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Originally Posted by Tristan Lall
Another way to mitigate the issues with teams who need more time before their first match is to formally sanction the idea of letting a team temporarily disable an illegal component, rather than totally removing it. (This sometimes comes up as a solution for teams that have illegal motors installed, but can't get them off without missing a match; strictly speaking, it's still illegal, but there's not too much harm in letting them disable it and fix it properly during the first evening in the pits.) By giving formal guidance on the degree of leeway permitted here, it will encourage that as an option for inspectors, because they can be sure that everyone is aware that this is a FIRST-sanctioned resolution, rather than an ad hoc decision (that might not have been permitted at another event).
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I like this idea--I've seen multiple teams over the years who've had one problem that held them back (even inspected a couple). Let's try to see if it could work...
Redateam has an illegal pneumatics system powering their arm, but otherwise makes weight, size, and all of the other rules. (I do believe that weight and size must be absolute.) Redateam's inspector can issue a decision I'll dub a Pass-But. The Pass-But entails one or more stipulations on items that must be disabled on the robot, either by disconnected wires or tubing, a physical lockout, or some other method satisfactory to the inspector. These teams, what must be disabled, and how they must be disabled (to enable easy checking) would be noted at the inspection desk alongside the current inspection board.
Once qualification rounds begin, one (or two, if you want to divide by alliances) inspector is posted fieldside with a list of teams operating under a Pass-But. This inspector's job is to ensure that teams in the queue are satisfying the conditions of their Pass-But. For Redateam, that's ensuring they have disconnected power to their pneumatics system before they take the field, both to ensure Redateam is playing by the rules and to make sure they didn't just forget while working on their robot. (We do, after all, want Redateam working on the system between matches to clear the Pass-But.)
Now, the question of enforcement on the field is a trickier one. Clearly, a team that uses a feature that is supposed to be disabled under a Pass-But would be out of compliance with the rules. G16 seems to have the closest parallel this year:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by G16
<G16>ROBOT Size -Each ROBOT shall not exceed the maximum weight or volume specified in Rule <R11>. The Head Referee may call for an inspector's recertification of the ROBOT size and weight prior to the start of any MATCH. ROBOTS determined to be in violation prior to the start of a MATCH will be prohibited from participating in the MATCH. Any
ROBOT determined to be in violation during a MATCH will be assigned a PENALTY and will receive a YELLOW CARD (see Rule <S04>).
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If the violation resulted in a material change in the match's outcome (e.g. going from having the arm spontaneously operate out in the middle of the field to having it miraculously operate to block an opposing arm from scoring its doohickey), I'd have no qualms upping the penalty to a plain red card.
I do believe it's doable and could get a lot of teams out of a bind until they can sort out their (relatively) smaller issues. Thoughts?