Game Rules - Answer Thread

[Air Jordan]

<GS7> Debris Possession/Control Constraint

GS7 says "Plowing (bumping, moving, touching, etc.) Debris located on the Playing Field floor is allowed and does not count towards the five Debris Possession/Control constraint if the movement of the Debris is not purposeful. Debris will be scattered around the Playing Field and some interaction between Robots and Debris is expected and should not be Penalized, provided that the Robot is not deliberately Controlling the Debris."

Say we have collected 5 pieces of debris and are now moving towards one of our Mountains, and we find 10 pieces of debris lying in our way on the floor at the base of our Mountain. May we push the floor debris out of the way to clear a path to our Mountain if the moving of the floor debris serves no other purpose other than clearing the path? This would require "deliberately Controlling the Debris" by pushing or plowing it, and it would be "purposeful" (to clear the path at base of the Mountain), and thus we would be temporarily "controlling" the 5 pieces of collected debris plus extra debris on the floor. We are hoping this type of purposeful motion would be allowed without resulting in a penalty.

A: The intent of the Game Design Committee is to allow Robots to clear Debris from blocking access to the Mountain without incurring <GS7> Penalties; provided that the Debris is not moved to block the entrance Area of the opposing Alliance's side of the Mountain or to Score in a Floor Goal. The Robot action described in the post is allowed.

[Air Jordan]

&lt;G3&gt; Robot Starting Volume, Scoring Elements Outside the 18-inch Cube Starting Volume

Reading over the rule book according to rule 1.5.1 Pre-Match f. the pre-loaded climbers may be placed on the floor as long as they are touching the robot. So it must be legal to place the climbers against the side of a robot, but would it be legal for them to extend out of the 18 inch cube?

A: Yes, rule <G3> allows pre-loaded Scoring Elements to extend outside the 18-inch cube starting volume.

[Air Jordan]

Climbers in Mountain Goals, Debris in Shelters, Cats and Dogs Living Together, Oh My!

Q1: If Climbers are scored along with debris into the mountain scoring goals, will a penalty be assessed or will the Climbers simply not be scored.

Q2: What will occur if debris is deposited in the climber shelter.

In both scenarios, the improper scoring is not intentional, but rather a consequence of the Climbers and debris being mixed on the floor.

A1: No Penalty is assessed and no points are Scored for a Climber In a Mountain Goal.

A2: No Penalty is assessed and no points are Scored for Debris In a Shelter.

[Air Jordan]

&lt;G2&gt; and Section 1.5.1 Pre-Match Setup

Is a robot permitted to start the match parked in their Beacon repair zone or Floor Goal, assuming that they are touching the perimeter wall?

A: No, Robots are required to be in contact with the Playing Field wall that is adjacent to their Alliance station as described in section 1.5.1.b in the Game Manual Part 2. Figure 1.3-1 in the Game Manual Part 2 is an overhead view of the Playing Field that shows the locations of the Beacon Repair Zones and Floor Goals are not next to the Alliance Stations, they are along the Playing Field wall that is towards the audience. See section 1.5.1 and rule <G2> for more details about pre-match robot setup.

[Air Jordan]

Section 1.5.4.1 End Game Cliff Pull-up Bar Achievement

Hello! Looks like we may be one of the first question askers. Thanks for what looks like a great game this year.

We understand the language related to a hang that will score points [from 1.5.4.1]:
"Cliff Pull-up Bar – A Robot Fully Supported (i.e. hanging) by the Cliff Pull-up Bar earns eighty points for its Alliance. Robots may touch the Cliff Vertical Divider, rest against the Cliff Low Bar, and be in contact with an opposing Alliance Robot if the contact is Inadvertent and Inconsequential. The intent of this Scoring achievement is for the Cliff Pull-up Bar to support the Robot’s weight. If the Cliff Vertical Divider, Cliff Low Bar and the opposing Alliance Robot are removed from the Mountain, a Robot that is Fully Supported by the Cliff Pull-up Bar would not fall from the Cliff."

But to clarify contact with the Cliff Low Bar - given that the Low Bar is only 15" from the Pull-up Bar, you could imagine many robot designs requiring some limited contact with the Cliff Low Bar on every attempted hang. If by reasonable observation the Cliff Pull-up Bar supports the robot's full weight (complying with the concept that by removing the Low Bar the Robot will not fall), but the Low Bar is simply "rested on" laterally by the robot, is that a hang that would score eighty points?

Thank you!

Team 6705/Motorbolts

A: Yes, a Robot that is laterally resting against the Cliff Low Bar remains eligible to earn eighty points for the Cliff Pull-up Bar achievement. The Cliff Low Bar is a safety feature to prevent Robots from exiting the Playing Field through the open Mountain Cliff Area below the Pull-up Bar. The Game Design Committee expects that some Robots will rest laterally against the Cliff Low Bar while hanging from the Cliff Pull-up Bar.

[Air Jordan]

&lt;GS7&gt; Debris Possession/Control Constraint

Does a climber count as one of the 5 debris in the debris possession rule <GS7>?

A: Climbers are not counted as part of the five Debris Possession/Control rule, <GS7>.

[Air Jordan]

Section 1.5.4.2 All Clear Signal Scoring

If red team 1 flips the all clear signal on the red mountain for 20 points, can red team 2 flip the all clear signal on the blue mountain for an additional 20 points, making the all clear signals worth 40 points in total?

A: Yes, see section 1.5.4.2 in the Game Manual Part 2 for the details.

[Air Jordan]

Entering an Opposing Alliance Floor Goal and Rescue Beacon Repair Zone

What is the rule for a red robot entering a blue parking/robot zone and visa versa? Is this ever allowed?

A: Robots are allowed to enter the opposing Alliance's Floor Goal and Rescue Beacon Repair Zone. Rule <GS10> prevents Robots from entering an opposing Alliance's Mountain Climbing Area.

[Air Jordan]

Sections 1.5.2.2 and 1.5.3.3 Scoring Climbers in a Shelter

During the autonomous period, can autonomous climbers be collected from your alliance partner and all 4 climbers be scored by one robot?

A: Yes, Climbers are allowed to be transferred between Alliance Partner Robots and all four Climbers are allowed to be Scored in a Shelter by one Robot.

[Air Jordan]

&lt;G11&gt; Drive Team Coach Interference

Since the new phone to phone connection system allows data to be sent back to the Driver Station device, will the coach in the drive team be permitted to hold the device and interact with it when instructed (push start and stop, etc) OR will we be required to put the device on the ground?

A: Any member of the Drive Team, including the Coach, may hold and interact with the Driver Station Android Device. See rule <G11> and the Game Manual Part 2 sections 1.5.2 and 1.5.3 for more information.

[Air Jordan]

&lt;GS12&gt; Disabled Robot Blocking Access to or In the Opposing Alliance Climbing Area

Q1: GS12 says that if a disabled blue robot is blocking an opposing alliance's access to its red side of a mountain, the opposing alliance's red robots can access the mountain through the other side. How will GS9 be enforced in this case? Do ONLY the opposing alliance red robots get access to the other (blue) side of the mountain, or can both alliances access the other side?
Q2: Can one robot (from either alliance) then stay on that side of the mountain and prevent the other robot from gaining full access? For example, one blue robot dies in front of the red side of a mountain. Now the other blue robot and both red robots can enter the blue side of that mountain. Can a red robot sit on the blue side of that mountain to prevent the other blue robot from reaching the mid and high goals?
Q3: Can the other blue robot sit on the blue side of the mountain to prevent either of the red robots from reaching the mid and high goals.

A1: First of all, rule <GS12> allows one Robot from the affected [disadvantaged] Alliance to enter an opposing Alliance Mountain Climbing Area that isn't already occupied by a Robot on either Mountain. The affected Robots are not limited to just accessing the "other side" of the blocked Mountain as stated in the question. In the scenario described in the question, Robots on both Alliances may access a Blue Mountain Climbing Area that isn't already occupied by a Blue Alliance Robot.

A2: Yes, a Robot may Park on an allowed Mountain Climbing Area and prevent other Robots from accessing that Climbing Area. In the example described in the question, the Red Alliance Robot can Park On the Blue Climbing Area to prevent the functional Blue Alliance Robot from accessing the Area. However, the Blocking Access Rule, <GS9>, would prevent the Red Robot from Parking Off of the Mountain and Blocking a Blue Alliance Robot from Accessing the Blue Climbing Area.

A3: Yes.

[Air Jordan]

&lt;GS13&gt; Mountain Scoring Constraints

In the video it shows the robot throwing debris into the high goal while being on the floor. In the game manual it states that you have to be located on the mountain to release the mid and high climbers and score in the mid and high goals. I know the game manual trumps the game video but I would like to know for sure. Thanks!

A: You are correct, some of the Mountain Scoring constraints are not accurately depicted in the game animation. The Game Manual and the FTC Q&A Forum are the only official sources for game rules. The game animation is a fun and brief overview of the game that should not be relied upon to develop strategies for playing the game and designing Robots.

Rule <GS13> requires Robots to be On the Mountain and above a two inch buffer Area to attach to or be Supported by the Cliff Pull-up Bar, Score Debris In the Mid Zone and High Zone Goals, claim the All Clear Signal, and release Zip Line Climbers with the Mid and High Zone Triggers.

[Air Jordan]

Picking Up Climbers from the Playing Field Floor

If there are any climbers laying on the floor, either from our alliance or our opponents, then can we pick those up and score them in the shelter as well? This could occur in Autonomous or Tele-Op if other robots drop theirs.

A: Yes, Robots on booth Alliances are allowed to pick up a Climber that isn't in a Shelter or attached to a Zip Line and Score the Climber in a Shelter during the Autonomous and Driver-Controlled Periods.

[Air Jordan]

&lt;G19&gt; Scoring Elements in Contact With Robots

Since rule G19 gives a zero score to scoring elements in contact with the robot and G21 states that debris controlled by the robot are considered part of the robot. Is it true that an alliance robot touching any debris in that alliances mountain goal at the time of scoring, removes all potential scored points from that mountain goal and not just the debris being directly touched by the robot?

A: The short answer is no. Debris that are touching a Robot on the corresponding Alliance for the Goal have zero Score value per rule <G19>. The intent of the Game Design Committee is not to use rule <G21> to further extend the <G19> contact rule to include additional Debris in the Goal; just the Debris in direct contact with the Robot have zero score value. Debris that are not directly touching the Robot will be recorded as Scored by the Referees.

[Air Jordan]

Section 1.5.3.1 Driver-Controlled Period Scoring Debris into Goals

Q1: Is it legal to score debris into an opposing alliance mountain goal?
Q2: If so, then rule GS15 would prevent the opposing alliance from descoring this debris from their own mountain goal?

A1: Yes, per section 1.5.3.1.

A2: Yes, Robots are not allowed to Intentionally de-Score Debris from Mountain Goals. See rule <GS15> for the complete details.