In rule update 1-18, it shows the cylinder rotating with the robot. If our robot was to drive up the side of the tower would the cylinder be perpendicular to the face of the pyramid or what?
The ruling on that was that while in contact with the Pyramid, the cylinder can be in any orientation, so whatever orientation fits your robot best goes. I’ll see if I can dig up a link to the ruling.
The cylinder is always vertical relative to the robot. There is also the 54" perimeter around the base of the pyramid. See G23-1.
http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/Updates/0#term%2042
In other words, if you were to use your normal drivebase to drive up the side of the pyramid, the cylinder would be perpendicular to the side of the pyramid–but would be cut off at 54" from the base of the pyramid.
This Q&A would indicate that the cylinder may be oriented in any manner, and is not limited to “vertical relative to the robot.”
- Sunny G.
I thought it was any orientation?
It is, but I don’t believe they’ve updated the actual text of the rules to clarify that point yet.
And I was looking only at the rules.
Which is why anybody reading this should read the Q&A–sometimes, the Q&A overrides a rule before the update. (And, in the event that the GDC forgets, or a ref isn’t up to date–you have Q&A as backup in the event of a question of interpretation with a ref.)