YMTC: Bluabot comes to rest touching a blue trackball on the overpass

[Ashburn]

Thank you 2008 GDC! You Make The Call (YMTC) is a series of situations where you are the official and make the call.
Please reference specific rules when applicable. The results of YMTC are not official and are for educational purposes only.

Welcome to the inaugural Dogwood Regional! We are here in the second match of what has already been a thrilling final. Bluateam, with their #1 seeded, yet-undefeated, fast-driving, high-hurdling Bluabot, has, in cooperation with strong alliance partners, come to the very precipice of victory at Dogwood. In the first match of the final round, however, Redalliance gave Blualliance a run for their money in a match that ended with a Blue victory, 108 to 106. As the second match of the finals gets underway, the scoring is fast and furious. Both teams are going for broke and the hurdles just keep on coming. With only 15 seconds to go in the match, Redalliance has a 10 point lead over the mighty Blualliance, 118 to 108. With 11 seconds to go in the match, Bluabot caps a blue trackball on the Blue Overpass and crosses the Blue finish line. Seeing that Blualliance may still need to put more points on the board in order to eek out the win, Bluabot races around the track to try to get one last lap in before the buzzer.

Bluabot weaves in and out of traffic as it flies around the track. Bluabot turns on the jets as it crosses the opponent’s finish line with just seconds to go. Rounding the last corner with only one second remaining, Bluabot heads for the Blue finish line. When the clock strikes zero and the buzzer sounds, Bluabot is still 5 feet from the finish line. Bluabot coasts to a stop underneath the overpass. In the stands, Blualliance’s fans look at the real-time scoring ( 118 to 110 in favor of Red) and factor in the capped blue trackball and erupt into cheers of victory! But wait! The referees are inspecting the blue trackball on the overpass. It appears that Bluabot has come to rest in a position where its ball-removal device is touching the blue trackball on the overpass!

Assuming a penalty-free match, does Bluateam's alliance get the harrowing 4 point win and take home gold at the inaugural Dogwood Regional? Or has Redalliance held on to score an upset victory by 8 points to force the finals to a rubber match?

Based on the 2008 Rules, YOU MAKE THE CALL!

[JesseK]

This is easy if you've read the latest Q & A:
At the end of the match, when the timer reaches 0, the trackball was not in free-flight. The robot's exact position when the clock reaches 0 is all that matters. Therefore, when the clock hit 0 the robot was not in contact with the ball and therefore meets the requirements of a valid end-game bonus.

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=9296

If the Trackball is not in free-flight (i.e. in contact with a Robot or the Overpass or other field element) when the clock reaches zero, then the Trackball’s contribution to the score will be based on the conditions that exist as the Match ends.

[martin417]

Based on <G14>, there is a problem in that the ball is in contact with a robot of the same alliance, and would not score.

BUT, the robot was not in contact at the end of the match. This is defined in rule <G02> as when the clock reaches zero seconds. All stationary trackballs are scored at match end, trackballs in motion (and unrestrained) are scored when they come to rest.

Therefore, the trackball counts, Blues gets the 12 point bonus.

[dlavery]

Another trick question! You aren't going to fool us this time! The situation as described can't exist. In the first paragraph of the problem, "Redalliance has a 10 point lead over the mighty Blualliance, 118 to 108". But in the second paragraph, the scores suddenly flip and Bluealliance is winning 118-110 ("...real-time scoring [118 to 110 in favor of Blue]") with no explanation for what has happened. Since this obviously can only happen when a rift in the space-time continuum collides with an improbability singularity, we have to officially put this in the "I don't think so" file.

Okay, assuming the above condition was the result of a simple typo and the intended situation is one where Redalliance is winning prior to the addition of bonus points at the end of the match, then the outcome is straightforward:

Robots are scored based on where they are when the buzzer sounds. Trackballs are scored based on where they are when the buzzer sounds, or where they come to rest if they are in unrestrained motion when the buzzer sounds.

At the sound of the buzzer, Blueabot was five feet from the Overpass. It is scored based on that position. At the sound of the buzzer, the blue Trackball was at rest on the Overpass. It is scored based on where it was at that moment. Anything that happens after that - including Blueabot coasting into contact with the Trackball - is irrelevant and does not matter.

The referess quickly realize that there is no issue here and declare the winner. Bluealliance justifiably erupts into joy.

-dave



.

[OScubed]

This one's easy and was covered at the Philly Regionals. The Robot is scored where it was when the buzzer sounded. Had the ball been in motion it would have been scored where it came to rest. The "hang" counts, but crossing the finish line does not because the robot was scored at the point it was at when the buzzer sounded - prior to crossing the line. Blue Alliance (clap clap clapclapclap)

[alex1699]

that happened in bosten to 1699 yes it made us mad but hey it happens.

[Molten]

I agree that blue alliance should win.
Just a note to all: Make a robot that stops when the clock does and you won't have to worry about it.

[dilbert]

Originally Posted by JesseK

This is easy if you've read the latest Q & A:
At the end of the match, when the timer reaches 0, the trackball was not in free-flight. The robot's exact position when the clock reaches 0 is all that matters. Therefore, when the clock hit 0 the robot was not in contact with the ball and therefore meets the requirements of a valid end-game bonus.

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=9296

Yep, that is absolutely correct. The Definition of the end of the match is at the end of Teleoperated Period, when the timer shows zero <G02>. A trackball "capped" is considered capped when the match ends, or when the timer reaches zero <G14>. The Trackball bonus is awarded.

I think I accidentally voted wrong. I got the color of the ball confused...BlueAlliance Wins!