Quote:
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Originally Posted by Aidan F. Browne
You may only remove a Bonus Ball by using a mechanism that protrudes through the Ball Tee Frame - not around it. (i.e., not from the left, right, or top)
The intent of this is twofold - as a safety rule and to protect the fragile components of the tee frame (sensors and lights).
Aidan |
Aidan,
Here's where the rule is fuzzy to me, and I would like your "insider" interpretation.
(BTW, I have seen this happen at competitions this year):
A robot starts heading toward the 10 pt bonus ball. The robot extends a small flexible arm off of the side of it's robot. This arm extends beyond the field boundaries. As the robot drives by the Vertical Pipe Structure (VPS), the VPS causes the flexible arm to bend (forcing the arm to go out of the way of the VPS). Once the robot clears the VPS, the flexible arm snaps back and then removes the bonus ball (now the arm is within the VPS).
Here is why the rule is fuzzy:
Rule: "ROBOT mechanisms used to remove the BONUS BALLS may extend beyond the playing field border
as long as they are within the vertical pipe structure surrounding the BALL TEES. If a BONUS BALL is removed from the BALL TEE by a ROBOT that violates this rule, a 25 point penalty will be deducted from that alliance’s final score. "
1) The mechanism
does extend beyond the playing field border (outside of the vertical pipe structure).
2) The mechanism
is used to remove the bonus ball.
(here's the tricky part)
3) When the bonus ball is being removed, the mechanism is within the vertical pipe structure.
Here is what is not clear: The rule states that the mechanism may not extend beyone the playing field border unless it is within the vertical pipe structure. Does that mean: a) it can NEVER extend beyond the field border; or b) it can extend beyond the field border, just as long as it is within the vertical pipe structure while removing the ball.
Lastly, does the mechanism I describe above violate the rule of not designing a mechanism to purposely react off of the playing field border (because this mechanism uses the vertical pipe structure to deflect the little flexible arm.
To be honest, if teams use the flexible arm mechanism, I don't care all that much, but I would like to know your opinion.