https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9PvIsZL4cg
Nuff said in that video alone...So can I Al. "Multi-Auto Boulder Game Will Be Confirmed!" (Unless of course the GDC says it isn't so).
If there is a will, and a will to take the risk if paying rewards exist, there is always a way to succeed.
While last years 2015 Recycle Rush rules have nothing to do with 2016 Stronghold Rules or Game...It's Already proven by last years multi-string wire/cable connected units, that anything connected to a robot is considered 1 robot (Unless of course it is someone else's robot that just reached inside your frame perimeter). Technical FOUL! (Batman, Robin & Alfred come immediately to mind...And I'm not talking about the foul part).
Robot defined by the 2016 Stronghold Game Rules:
"ROBOT an electromechanical assembly built by an FIRST Robotics Competition Team to perform specific tasks when competing in FIRST STRONGHOLD. It includes all of the basic systems required to be an active participant in the game: power, communications, control, and movement. The implementation must obviously follow a design approach intended to play FIRST STRONGHOLD (e.g. a box of unassembled parts placed on the FIELD or a ROBOT designed to play a different game would not satisfy this definition)"
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That manipulator is attached to that robot & is a part of that assembly isn't it? Is it performing a task for that ROBOT? If so, then it cannot enter the volume above that midline during Auto according to G13: (Got to just love the unlucky numbering of that rule if 1 tends to be even a wee bit superstitous! LOL.)
Woe is to those poor daring souls who tempt fate & risk it all to perform above and beyond in the Auto mission, and do fail (by entering that forbidden zone, or worse, enters it and touches an opposing robot on the other side at the same time), by points added to the opposing Alliance.
Yes the risks are huuuuge! And the rewards are great. (Huh, WHAAAAAT!?...It isn't a TECH Foul though?? Just a simple Foul, and a further robot touch an additional simple Foul? you suffer 2 penalties=Net zero if you make the shot? And you don't even lose the resulting shot if made.....WOW!
Do the math. Auto Boulder worth 10 Points Each in Top Goal....Foul adds how many points to the opponents score? You say 5 points =Net gain, loss or tie? Risk vs. Rewards....Boulders on Midline value in Auto 2016 = Original Litter value in 2015?). I'LL TAKE ALL 6 PLEASE...One perfectly placed boulder at a time. Math is SOO GOOOOOOD.
I can already hear some begging, "errr lobbying" heavily next week, for the Auto Period to be increased with 6 available boulders out there on the oh, so dangerous MIDLINE. The math and the risk takers thinking outside the box just demands it!
Hint: Now, if you know someone is going for a multi-boulder auto, and you are on the opposing alliance and are NOT, a better strategy would be to simply add a delay of time to your auto mode programming of any possible movements toward crossing and shooting or delivering until a wee bit later (rather than earlier in the auto period). Nothing anti-GP about making the risks greater for the opponent by doing absolutely nothing for a wee bit longer. Just to watch em' sweat, of course still attempting and making yours, just not as early in the period.
3.4.4 AUTO Rules
G13 During AUTO, ROBOTS may not enter the volume above the MIDLINE. Violation: FOUL. If contact is made with an opponent ROBOT beyond the MIDLINE, an additional FOUL is assessed and the opponent ROBOT is immediately awarded the CROSSING of the closest DEFENSE from the point of contact.
MIDLINE DEFINED:
MIDLINE a line of 2 in. white gaffers tape that bisects the length of the FIELD
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The hunt to copy and quote of which leads to another question:
Saw the following (asking the question based on the exact terminology used in the rule, not attempting to lawyer it, just was curious on the exact wording and curious as to the answer that would be given by the GDC if asked). For just discussion, what say the parties here on CD?
G26 At any given time, only one (1) ROBOT may contact the carpet or BATTER inside their COURTYARD. Violation: FOUL. For every five (5) seconds in which the situation is not corrected, TECH FOUL
The question: (Given that they are talking about say Blue Alliance entering their own COURTYARD to play defense and defend their Tower and Castle against the dastardly attacking RED Alliance, and not the other Courtyard of The Dastardly Red Alliance, The Blue Alliance are actually attacking...Or, vice versa).
Does that actually mean that 1 Blue Robot could be on the BATTER of The Blue Tower, and 1 Blue Robot could be on the carpet of the Blue Courtyard at the same exact time, as long as they do not actually both occupy (contact), either The Batter or The Carpet at the same exact time? (Otherwise, they could have just written the rule as simply "Only 1 Robot can enter or occupy their own Courtyard at a time to defend or play defense against the attacking alliance" or the addition of 1 word "either" between the words "contact" & "the"). Since you cannot get to the Batter without entering the Courtyard.
Just more food for thought.
It would be quite easy to play tag team (one parked on the batter in front of a low goal & one on the carpet running circles around an attacking bot in active defense). You couldn't tag team Batter to Carpet, Carpet to Batter (as that would require both bots at some point (contacting), batter or carpet at the same time...But, you could Courtyard to Secret Passage, Batter to Courtyard Carpet, and back to Batter/Courtyard. Either way 2 bots would still be in their own Courtyard at the same time playing defense against an attacking alliance.
Only the GDC knows the answer. But, someone actually playing the game would have to ask the question(s). (The use of the word "or" in both letter & spirit of the rule may just mean simply the same as "either." Or, it may not.