Herding

[Jared Russell]

Don,

The bolded excerpt of the rule that you cite makes me think that there might be some confusion here. The qualification that the tube "...does not remain in the position relative to the ROBOT if the ROBOT changes direction or orientation" is present to help distinguish HERDING from POSSESSION.

If you are pushing a tube along the ground, and when the robot backs up or spins in place, the tube stays put, you are HERDING while you are pushing the tube.

If you are pushing a tube along the ground, and when the robot backs up or spins in place, the tube comes with you, you are in POSSESSION of that tube.

By rule, I believe that a penalty for violating <G34> is appropriate in this situation - the robot is POSSESSING one tube while HERDING another.