Official Vertical Bar Ruling

[mzitz2k]

So, I am asking this one last time. I know that this has been covered in a previous thread(s), but I just want to get clarification for myself and others. Is it legal to intentionally (by design) lean (not attach) to the vertical bar that supports the horizontal bar and still score the 50 points if the robot is truly SUPPORTED by the horizontal bar (not the platform)?

My judgement from the replies to the several questions posted on the US First Q&A System is:

As long as a robot is fully SUPPORTED by the horizontal bar in the y-axis (vertical) direction, then it will count. Also, the robot may not be attached to the vertical bar (because this would be SUPPORTING the robot in the y-axis). Also, if the robot is grabbing the horizontal bar from the carpet, it must be more than 12 inches off the carpet to count.

Is this interpretation correct? Thanks.

[Cory]

Why on earth would you EVER want to ask the users of ChiefDelphi for a ruling that may make or break your design? Youre asking for disaster. You dont want interpretations of rules. If Q&A answered questions werent clear enough, ask again in no uncertain terms.

Cory

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by mzitz2k

So, I am asking this one last time. I know that this has been covered in a previous thread(s), but I just want to get clarification for myself and others. Is it legal to intentionally (by design) lean (not attach) to the vertical bar that supports the horizontal bar and still score the 50 points if the robot is truly SUPPORTED by the horizontal bar (not the platform)?

My judgement from the replies to the several questions posted on the US First Q&A System is:

As long as a robot is fully SUPPORTED by the horizontal bar in the y-axis (vertical) direction, then it will count. Also, the robot may not be attached to the vertical bar (because this would be SUPPORTING the robot in the y-axis). Also, if the robot is grabbing the horizontal bar from the carpet, it must be more than 12 inches off the carpet to count.

SUPPORTED – If the “supporting object” is removed, the ball would not remain SCORED or CAPPED and/or the ROBOT would not remain HANGING.

HANGING – A ROBOT is considered HANGING from the Pull-Up Bar if it is directly SUPPORTED by the horizontal bar and is not touching the carpet, platforms, or goals.


If the side bar is not there, would your robot fall off?
If yes, then it is not supported.
If no, then it is supported.

It makes no mention of x-, y- or z-axis.

If it is not touching the carpet, platforms or goals, it is hanging.

Wetzel

[Aidan F. Browne]

Originally Posted by Wetzel

If it is not touching the carpet, platforms or goals, it is hanging.

Note however, based on the definition of supported, that if the vertical bar were removed, and the robot would then come in contact with the Upper Deck, the robot would not count. So the greater than 12" interpretation was correct.



Aidan

[dlavery]

Cory is right. You are asking for a very specific technical interpretation of the rules. This forum, as good as it is, is not the right place to ask this type of question. CD cannot provide official answers, only the FIRST Q&A web site can. If you base your design on an answer that you receive here, and then implement a system based on that answer that runs afoul of the rules at the competitions, the judges/inspectors will not cut you any slack. Conversely, if you can show them an answer from that FIRST Q&A board that supports your design, then you are in good shape. if you don't feel that you are getting a complete answer on the FIRST system, then ask again and be sure to clearly, concisely state your real question (and where appropriate, clarify any "soft language" in a prior question that may have led to an unclear answer).

Both CD and the FIRST Q&A board are amazing resources and fonts of information. But please be sure to use them appropriately, and don't ask them to do things for which they were not designed.

-dave

[Stormhammer]

whoa whoa, wait... 12''?... like 1'?.... aw man...

[mzitz2k]

Thanks for your concern on my question, but I have already sent a question into FIRST. I have yet to get a response. I thought that it would be resonable to ask the CD Forum too. I would never (ever) design a robot from what CD users say - no offense should be taken, but (like you have said) FIRST has the final say when it comes to rules. I just wanted to ask the CD users that me and my team were not completely missing anything. I just wantd to see if my interpretation on this ruling was right. Thanks again for all of your support and help.

Team 302