<G29>

Competition Rules/Strategy
#1

Rule <G29> States:

ROBOTS may push or react against any elements of the ARENA, provided there is no damage or disruption of the ARENA elements. With the exception of a ROBOT towing a TRAILER, ROBOTS may not grab, grasp, grapple, or attach to any ARENA structure. If a ROBOT violates this rule, the TEAM will be given one warning. If the referee determines that the TEAM is disregarding the warning, their ROBOT will be disabled for the remainder of the MATCH. ROBOTS that become entangled in the ARENA elements will not be freed until after the MATCH has finished, unless the entanglement represents a safety hazard.

Does this include the Trailer itself?

#2

As defined in section 6: The Trailer is a piece of field equipment so yes the rule does apply. You may not latch/grab onto another goal

#3

You raise a good question.

The TRAILER is a field element in and of itself (6.4). Robots may not attach to any field element (exception: robot towing trailer).

My interpretation: The exception is for the robot that is currently towing that trailer through the hitch. That robot alone can attach to the trailer (through the hitch), and no other robot may. Robots doing so are subject to the penalties in the Manual.

I would also check with Q&A just to be sure, but don’t plan on attaching to opponents’ trailers.

#4

Hmm, this came up VERY frequently during our design discussions. We were wondering about the fine line of possesion and not, say if the front of the robot was concaved allowing the goal to come within the bumper zone.

#5

I do not see why that would be illegal. You are merely pushing against the goal (legal) with a vertical face of your bumper/robot even if it does provide a more effective control surface. As long as you do not have anything going into the other goal or somehow attaching yourself to it, fair game. Pinning is legal, the only question is can you actually do it given the primary problem this year: moving across the field.

#6

On further research, I found this little tidbit:

<G32> F. A ROBOT may not attach to and/or climb onto a ROBOT or TRAILER. Doing so will be interpreted as an attempt to damage an opposing ROBOT, and will be penalized as such.

Sorry, guys, grabbing a trailer other than your own through the hitch is illegal.

Pinning, however, is not.

#7

If you look down at another rule it specifically says that a robot may not attach to any other robot or game piece, the trailer has to be either one of those, so sorry no you can not :confused:

#8

Robots are allowed to attach to game pieces! I think you mean robots or field elements. The trailer is one of the latter.