Blocking a robot driving clock-wise

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

How are you meant to move in such a way that creates a passing lane for a robot in front of you?

This is a good point and it will be interesting to see how this situation shakes out if anyone tries it in the week one regionals. The same situation would apply if a robot was pointing towards one of the walls and you pinned them against it, they have a "passing lane" they just cannot go through it because their wheels are perpendicular to it (excluding holonomic systems). I definitely do not think that the intent of the rule was to allow pinning on either the overpass or the walls and I think referee calls will reflect this.

Originally Posted by Scott358

Hello Ziv,

When you say you've "checked this possibility a couple times", who did you check with?

From what I see, "impeding" is preventing or obstructing an opposing ROBOT’S ability to proceed around the TRACK in the direction of traffic. This could mean that you have all rights to stop a robot from moving against the direction of traffic by merely parking behind them (as I would not suggest pushing a robot into the overpass).

Also, as Gary has stated (as defined by past experince) pinning was called on a robot that pushed another robot against a field element, but merely parking behind them would not be pushing them. As there is no clear definition of pinning (that I can find), but there is history that you need to be pushing a robot to be pinning them, this does not appear to be pinning.

I'd suggest the answer is not so clear unless asked directly to FIRST Q&A. I'll try to get hold of my team leader to ask, but if anyone else has direct access to ask questions, please do so.

Does your robot have a parking brake? If not I can't imagine you would be much of a hindrance parking behind an opposing robot. Many robots will plow you out of the way like you aren't even there.

As you said, the only way that we'll truly know would be to ask the Q&A or to wait and see what happens in week 1.