[jamie_1930]

Originally Posted by Ken Leung

Here is the key of the issue.

Let's say the opponent is designed such that it is very difficult to trip their robot over, on or off the bump. Let's say their robot was tipped over after engaging in a pushing match with your robot on the bump. Is it considered a penalty if:

1. The tipping resulted from accidental contacts between the two robots.
2. The tipping resulted from bumper to bumper interactions between the two robots.
3. The tipping resulted from aggressive maneuvers from your robot.

Ok, second scenario.

Let's say the opponent is designed such that it is very easy tip their robot over on the bump (a slight touch would do). Let's say their robot was tipped over after engaging in a pushing match with your robot on the bump. Is it considered a penalty if:

1. The tipping resulted from accidental contacts between the two robots.
2. The tipping resulted from bumper to bumper interactions between the two robots.
3. The tipping resulted from aggressive maneuvers from your robot.


To me, the opponent must bear some responsibility in designing their robot such that when they are crossing the bump, they cannot be tipped easily. Otherwise, no one will dare doing any sort of defense on the bump. If any actions that lead to a tipped robot also lead to a penalty, regardless of the situation, I am just going to let the opponent cross the bump.

There is no merit to the differences between these scenarios, for this argument, strategy aimed at tipping your opponents are illegal and incur a yellow card under the violation of rule <G36>. The differences you've presented are whether or not the opponents robot is properly engineered to be as stable as possible or it is easily tippable. In the cases of accidental collisions it would be accidental and would incur no penalty. Although it does not matter whether the interaction was within the legal bumper zone or it was not purposefully tipping you opponents is an illegal action. Also aggressive actions would be considered purposeful and will incur a penalty.

For the actions you've presented on playing defense to a robot on a bump the best action, on your part, would be to stand in the opposing robots way, and push back with your robot as fit to prevent their forward movement. With this you should be able to prevent tipping on both sides, and if tipping does occur, in my opinion under these circumstances it would be considered accidental and therefore legal.