FIRST Q&A Cop Out?

[pfreivald]

*sigh*

Read the intent of the rules and build an awesome robot anyway.

That is to say, it's your responsibility to make sure that what you're doing is definitely legal.

[Andy Grady]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

*sigh*

Read the intent of the rules and build an awesome robot anyway.

That is to say, it's your responsibility to make sure that what you're doing is definitely legal.

Ok I'll play your game...

Rule G10 states:

Robots may not grab, grasp, grapple, or attach to any Arena structure. Robots may not push or react against the top of the Fender. (Robots may push or react against any element of the Arena that is not protected by another rule.)
Violation: Foul


Ok, I dont feel like the robot is grabbing, grasping, or attaching as it could slide off if someone moves the ramp the wrong way, but you can certainly say its pushing on two surfaces of the ramp....so it's legal, right? I'll tell ya this much, I would not be confident enough in my interpretation to try the design, but I can see plenty of teams doing it and not getting outlawed if I don't!

How about intent? The fact that they want 3 robots on a ramp would tell me that it's FIRST's intent for you to be creative in finding ways to make it happen. The fact that FIRST says supported by the bridge and not TOP OF the bridge could tell me that they don't necessarily mean you have to just drive up there.

What's wrong with asking for a little clarification so we don't HAVE to try to interpret/lawyer rules?

No sigh is necessary...

[Aren_Hill]

I've bounced the idea around some as well, and fall on the side of it not being legal by comparing it to a grappling hook, sure its smaller, but very very similar.

But yes, I share your concerns in regards to the response being unacceptable, as they'll just be making the judgement at a regional anyway, why not answer now.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Aren_Hill

I've bounced the idea around some as well, and fall on the side of it not being legal by comparing it to a grappling hook, sure its smaller, but very very similar.

But yes, I share your concerns in regards to the response being unacceptable, as they'll just be making the judgement at a regional anyway, why not answer now.

To tie into this...by not answering now, they are leaving the door open for different interpretations on an event to event basis. To me, that is simply the worst possible outcome for a rule interpretation.

-Brando

[maddoctor90]

Last year we asked a the same question (whether it was legal to feed tubes over the alliance wall to our robot) twice on the Q and A and never received an answer. At regionals passing tubes over the wall was legal and at nationals it was illegal. Never did the Q and A ever clarify the rules. I think it is very interesting this year that we can see all of the questions asked on the Q and A that are not answered. It really annoys me when we have to guess whether or not something will be considered legal or not.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

*sigh*

Read the intent of the rules and build an awesome robot anyway.

That is to say, it's your responsibility to make sure that what you're doing is definitely legal.

...and the Q&A is the method we're presented to verify that what we're doing is legal.