Defense, It's still here.

[SuperJake]

Originally Posted by Zyik

An example of this: Lets say I have a typical six wheel kit bot and the "only" thing it can do is race around the track for points. Lets also say that one of the robots on the opposing side is a hurdling robot that operates via scissor lift and omni drive. (Nothing against scissor lifts, just an example) The hurdling robot has a Trackball in their possession and is just rounding the corner to enter their alliance zone. I should be able to use my kit bot and push the hurdling robot over their alliance line fairly easily. They won't have started to hurdle yet so G42 is not in effect. The trackball will cross the line and will have to make the rounds around the track again in order to be hurdled. If I just have my kit bot harass the hurdling bot every time they get near their scoring area I'm playing a success defense. I'm also scoring points by going around the track. Win-Win.

This seems to differ from my interpretation of the rules. Check this out: if you were to push the robot from the Hurdling position to cross the finish line, that would be a 32" push (the width of the Overpass) since one would presumably be hurdling from their own Home Stretch and the finish line is at the end of the Home Stretch. This amount of contact would not be in the spirit of <G38> as this would no longer be a "bump" but a push.

<G38>Signal To Pass – A ROBOT may indicate a desire to pass an IMPEDING ROBOT by approaching the opponent ROBOT and “bumping” the back of the opponent ROBOT (relative to the Direction of Traffic).

• All “bump to pass” signals must be made with or against a STANDARD BUMPER and inside the BUMPER ZONE, or
• If in POSSESSION of a TRACKBALL, the ROBOT may “bump” the IMPEDING ROBOT with the TRACKBALL outside the BUMPER ZONE, providing the contact is made exclusively with the TRACKBALL.


Signaling a desire to pass by “bumping” must still be executed within the constraints indicated in Rule <G37>. E.g. high-speed intentional ramming or using the TRACKBALL to intentionally damage or topple an opponent are still not acceptable actions, and will be penalized.

However, there could be the potential of several robots attempting to Hurdle, but not yet in the act of hurdling, that could bring <G40> into play which could penalize the hurdling robot for impeding traffic.

Another thing to note is that <G42> seems to balance the game play such that anyone that looks like they are attempting to hurdle would be given the benefit of the doubt. It will be interesting to see how the Referees decide to enforce this.