Feeder Station Disk Starting Configuration

[kjohnson]

White and colored discs may be moved between any of the three feeder stations as the alliance members see fit. Just be sure to allow the field reset crew to properly count the discs if you move them before the match, and remember to not touch the discs during autonomous.

[MrTechCenter]

At CVR, we counted out 45 white discs and the colored discs and put them all behind the protected feeder station. Once they were counted, teams were free to arrange them however they wanted before the match started or during teleop.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by nukemknight

...and remember to not touch the discs during autonomous.

Please cite this rule?

There are a few different philosophies regarding pre-match placement, rearrangement and holding depending on your field supervisor and head referee, but certainly in teleop you can move them however your alliance wishes.

[kjohnson]

Originally Posted by Siri

Please cite this rule?

Good point. There is no actual rule against touching the discs before teleop begins as there have been in past years, but human players are still required to remain behind the starting line during autonomous (and therefore not at the feeder station where the discs are). I would still advise against it.

[orangemoore]

Yes there is team Members must be behind the line during autonomous.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by orangemoore

Yes there is team Members must be behind the line during autonomous.

Does that rule prohibit handling discs during autonomous?

Thought not.

Does that rule combined with any other rules prohibit handling discs during autonomous?

No. You see, discs start in the Alliance Station--where in the station is not defined by the rules. It does include the Feeder Stations, but it also includes the box behind the starting line. (nukem--this part is the part you missed in the rules.)

In short, you can handle the discs during automode (if they're in the area humans can be, which you are allowed to move them to), but not enter them into the field (other rules prohibit this).

[MrTechCenter]

Originally Posted by EricH

Does that rule prohibit handling discs during autonomous?

Thought not.

Does that rule combined with any other rules prohibit handling discs during autonomous?

No. You see, discs start in the Alliance Station--where in the station is not defined by the rules. It does include the Feeder Stations, but it also includes the box behind the starting line. (nukem--this part is the part you missed in the rules.)

In short, you can handle the discs during automode (if they're in the area humans can be, which you are allowed to move them to), but not enter them into the field (other rules prohibit this).

I would advise against it. The rules can get a little iffy on this sort of thing. What would the purpose be anyway? You'd have to grab the discs and put them behind the starting line before autonomous. And then move them wherever you want. How much are you going to do in those 15 seconds that you couldn't do before the match or during teleop? And there's more than enough time before the match starts to arrange discs, by the way.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by MrTechCenter

I would advise against it. The rules can get a little iffy on this sort of thing. What would the purpose be anyway? You'd have to grab the discs and put them behind the starting line before autonomous. And then move them wherever you want. How much are you going to do in those 15 seconds that you couldn't do before the match or during teleop? And there's more than enough time before the match starts to arrange discs, by the way.

Again, depending on your event, the discs start behind the starting line. Not all reset crews are putting them at the stations. (In fact, of the two events I've some so far, neither did.) Be ready for both--don't assume all events are the same unless there's a ruling for it. In fact, the rules aren't iffy at all about autonomous holding--there was barely a feeder at NYC that didn't. What's iffy is the starting procedure. Discs weren't allowed over the starting line before teleop there--wouldn't you hold them?

As far as why it matters, for most it doesn't, but for the top shooters, feeder station procedure really does obviously change the cycle time. I'd pratice and plan both ways (or try to Q&A it), there are some options that could throw off times significantly for different strategies if you're unprepared. With that, never assume there's enough time pre-match to do what you want. Things happen (both to reset crews and to teams). Minimizing start up goes as much for drive teams as it does for robots.

[Gregor]

At Finger Lakes all 51 disks started in a big bin behind the middle driver station. At GTR East 20 disks started beside the single feeder station, and 25(+6) started behind the double feeder station. Teams were permitted to do move them around after they were counted.

[Grim Tuesday]

Originally Posted by Gregor

At Finger Lakes all 51 disks started in a big bin behind the middle driver station. At GTR East 20 disks started beside the single feeder station, and 25(+6) started behind the double feeder station. Teams were permitted to do move them around after they were counted.

I feel like this is the kind of thing that should be standardized.

[akoscielski3]

In Conclusion It varies. But you can move them to where ever you want.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

I feel like this is the kind of thing that should be standardized.

Agreed, this would be something useful to come in a Team Update.