Seizing Self Defense: What limits? (Rules of Engagement)

[kmcclary]

I'm disappointed that they're allowing other robots to "assault" the "personage" (robotage? ;-) of your machine in an attempt to drag you home with them. IMHO, it's one thing to fight over a goal between you two, and quite another to directly grab or lift another machine.

For the record, WE are NOT planning on assaulting other machines directly. (We'll be too busy anyway :-)

So... Given that it IS legal to seize and drag, what do you all feel SHOULD be the limits on self-defensive actions to extricate yourself? Should it be legal that if a team reaches WITHIN your volume to grab you it waives its own legal protections against contact damage while within said volume? Should you be able to attempt to "pry them off" of you with a wedge if they grab your frame? How about legally applying torque or other force upon the offending gripper? What about popping off an air line running to their pneumatic forklift that is holding you up in the air?

Should you be penalized if:
- An assailant's gripper is lopped off by a quick move by your bot?
- In simply trying to free yourself by motion or wedging, it damages the assailant's main robot body?
- You slap them back?

Should we have the concept of "sacrosanct personal space" added to the Rules of Engagement so that
its legal to defend yourself strongly if seized?

I feel that it would make a LOT of teams think LONG AND HARD about Battle Bot style strategies if they knew they could legally have their gripper hurt if they tried to grab you with it, but WHERE should the limit be drawn WRT self-defensive actions?

Let's hear YOUR opinions on this.

- Keith
--
Keith McClary, Advisor, Huron High Rat Pack, Team 830