With all of the rules interpretations lately, I thought it would be fun (and maybe valuable) to start some *You Make The Call * (YMTC) threads.
Other sports, such as golf, have rules and then they have a supplemental guide that discusses the decisions on the rules. Maybe through the years, FIRST will develop such a guide. The guide would be full of examples of when rules were and were not violated.
Now, presenting the first YOU MAKE THE CALL.
With 30 seconds left to go in the finals, Redabot (name of robot) grabs the top perimeter rail of the field and then reaches for the bar. No damage is done to the rail and it is pretty obvious why Redabot did it … the arm weighs about 120 lbs and the base weighs about 9.99.
You are the ref so YOU MAKE THE CALL
Please base your vote on the 2004 rules. If you find a specific rule that addresses this situation, please share it with everyone.
Since this is the first YMTC, please provide input as to whether you’d like to see more.
<T04> Robots may not intentionally:
• Detach Parts (no connection at all to a robot);
• Damage another robot;
• Tip over another robot;
• Attach themselves to the vertical supports of the pull-up bar system;
• Attach themselves to the railings/walls of any field structure.
I absolutely disable them. They clearly break a rule (attaching themselves to a the sidebar), and it would appear that this is not unintentional either. If a driver inadvertantly attached for a second because of a bad viewing angle, realized his error, and then released it quickly, I have no problem letting them play on. But the description of the robot design implies that this team was planning on doing this to keep from tipping. Case closed.
Yan & Joe, there will be a couple of Krispy Kreme donuts with your name on them at our pit at the Championships.
Here are the final statistics for this YMTC:
6 for “No way I will allow this, I DISABLE REDABOT”
3 for “Redabot is breaking the rules again, MY PENALTY FLAG FLIES HIGH”
3 for “Good with me, NO PENALTY”
As Yan noted, this situation is answered by rule <T04>. Yan, you were right, this situation was not “ambiguous at all.” Let me see if I can make the next YMTC a little more challenging.
DISCLAIMER: All Krispy Kreme Donuts shall be TROPHIES while they reside inside of the Georgia Dome complex per section 27.5 of the 2004 Championship Site Info guide. Of course, when off-site, they magically turn back into edible donuts.
Are the Krispy Kreme Donuts still considered “Trophies” under Section 27.5 while they reside inside of the Georgia Dome, while they reside inside of ME? If so, watch out for your trophies!!!
I have one problem with the wording of this question
If the arm is 120 lbs, and the base is 9.999999 lbs, how come they didn’t tip every other match? I know they didn’t tip every match because they made it to the finals.
Of course, it has already been answered, and I’m just nitpicking.
Lucien, trying to give away part of your million dozen krispey kremes?
To just put a theory on the situation, quite possibly they could of been seeded high enough to become an alliance captain due to wins of their alliances in qualification rounds?
… one such team in Pittsburgh was a no show or unable to compete and yet seeded in the mid twenties I believe…
Dave wrote
Are the Krispy Kreme Donuts still considered “Trophies” under Section 27.5 while they reside inside of the Georgia Dome, while they reside inside of ME? If so, watch out for your trophies!!!
Ruling by the lawyers: $8,432 (they charged double-time)
Price of a dozen KK donuts in Georgia: $3.12
Cost of a Coca-Cola at the Georgia Dome: $2.50
The question from Dave: PRICELESS
The FIRST and Georgia Dome lawyers thought that this was such an important question that they worked all weekend long to answer it. Here is the official ruling.
If a Krispy Kreme “Trophy” resides in the stomach of an individual, it shall be considered in violation of 27.5 UNLESS the individual has shown a propensity to consume other trophies at the Georgia Dome. One of the following trophies MUST be found in the subject’s stomach in order for the KK donut to be considered a trophy.
FIRST medallion
Sportsmanship-size trophy
Chairman’s trophy
Championship trophy
Herschell Walker’s Heisman Trophy
The Clock (OUCH!!!)
Other trophies will be considered if a request-for-trophy-approval is submitted in writing to the overpriced lawyers for their slow and deliberate review.
If anyone is seen by a Georgia Dome “official” consuming a KK Trophy, it will be at the discretion of the Georgia Dome to determine if an approved trophy is also in the subject’s stomach by one of the following methods.
X-Ray
Metal Detector
Endoscope
Scalpel using a horizontal incision
I"m not seeing any situtation where this could happen. If Redabot grabbed the field border, even if they weren’t disabled, they wouldn’t be considered hanging. The 120 lb arm would be supported by something other than the bar and Redabot not counted.
If so, watch out for your trophies!!!