<G19>

[mastoll]

So, we have a lot of "I think this is what it means." When we question a rule like this, is it up to conjecture, or at some point will a rule-maker come in and confirm our suspicions? Who speaks with true authority here?

In summary, the strongest suspicion regarding rule G19 so far is that
1) if you DON'T attempt to depoly a minibot, you're fine, no penalty
2) if you DO attempt to deploy a minibot and something goes awry (i.e. it doesn't attach to the pole, it falls off, it isn't autonomous) there is a penalty.

[ChristopherBuck]

Originally Posted by mastoll

So, we have a lot of "I think this is what it means." When we question a rule like this, is it up to conjecture, or at some point will a rule-maker come in and confirm our suspicions? Who speaks with true authority here?

FIRST is the true authority. Clarifications are made through the Q&A system. All conjecture here is un-official. To my knowledge, no official FIRST statement will be posted here, only through their Q&A system if so requested. Eventually, that clarification may be reposted here, but everything here is without "authority" I suppose.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by mastoll

Who speaks with true authority here?

Where game rules are involved, nobody speaks with true authority here.

The Game Design Committee gives its official answers in the FRC Q&A forum, and any rule changes or clarifications are published as Team Updates.

[ChristopherBuck]

<R54-C> refers to a figure 3-5 which doesnt exist. I assume they mean figure 4-5 which is right below it

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by ChristopherBuck

<R54-C> refers to a figure 3-5 which doesnt exist. I assume they mean figure 4-5 which is right below it

There are several figures in section 3 which are labeled with a 4. I expect that to be quickly corrected in the first revision.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

If I choose that my end game is better spent scoring tubes rather then deploying my mini-robot, why would the highest race score be discounted?

It wouldn't. <G19> is in effect only AFTER you DEPLOY a minibot. The words after "Violation" refer to the penalty for deploying a minibot that does not remain completely autonomous.

<G19> After DEPLOYMENT, MINIBOTS must remain completely autonomous. Violation: The TOWER on which the MINIBOT is DEPLOYED is diabled. If the MINIBOT is not deployed on a TOWER, then the ALLIANCE’s TOWER upon which the highest RACE SCORE was earned will be discounted.

(emphasis mine).

[ATannahill]

Thank you Don. I'm getting it now.

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

It wouldn't. <G19> is in effect only AFTER you DEPLOY a minibot. The words after "Violation" refer to the penalty for deploying a minibot that does not remain completely autonomous.

And the penalty for deploying a robot somewhere other than on the tower, correct? So if the minibot was to be deployed (I think that that "deployed" references the act of releasing the bot, regardless of where it's at - it's not in caps), say, five feet away from the tower, that penalty would apply.

[DonRotolo]

Right. There's another rule prohibiting dropping minibot elsewhere.

In this violation statement, they disable the tower you deployed to...but IF you weren't ON/AT ANY tower, the rest of the text explains what happens then.