrary, if the refs decide to penalize a team because it inconveniences them because it makes them answer questions from the crowd (like that happens); then that is against the intent of Franks message here http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...hes-resolution

I agree.

But let me ask one simple question. Let's assume that you see a ramp, on the far side of the field from your team, with no apparent tether to its parent robot. What is your assumption, and how does that affect your experience?

Now, I know in FRC, many people (like you and me) will go "Oh, they found something hard to see as a tether" and go ask the team questions, and learn something new. But others (I make no assumptions on actual involvement level) will probably assume that the team is being allowed to slide past the rules, and the logical conclusion from that (flawed) assumption is that teams are getting away with cheating (I'm assuming, that they don't go talk to the team in question, or the officials, for some reason). Does that help their team experience?

I submit that it doesn't help that individual's team's experience, partly due to "one sour apple". And there's nothing the officials can do about it if the team doesn't ask questions to clarify. That's a shame.

So by making a somewhat visible tether even more visible, you actually improve the team experience, without the various officials getting involved at all. Just a thought. (And it helps the refs out--see tether, know that tether is/isn't wrapped around tote/robot/container, makes it easier to score--and makes it much easier to avoid getting snagged after the match if it's misbehaving.)

BTW, 80LB power pro, does not snap unless you have a serious fish on the line, a 120 LB robot doesn't stand a chance.

Just out of curiosity, how well does it do when run over by mecanum wheels or inadvertently snagged in a drivetrain? Tensile strength and shear strength aren't entirely the same... I'm guessing you've run a couple of tests? I highly recommend doing a quick strength/snag test if one isn't sure of how a tether will hold up, if there's a robot available.