G22 Direction of Traffic Hilarity

[Kevin Sevcik]

I expect this to be addressed in the first Update, but G22 has a fun loophole. You're only penalized for breaking the plane of a field line if you've already CROSSED the line. You haven't CROSSED the line until you've gone over it counter-clockwise. So if you didn't need to care about scoring, you could run around the field backwards all match without any penalties.

[jgannon]

Ah, that is fun! I agree that this will probably be addressed in the first update, but it is potentially a useful strategy. In a number of other threads, there have been discussions about the legalities associated with descoring. If you played clockwise defense, you wouldn't have any problems with <G22> while descoring (though <G36> would still be a problem). Any chance this is intentional?

[Jon K.]

Therefore allowing the descoring of track balls and not interfering with the opposing alliances home stretch and also allowing for a little bit of defense.

[Ragnarokae]

I agree that FIRST will update this, mainly because the first sentence of <G22> (ROBOTS must proceed around the TRACK in a counter-clockwise
direction) says "must." BUT, it doesn't say anything about a penalty.

[Vikesrock]

The rule does not mention which direction the line must be crossed in (to count as "crossed")so I believe you could only drive in one circle clockwise with the rule as it stands.

[Ragnarokae]

<G22> Direction Of Traffic – ROBOTS must proceed around the TRACK in a counter-clockwise direction. Once a ROBOT has CROSSED a LANE MARKER or FINISH LINE, it shall not break the plane of the line by moving in the clockwise direction. A PENALTY will be assigned for each infraction.

You can only go clockwise in the quarter of the arena that you are currently in.

And you are penalized if you cross a line going clockwise.

To my great disappointment, I don't think that there is a loophole.

[Vikesrock]

The loophole occurs when you attempt to go clockwise over a line you have not yet crossed. According to the way this is written it would not be a penalty.

Originally Posted by Ragnarokae

<G22> Direction Of Traffic – ROBOTS must proceed around the TRACK in a counter-clockwise direction. Once a ROBOT has CROSSED a LANE MARKER or FINISH LINE, it shall not break the plane of the line by moving in the clockwise direction. A PENALTY will be assigned for each infraction.

You can only go clockwise in the quarter of the arena that you are currently in.

And you are penalized if you cross a line going clockwise.

To my great disappointment, I don't think that there is a loophole.

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

The rule does not mention which direction the line must be crossed in (to count as "crossed")so I believe you could only drive in one circle clockwise with the rule as it stands.

The relevant sections:

CROSSING: The act of a TRCKBALL or ROBOT passing through the plane defined by a line (i.e. LANE MARKER or FINISH LINE) when it is projected vertically upwards. A TRACKBALL or ROBOT shall have CROSSED a line when all parts of the object, while traveling in a counterclockwise direction, have completely passed through the plane.

<G22> Direction Of Traffic – ROBOTS must proceed around the TRACK in a counter-clockwise direction. Once a ROBOT has CROSSED a LANE MARKER or FINISH LINE, it shall not break the plane of the line by moving in the clockwise direction. A PENALTY will be assigned for each infraction.

So you haven't CROSSED a line in Overdrive-speak unless you went over it in the anti-clockwise direction. So if you're always travelling anti-clockwise dodging the oncoming traffic, then you don't get penalized. Again, I think this is a quirk of this early rules revision, soon to be clarified into irrelevance. If I'm proven wrong and it remains legal, though, I think I get naming rights for this strategy. I'm thinking the Kevin Gambit.....

[Vikesrock]

I stand corrected! Thanks. I am also in agreement that this will be corrected.

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

The relevant sections:So you haven't CROSSED a line in Overdrive-speak unless you went over it in the anti-clockwise direction. So if you're always travelling anti-clockwise dodging the oncoming traffic, then you don't get penalized. Again, I think this is a quirk of this early rules revision, soon to be clarified into irrelevance. If I'm proven wrong and it remains legal, though, I think I get naming rights for this strategy. I'm thinking the Kevin Gambit.....

[Richard Wallace]

To quote Tom and Ray from the popular NPR show Car Talk, "don't drive like my brother!"

I think this loophole will be closed.

[GaryVoshol]

Since it could lead to unsafe high-speed head-on collisions, I'd call it egregious behavior. Yellow card at the least, possible disable/dq.

[Koko Ed]

You'll see teams get cutesy about it and go back to squeeze any dominant robot.
Someone always has to test the rules.

[LordTalps]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

I expect this to be addressed in the first Update, but G22 has a fun loophole. You're only penalized for breaking the plane of a field line if you've already CROSSED the line. You haven't CROSSED the line until you've gone over it counter-clockwise. So if you didn't need to care about scoring, you could run around the field backwards all match without any penalties.

edit: nm.

[I'mbored.]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

I expect this to be addressed in the first Update, but G22 has a fun loophole. You're only penalized for breaking the plane of a field line if you've already CROSSED the line. You haven't CROSSED the line until you've gone over it counter-clockwise. So if you didn't need to care about scoring, you could run around the field backwards all match without any penalties.

I'm may a bit of a noob but it does say in the rules no LAWYERING they do their best to make it so that people don't go against the intented rules of the game. It's kind of against the whole spirit of FIRST to exploit every loop hole you find....