Penalties for a part falling off of robot?

[fordchrist675]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

At the Los Angeles Regional, a number of penalties were issued for damaged robots leaving parts on the field. Even in the finals, a penalty was issued to Team 330 because a chain failed and ended up on the field.

It seems to me that having a part fail and losing capability in a robot is enough of a penalty for an alliance. Isn't tacking on an additional point penalty like pouring salt in a wound?

The intent of <R16> (which can be invoked under <S04>), is to prevent teams from gaining an advantage by expanding outside of the frame perimeter prior to the FINALE period. Having a part of the drive system fail so that it's now left the frame perimeter is hardly an advantage for the team involved.

Is this penalty the norm at other regionals?

At SVR I didn't see it called too many times, It didnt happen in the finals I was a little perplexed by it cause I read the rules as if a part broke, fell, or came off it would result in a penalty.