[Raul]

I have a suggestion for making it easier for the refs and participants to judge if they will be legal or not. This may take a little extra time during inspection, though:

Set up a small loading zone area next to the weigh in stations (1 HDPE triangle against a mock barrier and/or auto loader station) and "certify" each robot as they pass inspections to let them know what orientations of approaching the loading zone will be considered legal. Then create a card that the teams show to the refs who judge this area of the game so they will know they do not have to stoop over every single time that robot comes to the loading zone if it approaches the zone in it certified orientation and or direction.

OK, that may be too much to ask. But consider this - I think the refs will get to know the robots after a while and will not have to look so carefully to make the call every time. I am more concerned about the "which happened first" than the "are they touching at all".

For us, we know we are not capable of touching the tetra on the autoloader unless our drive wheel (which are very visible this year) are on top of the HDPE. By design, there is at least a 10" gap from the the time the wheel touches and the time we touch the tetra. And we like to do the pick up rather quickly. But unless the refs sees us go slowly a few times, it may seem like we are touching the tetra first.

Raul