Hey I just had one point of curiosity to bring up, the Battlecry website says that its limited to 36 teams and the finals are set up for 36 teams, However under warriors participating it list 38 teams, Is there an alternate system or am I just missing something?
Chris
Proudly Survived First year of College FIRST: 229
*Originally posted by Chris *
**Proudly Survived First year of College FIRST: 229 **
Note: Just Barely…
3 Days until BattleCry.
Just spoke to a BC4 staff member. The website simply hasn’t been updated. There will be only 36 teams competing.
And by the way, anyone seen the SITREP #4? Pretty interesting… outlines a new way of scoring, as well as outlining specifics regarding “tipping” of robots… 
From The Rules…
Tipping Rule Clarification: In general, a tipping DQ will result when the ‘tipper’ initiates a lifting action that results in tipping; if the ‘tippee’ initiates the action, there is no fault.
Examples:
Very clear and concise guidelines, which is good, one problem though…there is no mention of two robots ramming each other and one riding up a wedge. This happens quite often, especially on the ramp, in both normal and autonomous modes. Might be a good idea to clarify this rule just a little bit further. Otherwise, I think the current guidelines are fair. Good job.
My impression of the situation that you describe is that neither robot would be at fault, and therefore no tipping penalty would be called. Essentially, if two robots are engaged in an aggressive pushing battle or something, you accept the consequences of being involved, which I think is fine.
However these rules clarify that if your robot is stationary (or I would also assume moving away from the wedgebot) and they are approached and engaged by the wedgebot at all, any tipping that occurs of the engaged robot would be the fault of the wedgebot (even if it is continued driving/manuvering by the engaged bot that essentially causes the tipping, it was the wedgebot who first approached and put them in this situation). I think that is a very good interpretation of the tipping rule and I trust the Battlecry refs to make good and fair calls based on it.
I am also very happy to see mention of robots who can right themselves. Those tips are often overlooked simply because robots can do that. But we get tipped too!
Anyway, I’m happy to see the clarification before the competition and hope any interpretation issues can be cleared up nefore Saturday!
Can’t wait!
What if a “wedge bot” is defending a stack, and another robot tries to get around them to knock if down. The wedge bot then maneuvers itself between the other bot, and the stack.
Technically, the wedgebot is moving and “engaging” the other robot, but in actuality it is simply repositioning itself for blocking/defense.
What is the call?
I say let it be. The other driver knows that it’s a wedge bot…
Another thing that these rules don’t address is if a robot uses a box to flip another bot (extremely common and most of the time unintentional).
And it also doesn’t state what happened when a robot is on the ramp and is flipped. Many robots, especially tall robots, were flipped by teams that didn’t even have a wedge. For example, team 42 was really defensive with the 157 in the semi-finals at Mayhem on the Merrimack, and tipped them over about 4 times in that match.
And what if a robot accidentally tips another robot, and the tipper de-flip it up so it can move again? Will the judge consider that too?
You’re asking all the right questions (to an extent I suppose), but all in the wrong place
The people to ask are the refs at BattleCry And either way the clarification lists examples, not all the specifics and also mentions that any ruling is indeed the refs decision.
Who will be the head-ref?
Gary Fields?
-John
To offer my interpretation of what would be the answer to Kyle’s last question… if a robot is tipped over, the team righting it wouldn’t matter. Just as they say the tipping rule applies even when a robot can right itself, I would guess that it implies in any situation even if the robot ends up righted.
You have to look that in most situations, the two robots involved in a tipping occurance are both actively pursuing each other. I believe the intent of the rule is to prevent/discourage deliberate actions to tip a stationary or retreating robot over. Many of the tips in off season competitions occur when both robots are in motion at one another, and often top heavy robots end up on the lower half of that meeting.
But there were at least a couple incidents I saw at off-seasons were a stationary robot was wedged under and tipped or a robot driving the other way was chased, caught, and eventually tipped. These clarifications, as I interpret them, are to prevent these occurances and what could be considered malicious or ‘brutal’ tipping.
And just as other years, there will be a very qualified group of refs with FIRST experience. I’m sure we can count on very consistent calling of all rules and a fair event for all.
Looking forward to it.