YMTC: Redabot Loads Ten Tetras Without Moving

[Don Wright]

IMHO, a lot of these YMTC are getting too much into the very minute specifics of every last detail of the rules the way they are written. And instead of being lawyers and trying to interpret them in every way possible, let's look at what the rule is trying to accomplish.

I believe the rule is there to keep the workers who are loading the stations from getting hurt by a robot. And it will be left up to the judgement of the worker. If they feel threatened that they might get injured even if the robot left the loading station, I would not expect them to risk their "life" (dramatically speaking) to reload a tetra.

So, if redabot is sitting there with their little foot entering and exiting the station (which I interpret it is doing by touching the red triangle instead of having most or all of the robot in the space above the red triangle) and is all safe and controlled, I don't think it is in violation of any rules.

On the other hand, if redabot's crazy, out of control, alliance partner, with it's 30 foot high arm grabs a tetra off the loading station, backs out of the loading zone completely, and is sitting there looking like it's almost going to tip over crashing down onto everything and everyone within 30 feet of it, I expect the worker to run away instead of reloading the station.

Anybody realize that instead of having a bunch of 15-20 foot robots in the center of the field like last year where if they tip over, they are pretty much away from spectators and other off field things like judges, tables, etc., we now have them at the edge of the field where a tip over towards the side of the field means tetras, arms, motors, claws, etc...all these things at the top of these robots will be near where a lot of people are sitting...namely...the first row of seats?

Sorry about my off-topic rant...

I think as long as redabot is nice and controlled and is not threatening the worker, it would be legal.