Question regarding rule specification
ROBOTS may not grab, grasp, grapple or attach to any field structure
Would this rule out a airplane air refuel type system where we try to hold the spider so it doesnt shake so we can mount rings easier? It isnt exactly attaching, just holding it in place by putting a frame around the goal. What is your oppinion? Does it violate the rule?
-Martin Cacan
“grab” and “hold” are synonymous to me…
It seems to me like there is a difference since the words they use to describe illegal contact with structures are all active functions…whereas containing the goal is a passive opperation.
-Martin Cacan
Well, if you have something wrapping around it, and able to pick it up or opens and closes, i don’t think that would be allowed, but if you an open sided stationary frame fit to the size of the tube and hold it in place, I wouldn’t see anything wrong with it.
It would be like a funnel that would help us guide onto the goal. It wouldnt open or close or anything but it still is around the goal plate.
-Martin Cacan
You may align the leg with a funnel-type device. As long as you are not ATTACHED to the leg (ie, suction, magnet, etc) you are in the clear.
Is that a personal oppinion or a for sure.
just fyi to consider…since the rack is solid aluminum magnets are out of the question.
-Martin Cacan
If what you are using to stabilize your robot presses against the rack, you are fine. If what you are using to stabilize your robot connects the robot to the rack, it’s no good.
Does anyone know if the rack rotates during the game? Can you bump it to make it spin around so that it is harder for the other team to score? Is the rack Bolted down right before the game play?
it is not able to spin during matches
No, the rack does not rotate during the game. You cannot move it with the robot.
is this personal opinion or have you found out that it is completely legal.
-Martin Cacan
I am having trouble finding the rule about this, can you point it out?
The rack does not spin as far as I know but does shake from side to side from contact if you watch the video with Dean and Woody.
This is not entirely true. The rack is chained to a fixed base located at the center of the field, but it is free to move within the limits of the chains. The only thing holding it in place is friction with the carpet. White it won’t spin, a hard knock with the robot can cause it to shift or rotate slightly.
So as long as your robot isn’t attached to the rack, you can move/shake it however you want to…
6-The arenda. page 5 or 8 on the rack. mid way
The platform is firmly attached to the floor of the Playing Field
The platform is firmly attached, but the rack is only connected to the platform with loose chains, and can (and probably will) move.
According to <G07> the rack can be moved as in slide by the judges once both alliances have positioned their robots.The Rack can be slide inside of a 3ft radius of the middle of the field. this eliminates alot of dead reconing. it does swing as well.
this is true, but I don’t see anything on it not moving during the match, if you look at <G07>
“Center RACK position - After all six ROBOTS are in their starting positions and theDRIVERS, COACHES and HUMAN PLAYERS are in the ALLIANCE ZONE, the RACK willbe moved (translated and/or rotated) to an arbitrary position so that the center of the RACKis within a 3 foot radius of the playing field center but the exact location and orientation ofthe RACK is unpredictable. After this point in time no ROBOT may be moved or repositioned until the match starts.”-from manual
Is there more that I haven’t read the entire thing yet, but nothing states, that I have read, about it being bolted down. If it moves at the beginning of the match i wouldn’t think it would, because then you would have holes in the field.