How do you get your other ball

[Otaku]

Well it says that a robot shall not be taller than 6', It never says that the robot can not be above the 6ft plane. Lets say the ground were higher, or... it was on a ramp-bot. Then the bot on top could be under 72" tall (NOT under 72" from the ground) and still have some room to play with. Now that's an interesting strategy, I think. That's also probably a strategy that nobody'll take (enough with ramps already) and would still get you penalized (for being a smarta -- yeah).

Especially since one of the dictionary definitions of height is "The distance from the bottom to the top of an object."

Also, knocking off opponent's ball = they lose 12 points. Doing it in their home stretch, you lose 10. If the scores are even, that's a decent strategy. It'd win a match, that's for sure.

[neoshaakti]

Originally Posted by Otaku

Well it says that a robot shall not be taller than 6', It never says that the robot can not be above the 6ft plane. Lets say the ground were higher, or... it was on a ramp-bot. Then the bot on top could be under 72" tall (NOT under 72" from the ground) and still have some room to play with. Now that's an interesting strategy, I think. That's also probably a strategy that nobody'll take (enough with ramps already) and would still get you penalized (for being a smarta -- yeah).

Especially since one of the dictionary definitions of height is "The distance from the bottom to the top of an object."

Also, knocking off opponent's ball = they lose 12 points. Doing it in their home stretch, you lose 10. If the scores are even, that's a decent strategy. It'd win a match, that's for sure.

woahhh that is a very sophisticated strategy you got there
that would enable your team to also score on both overpasses during the endgame (unless you just score on your own side of the overpass...)

[Otaku]

Originally Posted by neoshaakti

woahhh that is a very sophisticated strategy you got there
that would enable your team to also score on both overpasses during the endgame (unless you just score on your own side of the overpass...)

KOP + Regional Registration: $5000.
New Trackballs 'casue you popped the one in the KOP: $12.
Thinking out strategies like a FIRSTer: Priceless.

There's some things money CAN buy. For everything else, there's FIRST.

[Paul Copioli]

How about the flag? The flag must be placed so it is 75 inches from the ground. Last time I checked, that is taller than 6'. So that means your robot could never do a lap ...

I expect some clarifications on this rule. I will ask a question as soon as the Q & A is up.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

How about the flag? The flag must be placed so it is 75 inches from the ground. Last time I checked, that is taller than 6'. So that means your robot could never do a lap ...

The flag has never been considered a part of the robot. Even so, I doubt it would have enough strength to move the ball off the overpass.

I expect some clarifications on this rule. I will ask a question as soon as the Q & A is up.

Unless I beat you to it.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Paul Copioli

How about the flag? The flag must be placed so it is 75 inches from the ground. Last time I checked, that is taller than 6'. So that means your robot could never do a lap ...

I expect some clarifications on this rule. I will ask a question as soon as the Q & A is up.

I'm pretty sure the flag doesn't count toward the height.

[Nate Laverdure]

Originally Posted by Libby K

I'm pretty sure the flag doesn't count toward the height.

Correct, as per <R13>, emphasis mine:

<R13> For the purposes of determining compliance with the weight and volume limitations
specified in Rule <R11>, these items are NOT considered part of the ROBOT and are NOT
included in the weight and volume assessment of the ROBOT:
• The 12V battery and its associated half of the Anderson cable quick
connect/disconnect pair (including no more than 12 inches of cable per leg, the
associated cable lugs, connecting bolts, and insulating electrical tape) on board the
ROBOT,
• Any STANDARD BUMPER assemblies included on the ROBOT that are in
compliance with Rule <R08>, up to a maximum of 15 pounds,
• The FLAG is not considered part of the ROBOT (however, the flag holder specified in
Rule <R17> IS considered part of the ROBOT, and is included in the ROBOT weight
and volume),
• The OPERATOR CONSOLE.
NOTE
- Weight limit excludes the 12 volt
battery and Anderson cable half.
- Weight and volume limits exclude any
STANDARD BUMPERS constructed
consistent with Rule <R08>.
- Weight and height limits exclude the FLAG
However, for all other purposes the items listed above are considered part of the ROBOT
and must comply with all other applicable rules and requirements.

[Chuck Glick]

You ONLY have to be under 6' in the opposing alliance HOMEZONES. Example below.



If a team is on the BLUE ALLIANCE, they can be above 6' everywhere except in the RED HOMEZONE.

If a team is on the RED ALLIANCE, they can be above 6' everywhere except in the BLUE HOMEZONE.

It is 100% legal to knock the ball BACKWARDS off of the OVERPASS(clockwise). So pass through the opposing HOMEZONE, pause, knock ball BACKWARDS, and go.

[Nate Laverdure]

Originally Posted by Chuck Glick

So pass through the opposing HOMEZONE, pause, knock ball BACKWARDS, and go.

Check out <G13>:

<G13> A TRACKBALL that has CROSSED its own FINISH LINE must CROSS the opponent’s
FINISH LINE before it can score by CROSSING its own FINISH LINE again.

EDIT: Nevermind, I think I get what you're saying now.

[Chuck Glick]

Originally Posted by Nate Laverdure

Check out <G13>:

If the trackball is still on the OVERPASS, on the opposing side, it has not crossed ANY lines. Knocking it backward would be completely legal at the beginning of a match, or initially just to get the ball down for your own use.

People are concerned that the track ball that is on the side opposite of theirs is impossible to retrieve without breaking rules.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by Chuck Glick

You ONLY have to be under 6' in the opposing alliance HOMEZONES. Example below.


If a team is on the BLUE ALLIANCE, they can be above 6' everywhere except in the RED HOMEZONE.

If a team is on the RED ALLIANCE, they can be above 6' everywhere except in the BLUE HOMEZONE.

It is 100% legal to knock the ball BACKWARDS off of the OVERPASS(clockwise). So pass through the opposing HOMEZONE, pause, knock ball BACKWARDS, and go.

Unless I'm looking at the drawings wrong, the homestretch extends to the alliance's finish line, which is under the far end of the overpass, not the middle of the field as you have it.

[Chuck Glick]

Originally Posted by boiler

Unless I'm looking at the drawings wrong, the homestretch extends to the alliance's finish line, which is under the far end of the overpass, not the middle of the field as you have it.

True, the drawing was quickly made for basic demo purposes. Fixing that now.

EDIT: Original Drawing Updated.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

I haven't done the math, but it seems to me that if the ball is sitting on the rail, and the rail is directly above the finish line then the ball should extend beyond the finish line ... thus you should be able to knock the ball off of the rails by striking the part that is beyond the opponents finish line without your robot being in their "home strech" or breaking the plane of the finish line.

[ALIBI]

Originally Posted by boiler

Unless I'm looking at the drawings wrong, the homestretch extends to the alliance's finish line, which is under the far end of the overpass, not the middle of the field as you have it.

I am confused. Page 5 of 7 of THE ARENA. As the ROBOTS move in a counter-clockwise direction around TRACK, the quadrant of the TRACK immediately preceeding the the FINISH LINE for each alliance is known as the "HOME STRETCH"

Wouldn't that mean that the finish line itself is not part of the home stretch? The home stretch is bounded by the finish line. Does that mean the finish line is part of the home stretch? Or does it mean that the leading edge of the finish line is the boundary?

I tend to think that since the wording says the home strech is the quadrant of the track immediately preceeding the finish line, that the Home Stretch does not include the area above the finish line, but rather the area before the finish line.

[Kellen Hill]

Just like the ball hangs down under the overpass, the ball also crosses over the plane of the homestretch. This makes it possible but difficult to knock that trackball off by turning around once you are out of the other teams homestretch.