Question: Missing Tetras in Human Loading Zone?

Competition Rules/Strategy
1

Greetings…
I´ve read the manuals thoroughly over and over again, and i´ve searched this and many other forums, but i haven´t found an answer to my question yet. It concerns the # of tetras in the human loading zone.

Here´s the problem:
we all know each human player mat area consists of 6 tetras (3 stacks of 6 tetras per Alliance = total of 18)…Suppose our team´s strategy depends basically on our human player, and suppose we use up all of our 6 tetras…are we allowed to “borrow” tetras from our partner´s stack (considering they are from the same alliance!!) ??? Are there any rules against this whatsoever??

[font=Verdana]any help at all is greatly appreciated…[/font]
[font=Verdana]…& good luck to all teams!!!
[/font]

2

From my understanding you will be able to use the tetras. If your human side becomes low then they are suppose to transfer from the loader side.

3

I was under the impression that those 18 tetras were for the alliance and not apportioned 6x6x6.

4

I also was under th impression that the stacks are an alliance stack. It wouldn’t make any sense to try to scam your own teammates. That’s not in the spirit of gracious professionalism and FIRST wouldn’t let that happen. More than likely, you’ll be able to grab as many as your team needs for their strategy. In addition, in the event that the human loading zone gets low on tetras, I believe that extra ones will be brought over from the automatic loading zones.

5

The answer to your qeustion was published by First in the Team Update #1 :

DIistirbution of tetras (the information below is for red or blue)

The human player mat areas will have approximately 3 stacks of 6 tetras each = 18.

The loading platform areas will have approximately 2 stacks of 8 tetras each = 16.

1 robot starts with a tetra = 1.

2 vision tetras each side = 2.

2 tetras in each corner goal = 2.

This totals 39 red and blue on the field. Field attendants will make reasonable
attempts to ensure that the tetras are evenly distributed during matches, i.e., will
attempt to ensure that no areas get depleted of tetras.

6

Tribotec–

FIRST clarified a question of mine regarding the placement of tetras on the field and said, among other things, that an effort would be made to equalize the tetras in both the automated and manual loading stations to ensure that neither side would run out.

–Petey

7

Hmm…okay, so based on what everyone is saying it’s 3 stacks of 6 tetras per ALLIANCE, and not one stack of 6 per TEAM?? …or, in other words, the tetras can be shared and a team wouldn’t be restricted to a certain number of tetras…

I can understand that FIRST would work to ensure that no areas are depleted of tetras, but I can still picture a scene where we’d run out of them…not that I don’t trust their word, but I can certainly see that tetra-transferring could be a time-consuming process…:frowning:

8

I think that to get 18 tetras on the field by the human loader, it will take a while. If that happens, I don’t think a lot of time will be left on the clock.