[ColleenShaver]

To offer my interpretation of what would be the answer to Kyle's last question... if a robot is tipped over, the team righting it wouldn't matter. Just as they say the tipping rule applies even when a robot can right itself, I would guess that it implies in any situation even if the robot ends up righted.

You have to look that in most situations, the two robots involved in a tipping occurance are both actively pursuing each other. I believe the intent of the rule is to prevent/discourage deliberate actions to tip a stationary or retreating robot over. Many of the tips in off season competitions occur when both robots are in motion at one another, and often top heavy robots end up on the lower half of that meeting.

But there were at least a couple incidents I saw at off-seasons were a stationary robot was wedged under and tipped or a robot driving the other way was chased, caught, and eventually tipped. These clarifications, as I interpret them, are to prevent these occurances and what could be considered malicious or 'brutal' tipping.

And just as other years, there will be a very qualified group of refs with FIRST experience. I'm sure we can count on very consistent calling of all rules and a fair event for all.

Looking forward to it.