YMTC: Redabot Disrupts Ringers

[Goldeye]

Originally Posted by Section 7.2.1

POSSESSION: a GAME PIECE is considered to be in the POSSESSION of a ROBOT if it is being fully supported by the ROBOT, or if the ROBOT is controlling the position and movement of the GAME PIECE. A GAME PIECE on the floor is considered to be in the POSSESSION of a ROBOT if it contacts the ROBOT at more than a single point (e.g. the ROBOT has a concave "plow" feature that is used to push the GAME PIECE in a controlled manner)

The bolded part seems to hint a distinction for tubes on the ground.
Furthermore, although it is illegal to grab a tube that is in another team's possession, it would most certainly be alright for bluabot to grab the tube on the left while redabot is pushing it through a series of tubes.

[Brandon Holley]

Also here we should look at the autonomous aspect. Lets say this strategy is deamed illegal, what happens if a team does this unintentionally, meaning their autonmous mode goes berserk and ends up plowing all the tubes? Would this be ok, o rnot necessarily ok, but not really looked at? Again this is a question of intent, which obviously no one can prove. I think this is a solid stratgey but you gotta do it 1 tube at a time or else its herding, plain and simple.

[petek]

I voted "no penalty", but after further thought, I think the correct answer would be that if, in the referee's determination, Redabot strategically moved the opponent's Ringers, then Redabot is in violation of <G09> because their contact with the Ringers was intentional. From what the emcee said, it appears that is the case.

However, <G09> does not specify what, if any, penalty is given for this infraction. Therefore, it would be up to the Head Referee to determine what, if any penalty would be given - most likely a Yellow Card for the first infraction and Red Card DQ for any subsequent one. If this was Redabot's first infraction in the Eliminations they'd get a Yellow Card for it, but if they had done it in the QF and gotten a Yellow Card at that time, then Redabot would be DQ'ed, which would DQ their alliance per <T12>.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by petek

If this was Redabot's first infraction in the Eliminations they'd get a Yellow Card for it, but if they had done it in the QF and gotten a Yellow Card at that time, then Redabot would be DQ'ed, which would DQ their alliance per <T12>.

Pete I believe that everyone begins with a clean slate at the beginning of elimination rounds.

[Zoheb N]

Alright the GDC came out with a ruling on intentional and unintentional contact with multiple ringers.

Update

Hopefully this helps answer questions.

[jgannon]

The word that makes <G09> problematic is "bulldozing". It creates somewhat of a fine line between two scenarios. One is driving through the home zone at full speed, hitting every ring you see, sometimes "incidentally" more than one, and by sheer force sending them all to the same corner. The other is pushing all of the tubes into the corner in a "controlled" manner. The intent of this rule is clear at the edges, but somewhat fuzzier toward the middle; maintaining possession of multiple rings at once is illegal, but running over a tube while carrying another won't be penalized. Unfortunately, I doubt that the GDC will be able to clarify this any further, because it will most likely be subjective at the time of occurance, dependent on intent and robot action. If the GDC doesn't rule explicitly on this, I would suggest trying your strategy during the practice day on Thursday, and then asking your head ref how they would rule it.

[Pavan Dave]

This one is a bit tricky. You have to pay attention to how many ringers it has touched and when they touch. If the bot touches more than one ringer, which it most probably will if it was herding, even by mistake, I would give them a penalty and if they continued, I would card them. BUT if they were very safe about it and did not touch any more than one ringer at a time I would say that the redbot knows the rules and has found a loophole in a way.

[Wetzel]

POSSESSION: a GAME PIECE is considered to be in the POSSESSION of a ROBOT if it is being fully supported by the ROBOT, or if the ROBOT is controlling the position and movement of the GAME PIECE. A GAME PIECE on the floor is considered to be in the POSSESSION of a ROBOT if it contacts the ROBOT at more than a single point (e.g. the ROBOT has a concave "plow" feature that is used to push the GAME PIECE in a controlled manner).

This would be fairly straightforward, except for that last sentence. I believe that the GDC was attempting to limit inadvertent herding penalty's with that sentence, but in this case it seems to allow the wall sweep. The last sentence adds another requirement to game pieces on the floor to be possessed. Because the ringers are on the floor, they must also contact the robot at more than a single point and is where I think that Redabot is OK.

However, reading <G09> negates all that reasoning by stating that any herding of multiple ringers is not ok.
[quote=<G09>Herding of multiple GAME PIECES, or herding of a GAME PIECE on the floor while in POSSESSION of another
GAME PIECE is not permitted (as this would be considered POSSESSION of more than one GAME PIECE).[/QUOTE]

Now, it is a rule without penalty. There are four levels of penalty in this years game.
1) Do nothing
2) 10 point penalty
3) Disable
4) Disqualify

<G09> Seems to be a Do Nothing penalty, much like putting an opponents ringer over one of their own ringers. I suspect there will be an update on this.

Wetzel

[jonathan lall]

The way I read the rules as they stand today, this is totally herding multiple ringers, thus handling, thus illegal. As they're written right now, I think it's pretty straightforward, though this is another one of those things I'm sure will be clarified.

If it turns out not to be illegal, you can be sure we'll be all over that strategy. And so should you.