[Swan217]

Originally Posted by Chris Hibner

I have a REALLY big problem with this rule interpretation - especially coming this late.

If FIRST wants to make this type of interpretation, they need to do it at the beginning of the process - not once the robot is built and ready to ship.

This interpretation isn't going to help anybody. It's an overbearing limitation for the INTENT, which Chris is right in saying is so that the people on the field don't get hurt.

And nobody thinks about how the referees are hurt by this rule as well. As a ref, I REALLY don't feel like getting down on hands and knees to decide whether a tie wrap is touching the triangle. It is a distraction from other more important things the refs need to be looking for, and may even be more dangerous. "Well, the wheels are straddling the edges of the triangle, but that wire hanging down is touching it, but it's not within the 38"X28" dime-----" ::WHAM! Gets clobbered by arm while looking at wheels::

As a ref, I would like to say, "That robot's base is close enough to the loader. I don't care what is touching where, just as long as the arm doesn't fall over and kill me, like it nearly did LAST year."