Rule G29

[stillwaters130]

There have been a few replies to other threads with the mention of this rule, but no real discussion on it...

<G29> ROBOT orientation - ROBOTS must start the match with their long (maximum) dimension in a vertical orientation.

Does this mean that a short bot has to begin standing up on it's side? It seems like an awfully strange rule to have - I was wondering if anybody else had a different interpretation of it.

[Chris Marra]

Originally Posted by stillwaters130

There have been a few replies to other threads with the mention of this rule, but no real discussion on it...

<G29> ROBOT orientation - ROBOTS must start the match with their long (maximum) dimension in a vertical orientation.

Does this mean that a short bot has to begin standing up on it's side? It seems like an awfully strange rule to have - I was wondering if anybody else had a different interpretation of it.

I think this means that a robot must start with the longest dimension of their weight class vertical. For example, a robot that is the maximum dimensions for a 4' robot cannot start with the 4' dimension along the floor, and say have the 28" dimension going vertically. This way, robots have to start in the box in which they are measured in.

Even though this doesn't specifically ban flop-bots, it does cause anyone planning on doing one have to flop, as opposed to just starting. But I don't even know if another rule does ban them.

[Ericgehrken]

I think FIRST wants us to have our robot's height to be the greatest dimension. They don't want a 12" tall robot with a ramp that comes out at the end of the match.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by stillwaters130

<G29> ROBOT orientation - ROBOTS must start the match with their long (maximum) dimension in a vertical orientation.

Does this mean that a short bot has to begin standing up on it's side? It seems like an awfully strange rule to have - I was wondering if anybody else had a different interpretation of it.

No. In the past, "flop-bots"--robots that start on one end and "flop" down--have been done. 67 and 340 in '05 and 71 in '02 come to mind. this is what the rule is talking about. If you have a robot with a drivebase larger than the box's base, you will need to have it "flop" (or slide or drop or whatever) at the start of the match.