[Daniel_LaFleur]

This year was by far the most brutal competition I have seen in FIRST. Pushing is fine, but high speed ramming was explicitly spelled out in the rules as a foul, and at the BAE GSR is was ignored by the refs repeatedly. When video evidence was brought to the refs of repeated high speed ramming, they would not look at it.

When we were lined up to shoot one time we were rammed by 2 robots going full speed, they pushed us up the ramp and rolled us (this, while brutal, is part of the game and I have no problems with it). They then again rammed us on our turret to push us out of the way of the ramp so as to be able to climb the ramp (again, brutal, but ok). Then rammed us 2 more times on the turret just for good measure. This was in the semifinals, 2nd match. Seems to me that the high speed ramming rules were being ignored. The only thing I can say is that it was the same for all teams. 1 large CIM motor with a bent shaft was the only damage.

Lesson learned ... make sure your robot can withstand impacts even in areas you wouldnt expect and do not assume all rules will be enforced.