Blocking 2 ball autons

[The other Gabe]

Originally Posted by apm4242

Yeah, this may be a dumb question, but how do all 2-ball autos not violate G39?

G39 ROBOTS are prohibited from launching BOULDERS unless they are in contact with the opponent’s TOWER or carpet in the opponent’s COURTYARD, and not in contact with any other carpet.

Isn't launching defined as intentionally imparting any momentum to the ball? Therefore, wouldn't intentionally dropping the 2nd ball be launching?

Similarly, how does the 2-ball auto defense by launching a boulder to disrupt the pickup not violate G-39?

Actually, based on the information you currently have, not a dumb question at all. my guess would be that the refs are only considering it "launching" if you're trying to score a boulder in a goal. otherwise, teams potentially wouldn't be able to do two rather important things:
1. eject boulders that are improperly loaded into their machines
2. eject a second boulder if they accidentally pick up 2 of them
without being subject to a G39

now as for how this relates to autonomously blocking their autos, I see this as very grey area. there's certainly nothing outright prohibiting it, but there's nothing that out rightly allows it either

personally, I think they should allow it. I'd like to see these battles happen

(I don't have any official weight behind what I say here, just how I think it's being/should be interpreted)