YMTC: Bluabot sits on Redabot

[Winged Globe]

I'm not sure if this one is a stumper as much as it is unpleasant to score by the rules of the game.

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.

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

<G27> A robot cannot pin (inhibit the movement of another robot while on the carpet) for more than 10 seconds. If a robot has been pinned for 10 seconds, the team with the pinning robot will be told by the referee to release the robot and back away approximately 3 feet. Once the pinning robot has
backed off by 3 feet, it may again attempt to pin its opponent and, if successful, the 10 second count starts over. If a referee determines this rule to be violated, a 10-point penalty flag will be thrown for each violation.

As the rules are written, Redabot cannot classify as hanging because it does not meet the second point (it *is* touching the platform). This renders the first point (directly supported by the horizontal bar) moot, because the definition of supported says the robot would not be hanging if the supporting object was removed, and Redabot never met the second point of hanging. Hence, Bluabot doesn't come into account. The supported clause is circular and a bit confusing, but touching the platform is clearly not allowed to be hanging.

Bluabot is hanging because it is not touching the ground, it would remain hanging with Redabot removed (not supported by Redabot), and it would not remain hanging (off the ground) with the horizontal bar removed.

The rules as is only apply to pinning while on the carpet, so strictly speaking, pinning penalties do not apply.

And if it is modified to apply on any field ground (platform and carpet), it would depend on whether Redabot could have moved away, including if Redabot was able to lower itself off the bar and drive away. If so, no penalties on Bluabot, as Redabot's movement was not inhibited. However, if Redabot cannot lower itself or move reasonably in any direction whatsoever, warnings and penalties on Bluabot, the number of penalties as per precedence on the pinning rule.