Is pinning opposing robots trailers allowed?

[spiffyspleen]

Our team was thinking of building a robot that would pin other robot's trailers to the wall close to our alliances throwers so that way they could easily throw the rocks and cells into the trailer. We would do this by having an indent on the front of our robot the shape and size of half of the trailer. This indent would have bumpers all around it, so it would just be bumper to bumper contact. the indent would just fit inside the 38in. width requirement. I can't find any rules that would prevent this.

[XXShadowXX]

Originally Posted by spiffyspleen

I can't find any rules that would prevent this.

Just logic; If you stop, your trailer stops, and you become a easy target. For the other two robots, and the other 3 throwers

[Bongle]

I don't see what would stop the other robot from pulling their trailer away from you. They'd have their full pulling power, and would gradually pull away from you. You'd slow them down for sure, but I don't think you could actually permanently pin them. It'd be even easier for them if they were partially on the carpeted area, while you'd be on the regolith.

[Schneidie]

There is no rule against pinning this year, and as long as the system you have doesn't qualify as "entanglement" of the other robot (and maybe the trailer, unsure about that) and doesn't physically attach to the trailer, there is no rule that expressly forbids this.

[markulrich]

I don't think you could build official bumpers in an indent, because the bumper zone is defined by the polygon formed if you wrap a string around your robot, so you can't have official bumpers in indents.

[GBilletdeaux930]

I dunno this might be stretching it, but everything else(2/3) of the robot were covered by bumpers, then technically they'd have enough of the robot covered in legal bumpers, and the others were just extra.

So i dunno. Thats probably pushing it a little too far.

[Mike Schreiber]

To answer your question, yes, pinning your opponent and/or their trailer is allowed. The practicality however is questionable.

When you pin them:
-You are on regolith and they are on carpet (This is the intent of the carpet).
-They stop making them an easier target.
-You also stop making you an easier target.
-You are close to your opponent making it more likely that your human player will accidentally hit your trailer...I know, I know, you have perfect aim right?

On the other hand, pinning them to dump the contents of your robot into their trailer may be a more viable strategy.

[GBilletdeaux930]

Originally Posted by ICanCountTo19

When you pin them:
-You also stop making you an easier target.
-You are close to your opponent making it more likely that your human player will accidentally hit your trailer...I know, I know, you have perfect aim right?

Is there a rule saying that you can't make something that pushes and pulls your trailer back and like a tail wags, making it a harder target? As long as its within the dimensions.

[ShadowNinja]

the truth is pinning has pros and cons..
pro-u get a rbot against a wall con-we r on ice like surface a push might not work

con the wall is a scary place and makes u an easy target..

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by GBilletdeaux930

Is there a rule saying that you can't make something that pushes and pulls your trailer back and like a tail wags, making it a harder target? As long as its within the dimensions.

Try <G29>

[Brdn666]

If your robot could be fed while you sit there and pump rocks into the pinned robot, then you'd have a viable pinning strategy.

[Mike Schreiber]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Try <G29>

<G29>Arena Interaction –ROBOTS may push or react against any elements of the ARENA, provided there is no damage or disruption of the ARENA elements. With the exception of a ROBOT towing a TRAILER, ROBOTS may not grab, grasp, grapple, or attach to any ARENA structure. If a ROBOT violates this rule, the TEAM will be given one warning. If the referee determines that the TEAM is disregarding the warning, their ROBOT will be disabled for the remainder of the MATCH. ROBOTS that become entangled in the ARENA elements will not be freed until after the MATCH has finished, unless the entanglement represents a safety hazard.

I'm not sure that applies. As long as you do not touch the trailer or hitch with anything except bumper to bumper contact you should be good. You'll have to innovative there. You also run into the problem of the friction of forward wheels "wagging" sideways which is basically double the friction which is still basically none though.

[GaryVoshol]

GBilletdeaux930, in the post I responded to, wanted something that would wag the trailer back and forth like the tail of a dog. That sounded like grasping the trailer to me.

[GBilletdeaux930]

Yea the only way to do it would involve grasping...

So your pretty much stuck.

[bduddy]

Originally Posted by GBilletdeaux930

Is there a rule saying that you can't make something that pushes and pulls your trailer back and like a tail wags, making it a harder target? As long as its within the dimensions.

And you must use a specific design of trailer tongue defined within the rules, so you can't do it that way. Just swerve back and forth constantly