Robot Access Period

Competition Rules/Strategy
1

R15 states that

All ROBOT elements (including items intended for use during the competition in alternative
configurations of the ROBOT), with the exception of the WITHHOLDING ALLOWANCE per R18,
BUMPERS, and COTS items, must be bagged and sealed, by 11:59PM local time on Stop Build
Day, February 23, 2016

and section 5.5.1 of the Admin Manual states that

During the Robot Access Period, teams may perform any activity they would normally do during the build
season, including practicing with the robot.

If a team fabricates parts during their Robot Access Period and bags those parts with their robot, does the weight of those parts count towards the WITHOLDING ALLOWANCE? The Admin Manual implies that they would not count against the WITHOLDING ALLOWANCE, as fabricating parts and bagging them is an activity normally done during build season. However, R15 clearly states that if a ROBOT element is not bagged by the end of the build season, then it is a part of the WITHOLDING ALLOWANCE.

Is there a part of this that I’m missing? Which manual takes precedence?

2

Even if one of the inspection-oriented guys gets back with a reasonable answer, this a great example of something to run past Q&A. Those guys seem to love getting questions like this.

3

All the Q&A is going to do is to highlight R18, second blue box (and the text immediately preceding that).

If you bag it during the RAP (but it wasn’t in the bag before), it’s withholding (and you get less out-of-bag time). If you stick it in the bag on bag day, work on it during the RAP, and stick it back in, it’s not withholding, it’s bagged. If you don’t stick it in the bag at all, it’s withholding.

4

R18 does not address items fabricated during the RAP. It only mentions items fabricated after build but not during the RAP.

5

Straight out of R18:
For Teams attending 2-Day Events, these FABRICATED ITEMS may be used during the Robot Access Period and/or brought to the Event, but the total weight may not exceed 30 lbs. FABRICATED ITEMS constructed during the Robot Access Period and bagged with the ROBOT are exempt from this limit.

I’m going to have to edit my first line: If you built it entirely during the RAP, and it goes in the bag, it’s NOT withholding. Otherwise, it would count against withholding.

And I know the reasoning for that: RAP is replacing the practice day at the districts.

6

Thank you for your responses. I must have missed that when I read the rule.