[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by KarenH

They called it at the Arizona Regional.

<snip>

But with a robot in competition, losing pieces isn't usually much of a hazard except to the robot. I wonder if FIRST was trying to get teams to build more robust robots (as if teams would intentionally build a weak robot), or if this is just another example of a rule that does not have optimum phrasing.

Or maybe it's part of their attempt to be "green"--the FIRST version of anti-littering laws?

<R16> During normal operation no part of the ROBOT shall extend outside the vertical projection of the FRAME PERIMETER, except as permitted by Rule <G30>.
(Emphasis on "normal operation" is mine.)

I think the intent is to prevent robots from having mechanisms that can intentionally extend beyond the FRAME PERIMETER to gain advantage (ball manipulation, impeding robots, etc.). Teams probably would not choose to deflect soccer balls by leaving robot parts on the field.

BTW, I didn't find anything in Q&A regarding this call. Unfortunately, I don't have the energy tonight to ask GDC the question properly.