can the game flag be used?

[gondorf]

the game flag can be mounted on top of the 60" robot. can we use this flag to defend against balls in the center goal? i mean the flag can extend up to the hoop so can we block the hoop with the flag?

also is there a limit on where we can put the flag?

[Billfred]

From the manual (darn good reading):

<R13> Robots must use one of the two colored bicycle flags provided at the event queuing location to display
their alliance color (red or blue). Each robot must include a 12 inch long, 1/2” ID PVC tube, capped at the
bottom, permanently mounted on the robot such that when a 3 foot long, 1/4 inch diameter flagpole is inserted
the top of the flagpole is no higher than 6 feet from the ground and the top of the flagpole is at least 12 inches
higher than any other point on the robot (+/- 1/2 inch). The flagpole must be mounted such that it starts the
match, and remains, approximately vertical. The flagpole receptacle must be statically mounted, and not
articulated or actuated.

[Nimmy]

the robot limit is 60" and the flagpole top must be 72"?

[henryBsick]

Originally Posted by Nimmy

the robot limit is 60" and the flagpole top must be 72"?

Its right there in the rule that Billfred posted. If you have a robot that is in-fact 60" tall then yes, the top of your flag must be 72" from the ground. If your robot is not 60" tall then your flag may be at any height as long as it is under 72" from the ground and over 12" (+/- 1/2")from the highest point on your robot.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by gondorf

can we use this flag to defend against balls in the center goal? i mean the flag can extend up to the hoop so can we block the hoop with the flag?

No. You can't use anything over 5 ft. to block. Doing so is a 5pt penalty per occurrence or shot blocked, whicheveer is greater.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by EricH

No. You can't use anything over 5 ft. to block. Doing so is a 5pt penalty per occurrence or shot blocked, whicheveer is greater.

Can you cite a rule on that please?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Can you cite a rule on that please?

Originally Posted by Game Manual, Section 4.3.4.3

<G16>

Originally Posted by Game Manual, Section 4.3.4.3

Maximum Height - A ROBOT may not extend above 60” above the floor or the ALLIANCE PLATFORM in a stable configuration at any time during a match. Each violation shall result in a penalty of 5 points per occurrence or 5 points per ball shot or ball blocked during the occurrence, whichever is greater. ROBOTs designed to violate this rule are not allowed. For example, a ROBOT that extends a blocking device in front of the center goal will be disqualified....The one exception to the height restriction is provided in rule <R13> (flag rule).

At least, that's how my team interprets it. And of course, better safe than sorry, seeing as if the refs decide the flag is extenden in front of the center goal it's a DQ.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Can you cite a rule on that please?

<G16> Maximum Height - A ROBOT may not extend above 60” above the floor or the ALLIANCE
PLATFORM in a stable configuration at any time during a match. Each violation shall result in a penalty
of 5 points per occurrence or 5 points per ball shot or ball blocked during the occurrence, whichever is
greater.The one
exception to the height restriction is provided in rule <R13> (flag rule).

So, my interpretation of this is that you will not receive a penalty for being over 60" so long as it's just the flag, however, if the flag blocks a shot, it's questionable as to whether or not you'd be penalized.

At any rate, the flag is what, a 1/4" stick or something? 3/8"? That's not exactly a large target. You'd have to have incredible precision to line the flag up properly to perfectly intercept the trajectory of an opponent's ball.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Cory

At any rate, the flag is what, a 1/4" stick or something? 3/8"? That's not exactly a large target. You'd have to have incredible precision to line the flag up properly to perfectly intercept the trajectory of an opponent's ball.

1/4" OD PVC with a bycycle flag on top. (<R13> has the details on mounting tube, placement, and all the other annoying little details.)

[Rombus]

A quick question on R13:
the last line reads:
The flagpole receptacle must be statically mounted, and not
articulated or actuated.

Is this to mean that the flag must be mounted on the base of the robot? Or can we mount it to our ball turret that is going to rotate around as long as the receptacle itself is staticly mounted?

[SoftwareBug2.0]

Originally Posted by Rombus

A quick question on R13:
the last line reads:
The flagpole receptacle must be statically mounted, and not
articulated or actuated.

Is this to mean that the flag must be mounted on the base of the robot? Or can we mount it to our ball turret that is going to rotate around as long as the receptacle itself is staticly mounted?

I would think that this would not be allowed, which is unfortunate because that makes it much more difficult to have a 360 degree rotating turret. You'd have to make it pivot around the flag pole.

[tkwetzel]

Originally Posted by SoftwareBug2.0

I would think that this would not be allowed, which is unfortunate because that makes it much more difficult to have a 360 degree rotating turret. You'd have to make it pivot around the flag pole.

A rotating turret will most likely not extend to the corners of the legal size of the robot because most people will have it on a circular rotating base. So you could put the flag in the corner of the robot. This would cause your launcher to have a small range in which it could not be used due to the flag being in the way.

[psycho7]

With the flag being as small as it is. The chances of blocking or even interfering with a shot on the high goal is minimal, so if it does happen it will most likely be by accident, so hopefully the refs will not penalize. This is at least my interpretation.

[Matt Krass]

I'm curious about that. Let's say this:

Robot A is on offense, it lines up with the goal and pops off a ball at 12m/s or so at the goal, in the middle of its perfect arc a defensive robot drives by, with no intent to block at all, but the ball hits the flag, do they get a penalty? What if there's obvious intent to block? What if it's a robot from their alliance?

Could be interesting...

[pakrat]

I really dont think that a ball blocked by a flag will be called for a penalty. If it happens more than once or twice, maybe they'll make a rule about it, but I think that it won't really happen much.