When a robot reaches the loading zone to get a tetra from a human player, what needs to be in the zone? Does something need to overhang, or does the chassis need to be over hanging? Or does the wheel base itself need to be in? Thanks in advance.
I believe the whole robot needs to be in the zone but a claw can overhang to pick up a tetra.
Only some of the robot has to be in the loading station, BUT it has to be physically touching the loading station triangle on the field. This means that if you only have an arm over the triangle, you can’t load it until a part actually touches the triangle on the floor.
**<G12> **The purpose of the LOADING ZONE is to allow ROBOTS to quickly and safely receive TETRAS without interference while HUMAN PLAYERS and/or field attendants are in close proximity, and then return to play. The LOADING ZONE is not intended to serve as a “perpetual safety zone” to prevent interaction with opponent ROBOTS for the entire match. Tethers, tape measures, long extension arms, and other devices intended to contact the LOADING ZONE to maintain the “non-interference constraint” defined in <G15> while the ROBOT drives around the remainder of the field are against the spirit of the rule and will not be permitted.Such devices must be removed before the ROBOT will be permitted to play in the match.
For reference:
<G15> A ROBOT may not interfere with an opposing ROBOT while any part of the opposing ROBOT is touching its LOADING ZONE and the ROBOT is in the process of retrieving/receiving a TETRA. It is intended that TETRAS be introduced into play as rapidly as the alliance ROBOTS are able to retrieve and utilize them. Violations will result in a 30-point penalty (i.e. three 10-point penalty flags will be thrown) to the offending alliance.
a piece of your robot needs to be touching the triangle on the floor for you to be able to pick up a tetra
If you still have questions about what needs to be in the zone, try reading Section 4, Rules <G01> to <G26>.
http://www2.usfirst.org/2005comp/Section_4-The_Game.pdf
All the answers you need should be there. If you still have questions after that, try submitting them to the official FIRST Q&A.
Q:Regarding <G17>: What are the parameters for being “in” a loading zone?
A:The robot base and / or drive train must be touching the loading zone. The intent of this rule is that you must be in the loading zone. By making it blatantly obvious that you are in the loading zone, you will draw far less attention from the referees.
So, I’m not expecting it to be allowed that you have just an arm touch the loading zone base.
Edit - Sorry, just saw it’s further discussed http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32797
Would be great if there weren’t 20 different threads for the same topic…
Sounds like there’s still questions as what all *could * be considered “the robot base”.