FIRST Rule Changes

[EricH]

Originally Posted by RRLedford

Was the 2002 Team Hammond robot strategy to do something within "the letter of the rules" that produced an unfair advantage over the competition?

Aside from the fact that few, if any teams could push them, no.

The rules that year allowed metal on the carpet (for the last time). Team 71 built a "flop-bot" robot (started in the box, then tipped over) that would race out while it was falling and grab three goals (there were 3 mobile goals in the middle of the field). About the time that it grabbed the goals, it finished falling down, engaging their file-card walking drive. They then proceeded to take the remaining minute and a half or so of the match to crawl the goals to scoring position. Team after team after pair of teams tried to push them or disengage the goals. Either of those cases was extremely rare. They racked up their 3rd Championship that year, after winning the year before, becoming the only back-to-back champions in FRC history.

It was certainly within the letter of the rules. It was within the spirit of the rules, too--Zone Zeal was a push'o'war. But it was an unfair advantage. At least, certain people might call it unfair.