Team Update 4

[GaryVoshol]

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nt.aspx?id=450

I don't understand this change:

<G45> Active BALL control - ROBOTS may not control BALL direction with active MECHANISMS above the BUMPER ZONE. Violation: PENALTY.

By striking the word ZONE, doesn't this effectively mean that ROBOTS may control BALL direction with MECHANISMS, as long as they are not directly above the BUMPERS? And since you can't have a mechanism that goes outside your FRAME PERIMETER (except in FINALE or when touching the TOWER) it's not possible to interact with BALLS in that 3.5" stripe of volume above your BUMPER. Previously anything that was more than 16" above the floor could not be used. Now?

[Nuttyman54]

I'm pretty sure it's just to clarify that it's above the specific height of the bumpers on a particular robot, not the generalized zone (10"-16") above the ground.

Assuming 5" tall bumpers, the original rule would have allowed a robot with bumpers between 10" and 15" to have an active mechanism at 16" and still be legal because it is not above the BUMPER ZONE.

[DonRotolo]

I agree with NuttyMan54's interpretation.

And AMEN they struck the word "Breadboard".

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Hmmm,

Does this mean that an elevated robot can control (not possess) a ball with an active mechanism as long as it's below the current height of the bumper?

[Locke64]

Originally Posted by Daniel_LaFleur

Hmmm,

Does this mean that an elevated robot can control (not possess) a ball with an active mechanism as long as it's below the current height of the bumper?

Oh right, I hadn't thought of that. They probably changed it so you can still interact with the ball when on a bump, or pushing it into a goal, as it would technically be above the BUMPER ZONE.