Important 80 inches!!!

[R.C.]

We went to the san diego regional and as we got inspected they checked for the 80 inch rule (marked down if over). There was like 10 teams that were over, but there was never a penalty during a match for the 80 inch. The inspection guy said that they just wanted to know if you're over 80. NO PENALTIES???? What is the ruling for this

[smurfgirl]

Originally Posted by Steve S.

I dont think those teams should of passed inspection if they were over 80 inches

Originally Posted by rc_cola1323

But they went over 80 inches, so is it going to be inforced? Yes i totally agree with the fact that they shouldn't pass inspection

Originally Posted by Laaba 80

I personally think that if you can extend outside 80in, you shouldnt pass inspection.
Joey

Just because your robot is physically capable of exceeding 80" doesn't mean that it will. Like many people have said, teams may have software in place that prevents it, or they may not use configurations exceeding 80" during gameplay. Why should they be punished for being capable of breaking the rules, even if they don't break the rules?

[BigJ]

The teams over 80 inches may have had software stops in order to stay in the envelope, and never exceeded.

[R.C.]

But they went over 80 inches, so is it going to be inforced? Yes i totally agree with the fact that they shouldn't pass inspection

[IndySam]

I have seen teams both live and on video that I know were over 80" when fully extended but the only time I have seen it called is when a robot has fallen over.

I think the refs need to be more aware of checking for this.

[Russ Beavis]

Being capable of exceeding 80" is not a violation of any rules. Inspectors have only been asked to identify robots that are capable of breaking that rule during competition. It's up to the referees to ultimately enforce the 80" rule. Inspectors are simply flagging the potentional violators for the refs.

A good example of this - a robot has a pair of arms (one fore and one aft) that exceeds 80" when simultaneously extended. As long as they only extend 1 at a time during the competition, they won't violate the rule.

Russ Beavis
Chief Inspector

[Laaba 80]

Originally Posted by Russ Beavis

Being capable of exceeding 80" is not a violation of any rules. Inspectors have only been asked to identify robots that are capable of breaking that rule during competition. It's up to the referees to ultimately enforce the 80" rule. Inspectors are simply flagging the potentional violators for the refs.

A good example of this - a robot has a pair of arms (one fore and one aft) that exceeds 80" when simultaneously extended. As long as they only extend 1 at a time during the competition, they won't violate the rule.

Russ Beavis
Chief Inspector

I understand where you are coming from, however I dont think the refs should need to worry about this. How will they know if iit went over 80in?? If they think it went over 80in, and they go and tell the team why they got a penalty, what happens if the team says its impossible because the code wont let it. The refs cant go out on the field with a tape measure, but the inspectors can. Also, many people were complaining about missed calls by the refs. This is a complicated game, and 80in is just another thing they need to watch out for. I personally think teams shouldnt pass inspection, however I know it isnt the rule.
Joey

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by Laaba 80

The refs cant go out on the field with a tape measure

Why not? It happened last year with the 72" rule, and I've seen it happen this year.

[Danny McC]

Actually im pretty sure at VCU yesturday a team tipped over and the refs went out onto the field to measure them.

[geeknerd99]

Originally Posted by Danny McC

Actually im pretty sure at VCU yesturday a team tipped over and the refs went out onto the field to measure them.

We were penalized for that during our last match, semifinal #2. We tipped over, and we were asessed a 10-pt. penalty on top of losing anyway.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by geeknerd99

We were penalized for that during our last match, semifinal #2. We tipped over, and we were asessed a 10-pt. penalty on top of losing anyway.

Di you immediately push your e-stop button?

[geeknerd99]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Di you immediately push your e-stop button?

I was robocoaching, but I was giving the E-Stop signal frantically. I don't know if it actually got pushed or not.

Would it have made a difference if we hadn't prevented the other team from accessing both of their trackballs? We did not have a way to retract our arm, so we were stuck in the expanded position.

[IndySam]

Are the refs being informed of the robots that can exceed 80" on a routine basis? How is this accomplished?

[Laaba 80]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Are the refs being informed of the robots that can exceed 80" on a routine basis? How is this accomplished?

The inspection crew puts a sticker on the robot that shows it can exceed 80in.
Joey

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by rc_cola1323

But they went over 80 inches, so is it going to be inforced? Yes i totally agree with the fact that they shouldn't pass inspection

When exactly did "they" go over 80 inches? Please clarify.

Originally Posted by efoote868

If a team was tipping over, or entangled on the overpass in such a way that they exceeded 80", does it violate the rule?

Yes, they are over 80 inches.

Originally Posted by Laaba 80

however this is one thing that the refs wouldnt have needed to worry about.

If a robot is CAPABLE of exceeding 80 inches, then the Refs DO need to worry about it. However if the robot is NOT CAPABLE of exceeding 80 inches no matter what, then the Refs do NOT need to worry about watching that robot for violations.

Now do you understand why some robots are marked and others are not? (As Russ Beavis explained in the second post.)

Don