Do We have a trend here?

[KenWittlief]

setting out to damage another robot IS against the rules - clearly against the rules - I dont see why the judges should have any problem distinguishing between a team that is getting in your way, pushing you away from a goal, and simply ramming and bashing into your bot?

<G32> Strategies aimed solely at the destruction, damage, tipping over or
entanglement of robots are not in the spirit of the FIRST Robotics competition and are not allowed. Accidental tipping over of a robot is not considered damaging and may be allowed at the discretion of the referees. Intentional stabbing, cutting, etc., is illegal. If a breach of this rule occurs, the team will be disqualified for that match. Repeated offenses could result in a team being disqualified from the remainder of the regional competition and/or championship event.

notice that it does NOT say robots designed to cause damage to other robots - its says teams who's strategie it is to damage another teams robot

anyone who has been on a team this year should have a pretty good idea of home much a machine can take and what kinds of actions will cause damage - and it should be obvious to a ref if a machine is contending for a goal or position, or simply ramming the other bot.

I find this esp troublesome because our bot was designed to collect and deliver small balls and we were repeated given penalty points if the slightest bit of our bot broke the plane of the ball corral. Our bot was designed so that it cannot possibly go through the corral and put the HP in any sort of danger - which is the intent of the rule - to protect the HP from getting spleened

but a few times our bot tipped up slightly and the very bottom edge of the bot or castor broke the plane - we lost over 50 points during friday - and at no time was the HP in any danger

but robots were rammed and slammed so hard that pieces flew off the playing field, and no penalites or disqualifications were called - isnt the end result a clear indication? if you hit a bot so hard that piece go flying is there any question to what your strategy was?!