Overdrive <G22> poll: yea or nay?

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by Dave Flowerday

The way I read the poll, 59% right now have voted for either "it's good but could be fixed" or "it's bad but could be fixed". Only 35% say that nothing is wrong. To me, this is a clear majority saying that there is at least some problem with the rule that could be better. In fact, I'd even say that the noisy minority is the group saying nothing is wrong (35%).

Dave, every rule written could find people that want to see it modified. It is a rule and that means constraints. There are always people that want all constraints removed and those who want them lessened. As for me I would like to see the rule called as written:

<G22> Direction Of Traffic – ROBOTS must proceed around the TRACK in a counter-clockwise
direction. Once a ROBOT has CROSSED a LANE MARKER or FINISH LINE, it shall not
break the plane of the line by moving in the clockwise direction. A PENALTY will be
assigned for each infraction.

In the Arena section it states :
6.2.1 Boundaries and Markings
The TRACK is an octagonal carpeted 27 feet by 54 feet area, bounded by two Alliance Station
Walls and a Guardrail System. and
As the ROBOTS move in a counter-clockwise direction around the TRACK, the quadrant of the
TRACK immediately preceding the FINISH LINE for each ALLIANCE is known as the “HOME
STRETCH.”

This is my Q&A question:
As I have read in the Q&A in gives the indication that moving clockwise within a quadrant is allowed. Should the rule have stated that robots must move in a counter clockwise direction between quadrants but may move in any direct within the quadrant or is the rule correct that all traffic must be in a counter-clockwise direction?

I only got a see other question answer. As written there is nothing that states it is OK to drive backwards in a quadrant. I know that it states that you will be penalized for crossing back over a line but no other examples are given. I guess my point is, there are definite rules stating DO NOT cross back over the line that have been there since day 1. It may not be the best rule but it does state the rule, penalty and above all has not changed since day 1. Why is this such a big issue? When you get a ticket for going the wrong way on the street can you use the defence that I only went a bit the wrong way?

Last year we were upset that the rules continually were changing and now we are upset that they are not. No wonder FIRST has a problem figuring out what is best when we can't decide. Again I state my point, Rules should not be changed during competition season. Explanations are OK but don't change the rules.