Suspension

[Donut]

I believe in the given scenario only the elevated robot would score its 2 points, while the others would be touching something other than an elevated robot and would score nothing. However if the pile of robots shifted such that robot B contacted the tower and was held above 20" while robot A remained ELEVATED, the alliance would receive 4 points since robot B would still be considered elevated (above the plane of the platform and contacting the tower). C would still receive 0 of course.

This also brings up another potentially strategy: team A could build a ramp bot with a ramp/platform above 20". If they positioned themselves near the tower, teams B and C could drive on top of them and touch the tower with their robots. Both teams B and C would then be considered elevated and receive a 4 point bonus.

[Woody1458]

Another idea is that a team could find a way to be on the platform then drape the poles with a cloth. Then any robot that hangs from the pole would only be touching the cloth and thus considered suspended. FIRST classically though does not like it when you use unintended loopholes though and will likely redefine suspension later in the season. I am reminded team 190 during Overdrive, they were able to complete legal hurdles without ever moving their robot. FIRST, as I recall, later deemed this strategy illegal.

[keehun]

Above the platform surface, touching the tower.... Does that mean a robot can get on top of the underpass, and touch one of the side poles and that counts as a bonus? (No suspension)

[Donut]

Originally Posted by keehun

Above the platform surface, touching the tower.... Does that mean a robot can get on top of the underpass, and touch one of the side poles and that counts as a bonus? (No suspension)

Following the current definition of ELEVATED, a robot that sits on top of the platform and touches part of the tower will get a bonus. This will probably be one of the first and most significant Q&A questions when they can be asked though.

[Collin Fultz]

Originally Posted by keehun

Above the platform surface, touching the tower.... Does that mean a robot can get on top of the underpass, and touch one of the side poles and that counts as a bonus? (No suspension)

Why would you have to touch a side pole? In the definition of the TOWER, the PLATFORM is listed as part of it. Thus, if you're sitting completely on the PLATFORM, you are ELEVATED.

[knuckleduster]

So I see that you can just drive up onto the platform and deploy a ramp that lets another robot up onto you and if they aren't touching anything else they are suspended and you get 5 points total.

[XaulZan11]

Originally Posted by knuckleduster

So I see that you can just drive up onto the platform and deploy a ramp that lets another robot up onto you and if they aren't touching anything else they are suspended and you get 5 points total.

You would no longer be an elevated robot as your ramp would be below the plane, thus this would result in 0 points.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by XaulZan11

You would no longer be an elevated robot as your ramp would be below the plane, thus this would result in 0 points.

If said ramp was raised after being driven on, it would get a bonus, but I think there are easier ways of doing it.