FIRST 2015 Recycle Rush Question Involving Robot Extensions

[tabman247]

Our team today was discussing possible dimensions for the robot we are designing for this year's competition. While we were coming up with ideas, we realized that the game manual for this year doesn't specify maximum possible length allowed for extensions on the robot. According to the rules, it says:

The ROBOT must satisfy the following size constraints:
A. during a MATCH, the ROBOT height may not exceed 78 in.
B. the ROBOT must be able to be arranged into a TRANSPORT CONFIGURATION with dimensions which do not exceed 28 in. wide, 42 in. long, and 78 in. tall.

Does this mean that, following how size rules were in previous years, we are able to go beyond that 42 in. in length with an arm or something that comes out for a moment? I remember in past years, the rules would say something like "cannot exceed 6 in. in extensions from robot perimeter". With a rule like that "missing" from the rule book, do we have an infinite as physically possible amount to extend from our robot?

[Christopher149]

So long as the robot doesn't leave the field or touch something beyond the step, there is no horizontal dimension limit. Also, the phrase "frame perimeter" doesn't appear anywhere in the manual.

Though, keep in mind that there will be stacks and other robots trying to occupy some of that horizontal space.

[RoboChair]

Your robot must only fit inside 28"x42"x78" during TRANSPORT between the field and your pit. As soon as your robot is on the field you assemble, actuate, or lock in place any mechanism you want. So long as it follows the following list.
1. It does not extend outside the field.
2. It does not occupy the Auto Zone.
3. It does not occupy the Landfill Zone.
4. It stays BELOW 78" during the whole match(not including height gained via driving over the field)
5. It takes no more than a minute to set up.

TL: DR once on the field (before the match even starts) there is only one mandatory size restriction, HEIGHT!

[tabman247]

Thanks for the clarification of the rules! We thought that that was how things worked this year but wanted to be sure.