Pyramid Contact Question

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by jbsmithtx

I think he is discussing going upwards. In this case, I do not think touching the second beam would be acceptable, simply because you would be "seen" as attempting a climb and jumping levels. Even if you simultaneously were touching bar one, I think then that is touching three different levels which is also prohibited... I think you must therefore either touch a diagonal piece or the 1st beam if I understand everything right?

There is no penalty for contacting non adjacent levels of the pyramid, so "seeming to climb" isn't an issue. If you attempt to climb straight for level 2, there is no penalty, but no points either.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Gregor

There is no penalty for contacting non adjacent levels of the pyramid, so "seeming to climb" isn't an issue. If you attempt to climb straight for level 2, there is no penalty, but no points either.

Further, starting this way doesn't automatically invalidate your later climb. You just need return to touching level 0 in a valid climb orientation (including bit touching level 2) before conducting your actual climb. Put it this way, it's perfectly legal to say, shoot by pulling yourself directly up to the 3rd rung (why you'd want to notwithstanding)--you just can't get climb points by staying there.

If you can touch the second rung starting inside your frame perimeter, under 84" tall (if contacting your autozone), without being in any way supported by the pyramid, and abiding by all other rules (remember G07, maybe?), you shouldn't have a problem. I've seen a few robots this could makes sense for, like say those arm shooters who might want to start inside on occasion.

[FrankJ]

Definition of starting configuration:
STARTING CONFIGURATION:
"The physical configuration and orientation of the ROBOT when the MATCH is started.
snip
In the STARTING CONFIGURATION, no part of the ROBOT may extend outside the vertical projection of the FRAME PERIMETER, with the exception of minor protrusions such as bolt heads, fastener ends, rivets, etc
snip"

You can touch any part of the pyramid you can legally reach, but you need to be within the frame perimeter of your bot.