Questions Regarding Rules

Competition Rules/Strategy
1

Okay…so two questions…

  1. If you were playing defense during autonomous mode, would it be okay to run into opposing robots?

  2. At the end of a match, if one of the robots that has been elevated off the ground is touching the wall, do they count as an extension of us?

Thanks
:]

2

  1. depends - are you going to “ram” the opponents by picking up speed? That would be against the rules. You can “pin” opponents for a maximum of 10 seconds, but intentionally ramming or hitting outside the bumper zone would be against the rules.

  2. No. The other robot must not be in contact with any part of the field in order to recieve the bonus.

3
  1. Yes as long as its within these rules.

<G35> Intentional ROBOT - ROBOT interaction - Strategies aimed solely at the destruction,
damage, tipping over, or entanglement of ROBOTS are not in the spirit of the FIRST
Robotics Competition and are not allowed. In all cases involving robot-to-robot contact, the
head referee may assess a 10-point penalty and/or the ROBOT may be disqualified.
However, Rack ‘n’ Roll is a highly interactive game, and some appropriate contact is allowed
under the following guidelines:
• Any contact within the BUMPER ZONE is generally acceptable, with the exception of
high speed, long distance ramming. If TEAMS choose not to use bumpers, and their
ROBOT contacts another ROBOT such that simultaneous contact occurs both in and out
of the BUMPER ZONE, then this contact is considered within the BUMPER ZONE.
• Contact outside of the BUMPER ZONE is generally not acceptable, and the offending
ROBOT will be assessed a 10-point penalty, and may be disqualified from the match if
the offense is particularly egregious or if it results in substantial damage to another
ROBOT. Incidental contact will not be penalized. Contact outside the BUMPER ZONE
that is a result of tipping caused by contact within the BUMPER ZONE will be considered
incidental contact.
• If a ROBOT extends outside of its 28 inch by 38 inch starting footprint, it is responsible
for the extension’s contact with other ROBOTS and must not use the extension to
contact other ROBOTS outside of the BUMPER ZONE. Likewise, other ROBOTS will not
be responsible for contact with the extension outside of the BUMPER ZONE. Again,
incidental contact will not be penalized.
• Extension to extension contact between two ROBOTS with appendages outside the 28-
inch by 38-inch starting footprint will generally not be penalized.
• Contact with a tilted ROBOT such that the contact is outside the BUMPER ZONE will
generally be considered incidental contact.
• A ROBOT may attach to and/or climb onto a ROBOT on its own ALLIANCE. A ROBOT
may not attach to and/or climb onto a ROBOT on an opposing ALLIANCE (doing so will
be interpreted as an attempt to damage an opposing robot, and may be penalized as
such).
• Use of any sloped or angled feature of the ROBOT as a wedge to overturn an opposing
ROBOT is explicitly prohibited, and will be assessed as a violation of Rule <R05>.
<G36> Goal defense - ROBOTS may defend SPIDER LEGS by pushing and/or blocking other

  1. The wall is considered part of the game field since it is apart of the alliance station.

Section 7.3.6, Rule <G56> - The sentence “ROBOTS score bonus points at the end of
the match if they are entirely in their HOME ZONE, not in contact with any element of
the field (carpet, alliance station, goal, etc.) and the lowest point of the ROBOT is higher
than 4 inches and/or 10 inches above the carpeted field surface” has been changed to
“ROBOTS score bonus points at the end of the match if they are entirely in their HOME
ZONE, not in contact with any element of the field (carpet, alliance station, goal, etc. -
note that for the purposes of this rule, GAME PIECES are considered field elements)
and the lowest point of the ROBOT is higher than 4 inches and/or 12 inches above the
carpeted field surface.”

4

Thanks guys! Um…this might be a stupid question but what exactly is defined as the bumper zone?

5

Rule <R37> on page 14 of “The Robot” section of the manual details everything you ever would want to know about the bumpers.

6

Your answer.

7.2 THE GAME
7.2.1 Definitions
BUMPER ZONE: the volume between two planes parallel to the floor, the lower being 2-1/2
inches above the floor, and the upper being 8-1/2 inches above the floor. The BUMPER ZONE is
defined with respect to the ROBOT when in PLAYING CONFIGURATION.

Pavan.

7

Yay you rock!