***THE GAME OFFICIAL: AIM HIGH***

[b_mallerd]

I'm still wondering about that ball issue.

Does this mean that each team will already have 40 balls at thier disposal ALONG WITH up to 10 balls in each robot? Or does it mean 40 balls and you can stick balls in the robots but then that gets subtracted from your total?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by b_mallerd

I'm still wondering about that ball issue.

Does this mean that each team will already have 40 balls at thier disposal ALONG WITH up to 10 balls in each robot? Or does it mean 40 balls and you can stick balls in the robots but then that gets subtracted from your total?

Your alliance as a whole gets 40. Each robot can hold up to 10. Any balls the robots don't have onboard get distributed at the player stations.

[BrianR]

I have a specific question. It states in this rule:

<G13> Balls Contained in ROBOTs at the Start of a match - Each ALLIANCE will start a match with 40 balls.
Each ROBOT may contain up to 10 balls at the start of a match. Any balls not contained within the robot
will be evenly distributed between the alliance ball corrals. All of the balls must be contained within the
ROBOT’s 28” x 38” x 60” starting volume and must be clearly visible from outside the ROBOT. The
Head Referee will require that balls outside of the starting volume be removed. It is the responsibility of
the head referee to verify that this rule is satisfied prior to the start of the match.

So do they have to be totally visible, from all angles, which sounds a bit unreasonable, or should the referee just be able to see each ball from some point outside of the robot, and if that is so, what happens if because a bunch of balls are stacked together, a ball is hidden by other balls, and is thus not visible to the referee? Is there a penalty for that, I can't find a penalty for failing to comply with this rule, so what exactly would they do in that situation.

[George A.]

I don't think that it will be penalized when 10 balls are piled in...you obviously can't see through the balls...or it could be one of these "up to the discretion of the referee" deals...in which case they should have a set guideline to go by so there isn't the confusion like there was last year.

[slickguy2007]

Originally Posted by BrianR

I have a specific question. It states in this rule:

<G13> Balls Contained in ROBOTs at the Start of a match - Each ALLIANCE will start a match with 40 balls.
Each ROBOT may contain up to 10 balls at the start of a match. Any balls not contained within the robot
will be evenly distributed between the alliance ball corrals. All of the balls must be contained within the
ROBOT’s 28” x 38” x 60” starting volume and must be clearly visible from outside the ROBOT. The
Head Referee will require that balls outside of the starting volume be removed. It is the responsibility of
the head referee to verify that this rule is satisfied prior to the start of the match.

So do they have to be totally visible, from all angles, which sounds a bit unreasonable, or should the referee just be able to see each ball from some point outside of the robot, and if that is so, what happens if because a bunch of balls are stacked together, a ball is hidden by other balls, and is thus not visible to the referee? Is there a penalty for that, I can't find a penalty for failing to comply with this rule, so what exactly would they do in that situation.

That is a good question, I would bring it up with Q&A and wait for their response. I would assume that they just want to make sure that before the 10 balls are loaded, the robot does not already contain extra balls for cheating purposes. So as long as the refs can easily see nothing is in the robot before and after matches, you should not have a problem. This is only an assumption, I would still contact Q&A about this.

GO 1403 and GOOD LUCK TO ALL 2006 FRC TEAMS!!!

[PARhodes]

Just design for the rule. If the ref cant see them, like you said its up to their discretion, but i wouldnt take the chance.

[cbudrecki]

3.4.3 Ball CorralsA Ball Corral is located at the ends of the Alliance Station Wall to restrain any balls that enter through the Corner Goals. The Ball Corral covers a four-by-four foot area. The side walls of the Ball Corral are three feet tall and constructed of square aluminum tube and polycarbonate. The back wall of the Ball Corral is of similar construction, except it is only 20 inches tall to permit easy retrieval of balls from the interior of the corral.

<G39>Scoring Inerference - HUMAN PLAYERs, DRIVERs, or COACHes may not reach into a ball chute or in any way interfere with the ball counting system. Violations of this rule will result in DQ.

I'm I misinterpreting, or do these statements contradict each other?

[PARhodes]

I think there are designated makrs on the ball chorals which would be "roped off". Just dont reach into there which would interefere play. But you need to pick the balls out.

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by tb222

3.4.3 Ball CorralsA Ball Corral is located at the ends of the Alliance Station Wall to restrain any balls that enter through the Corner Goals. The Ball Corral covers a four-by-four foot area. The side walls of the Ball Corral are three feet tall and constructed of square aluminum tube and polycarbonate. The back wall of the Ball Corral is of similar construction, except it is only 20 inches tall to permit easy retrieval of balls from the interior of the corral.

<G39>Scoring Inerference - HUMAN PLAYERs, DRIVERs, or COACHes may not reach into a ball chute or in any way interfere with the ball counting system. Violations of this rule will result in DQ.

I'm I misinterpreting, or do these statements contradict each other?

No.
The ball chute is the drop for the center goal and the ball corral is for the two corner goals. You may not interfere with the ball counting system for either.

Originally Posted by netman85am204

I am believing that the velocity speed limit (12 m/s or 28.6 mph) would be the fastest the ball could travel through the center goal to actually be counted as a score by the automatic counting mechanism for their alliance.

-matt

This is incorrect. Per <S02>, the velocity at which the ball exits the muzzle(your robot) may not excede 12 m/s. This is considered in violation of <S01>, 10 point penatly and disabled for the remainder of the match.

Originally Posted by <S02>

Muzzle Velocity - No ROBOT may throw a ball with an exit velocity of greater than 12 m/s (26.8 mph). As a reference, a ball traveling at this velocity when leaving the ROBOT at an angle of 30º from horizontal with no spin will travel approximately 35 feet. A robot that violates this rule will be considered unsafe per <S01>.

Does anyone know if a human player picking up a ball from the corral happens to drop it across the counting system, will the other team get a point?

Wetzel