[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by evanperryg

I think the "transportation configuration" rules of last season could hold precedent. Teams like 1114 and 1241 had transportation configurations that were not the same orientation on the field, yet were not penalized for size violations, because they could still fit into the box. However, sizing rules were very different last year. In 2013 and 2014, where the same frame perimeter rule was imposed, I don't recall there ever being an instance of the issue you describe, although there probably wasn't an instance where that issue could have occurred.

Those rules do not apply this year. Instead, parse these rules:

G7 When placed on the FIELD for a MATCH, each ROBOT must be:
D. confined to its STARTING CONFIGURATION,

STARTING CONFIGURATION
the physical configuration and orientation of the ROBOT when the MATCH is started.This is the state of the ROBOT immediately before being Enabled by the FieldManagement System, before the ROBOT takes any actions, deploys any mechanisms,or moves away from the starting location. This configuration is static, and does not change during a single MATCH (although it may change from MATCH to MATCH). In the STARTING CONFIGURATION, no part of the ROBOT may extend outside the vertical projection of the FRAME PERIMETER, with the exception of minor protrusions such as bolt heads, fastener ends, rivets, etc.

R3 The ROBOT must satisfy the following size constraints:
A. total length of the FRAME PERIMETER sides must not exceed 120 in. (see Figure 4-1 for examples),
B. must not extend greater than 15 in. beyond the FRAME PERIMETER (see Figure 4-2 for examples) (see G18), and
C. ROBOT STARTING CONFIGURATION height must not exceed 54 in. (note that ROBOT height may exceed this limit in-MATCH as allowed by G17).

R22 BUMPERS must be located entirely within the BUMPER ZONE, which is the volume contained between two virtual horizontal planes, 4 in. above the floor and 12 in. above the floor, in reference to the ROBOT standing normally on a flat floor. BUMPERS do not have to be parallel to the floor.

In my opinion the combination of these rules prevents any "flop bots".