YMTC: Bluateam practices before Magnolia Regional

[Natchez]

You Make The Call (YMTC) is a series of situations where you are the official and make the call. Please reference specific rules when applicable. The results of YMTC are not official and are for educational purposes only.

Bluateam has built two of the most awesome tetra-handling robots ever seen by man. One is Bluabot and is shipped to the Magnolia Regional; the other is a very similar robot to Bluabot. Two days before the Magnolia Regional, Bluateam comes together and practices with their Bluabot-look-alike. The Bluateam drivers just practice picking up tetras with no modifications to the robot or code. Because of Bluateam's great planning that resulted in them packing all needed tools in their crate, Bluateam just walks the 4 miles to the Magnolia Regional singing and clapping their hands.

Based on the 2005 Robot Rules, YOU MAKE THE CALL!

For your reference, below is <R14>

<R14> Prior to the competitions: After the close of the “FIX-IT WINDOW” and prior to the competition, the team must put down their tools, cease fabrication of robot parts, and cease all software development. Take this opportunity to rest, recover from the build season, and relax. Teams may scout other teams, gather and exchange information, develop game-playing strategies, collect raw materials, prepare tool kits, plan how to make repairs, etc. in preparation for the upcoming competitions. But no construction or fabrication is allowed.

[KimT]

Originally Posted by Natchez

You Make The Call (YMTC) is a series of situations where you are the official and make the call. Please reference specific rules when applicable. The results of YMTC are not official and are for educational purposes only.

Bluateam has built two of the most awesome tetra-handling robots ever seen by man. One is Bluabot and is shipped to the Magnolia Regional; the other is a very similar robot to Bluabot. Two days before the Magnolia Regional, Bluateam comes together and practices with their Bluabot-look-alike. The Bluateam drivers just practice picking up tetras with no modifications to the robot or code. Because of Bluateam's great planning that resulted in them packing all needed tools in their crate, Bluateam just walks the 4 miles to the Magnolia Regional singing and clapping their hands.

Based on the 2005 Robot Rules, YOU MAKE THE CALL!

For your reference, below is <R14>

I see no problem whatsoever with this. They are neither making changes to their system, nor attempting to change the code. If teams can scout and make strategies, it seems like they could also practice. Literally, what is forbidden is constuction and fabrication. This does not come even close to falling under one of those categories.

[Adam Richards]

Seeing that they're not fabricating or constructing any parts specific for use on their robot, and that their second robot has already been created during the build time, Bluateam is not in violation of the rules. The lookalike-Bluabot isn't entered into the competition, nor are any of the parts from the lookalike, further reaffirming the legality of using a duplicate bot.

[Alex Pelan]

Keep in mind that the rule does not specifically say that you can practice before the regional, it says you can scout, etc.

That said, personally, when it comes to the law and to these robotics rules, anything that isn't specifically banned is legal, and in this case, practicing with the robot is not modifying it at all, especially since it is not the bot that is even entered in the competition. The purpose of R14 is simply to stop people from adding on to their robot in the many hours that they have at each regionals.