If you cross a type c defense from the “Courtyard” to the “Neutral Zone”, then going back from the “Neutral Zone” to the “Courtyard” leaving the gate open, does it mean you crossed the defense?
Your robot has to be completely in the neutral zone and not touching the defense at all. In that time that your off the defense, that gate will most likely close. Now comes into question the “tapping” strategy…
Or as the event progresses and springs weaken and slow down their recoil rate…
I would doubt that this will happen in a time frame where we have to worry about it on an competition weekend. Springs is properly loaded and are not able to push past the elastic limit of the spring, they should last something on the order of 10^6 cycles or more.
There was a Q&A answer on this subject. The key take away is that it must be obvious to the refs that you were A. completely in the neutral zone and B. not in contact with the defense. So you will not get credit if a ref is not looking at your bot for the moment you were not in contact with the defense.
It does look like you can hold the door open, so to speak, for your teammates though.
Q526.
To me this is the most viable strategy if you don’t have a robot that can open it on your own. With could prior coordination and timing you can have one robot hold the defense open and have the other two drive through and damage the defense while you hold the door open.