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Game Design Committee Member
Returning Batons to the Playing Field

Originally Posted by
2010FTC3167
I understand that batons that leave the field will be returned as soon as practical. Q1 If batons are dispensed through the top of the dispenser and leave the field. Where are they placed? Back into the dispenser? Q2 If so, are they still considered dispensed?
A1: Batons will be placed on the foam mat floor of the playing field as close as practical to where the Baton(s) exited the playing field. It is likely that Batons in an Alliance Station will not be returned to the playing field due to safety and Drive Team distraction issues.
A2: Yes, Batons exiting the top of the Dispenser are "dispensed." Robots may remove Batons from either the bottom or top of a Dispenser so long as there is no damage to the Dispenser.
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Game Design Committee Member
Pinning

Originally Posted by
2010FTC3539
Is it considered pinning if one robot has the other held against the mountain (or the sloped side of the cliff) such that the robot cannot move. Even though the particular robot may not be capable of moving up the mountain or up the cliff, (or getting over the mountain backwards), they still have a way to move (whether or not they want to go back over). If they are sideways and can't move, I understand, but I saw a pinning warning at the tournament when the robot clearly had room to go back over the mountain (although they lacked the capability).
Thanks.
It is difficult to make a call without seeing the event in question but here are three possible scenarios:
1) A Red robot pushes a Blue robot such that the frame of the Blue robot contacts the Mountain and the Blue robot cannot move. This is considered pinning
2) A Blue robot has demonstrated ability to climb over the Mountain. A Red robot pushes the Blue robot up onto the Mountain such that only the wheels (or tread) are contacting the Mountain and there is a clear path over the Mountain. The Red robot is not pinning.
3) A Blue robot does not have the ability to climb over the Mountain due to lack of traction, insufficient motor power, etc. A Red robot pushes the Blue robot up onto the Mountain such that only the wheels (or tread) are contacting and there is a clear path over the Mountain. The Red robot is not pinning.
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Game Design Committee Member
Alignment Devices

Originally Posted by
2010FTC3167
Q1: The rules state that alignment devices that are not part of the robot are not allowed. What about alignment that is part of the robot. For example, if a fold down wheel is designed to ride along the wall during autonomous mode, can that wheel be down when the robot is placed on the field? Prior to start the wheel would be lifted so the robot fits within the 18 inch boundary.
Q2: Can a robot, after it has been placed on the field, but prior to start, calibrate an optical sensor?
A1: Yes, it is allowed as long as it is part of the robot and no other rules are violated.
A2: Yes - as long as the calibration routine is part of the robot initialization code in the Autonomous program. Also, the calibration must be done in the starting position of the robot and must be done hands-free.
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Game Design Committee Member

Originally Posted by
2010FTC4311
Can a robot be pinned against the mountain, if we assume the robot (theoretically) can go up the mountain to escape the opposing robot? It is not clear how the definition of pinning in 2.3 interacts with field elements like the bridge, mountain, and cliff that are designed to be driven over. Obviously, if the robot's wheels are turned sideways, it could be legitmately pinned, but if the wheels are pointed so that it could drive up the mountain, is it really pinning or just defensive driving?
Yes, a robot can be pinned against the mountain (and other field objects that are intended to be driven over).
Post #22 has a short description of a couple of scenarios that should help.
The exact situation will have to be assessed by the referee at the time.
The path over the (bridge, mountain, cliff) is a normal and expected route. It is expected that robots designed to play GET OVER IT! should be capable of navigating these obstacles
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Game Design Committee Member

Originally Posted by
2010FTC3167
During autonomous mode, if a robot is blocking a dispenser, is it legal (or in the spirit of the contest) to design a mechanism to move the robot out of the way? If the mechanism is designed solely to move the other robot, is there a penalty for damage? (for example, the robot uses mechanical advantage to apply force to the other robot).
There is nothing in the rules that would prohibit designing a mechanism to move another robot out of the way, as long as no other rules are violated.
As you note, there are consequence for intentional damage and/or tipping of robots (<G8>). It would be prudent to exercise care in design of such a mechanism to ensure that no damage is likely to occur.
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Game Design Committee Member
Untangling Robots

Originally Posted by
2010FTC1000
If my robot falls into or on top of another robot during autonomous, can I go onto the field to untangle it when autonomous ends?
No, team members may not enter the playing field once the match has started. However, referees may choose to untangle the robots if they believe it can be done safely and without affecting game play or disturbing the game elements.
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Game Design Committee Member
Removing Batons from the Stationary Goal

Originally Posted by
2010FTC2901
Hi. If we were to run over the corrugated goal (using the cliff to cross the field) and we knock our opponent's batons out as we roll over them...what happens? Is that a penalty?
Removing (de-scoring) Batons from the Stationary Goal is allowed per rule <SG9>. No penalty is assessed for the action described in the question.
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Game Design Committee Member
Pre-Load Batons

Originally Posted by
2010FTC3539
In a local event, the refs only scored the pre-loaded batons at the end of autonomous. They did not count the batons scored in the low goal a second time or count pre-loaded batons that were scored in the rolling goal during teleop. Can you confirm that the pre-loaded batons, despite being marked differently, are supposed to be treated as any other baton? If so, I think that Section 2.2 applies, "Batons scored during the Autonomous Period may be scored a second time at the end of the match.", despite the definition of "scored" in Section 2.3 that includes the phrase, "Batons can only be scored once."
Thanks
Batons of ANY TYPE should be counted towards the Alliance score at the end of Autonomous and again at the end of the Driver-Controlled period. The double stripe markings on the pre-load Batons are only to aid field reset. The markings assure, without the field reset crew checking inside the pre-load Batons, that the pre-loads don't contain Magnet Batons. As stated in the definition of Regular Batons, pre-load Batons are Regular Batons with an extra stripe.
Your reference to the phrase, "Batons can only be scored once," pertains to Batons that are located in two goals simultaneously. For example, if the Rolling Goal is pushed into the Stationary Goal area, Batons scored in the Rolling goal will score only for the Rolling Goal since it has the highest point value and NOT for both the Rolling Goal and Stationary Goal.
It is also worth noting that, Batons will be counted for the corresponding Alliance color based on where they are scored (not what color the baton may be taped or painted). For example, a regular baton taped for the Blue Alliance may count for the Red Alliance if it is scored in the Red Stationary Goal or Red Rolling Goal.
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Game Design Committee Member
Update to <SG8>

Originally Posted by
2010FTC3167
We see a rule that prevents the possession of more than 5 batons, however, we see no rule that prevents the possession of the rolling goal. Rule <SG8> prevents the lifting, grasping or holding of a rolling goal, but there is no mention of "possession". Do lifting, grasping and/or holding mean the same thing as possession or is there some distinction?
A: You are absolutely correct in your detective work for this discrepancy. Please modify rule <SG8> by the addition of one word to it: "possess". So the rule will now read:
<SG8> Robots may not intentionally POSSESS, lift, grasp or hold any of the Rolling Goals at any time except during the End Game. Rolling Goals may only be pushed around the field or over the Bridges, Cliff or Mountain. Violations of this rule will result in a penalty for the team. Sustained possession, lifting, grasping, holding of a Rolling Goal outside of the End Game will result in additional penalties for each 5 seconds of grasping. Multiple infractions may result in disqualification for the offending team.
Last edited by Raj; 11-30-2010 at 01:13 AM.
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Game Design Committee Member
Removal of a non-dispensed Doubler Baton

Originally Posted by
2010FTC2843
This question applies to removal of a non-dispensed doubler baton at the end of autonomous. If a robot is parked against the center dispenser at the end of autonomous (either by driving to the dispenser or possibly a blocking robot that is jammed against the dispenser by a robot attempting to dispense) and the doubler cannot be removed without moving the robot(s), what will happen? Will the referee move the robot(s) and replace them after removing the doubler? Will the doubler be considered a regular baton for the rest of the match? Something else?
Thanks
Objects blocking access to the Doubler Baton will me moved to enable removal of the Doubler Baton by a referee. The moved objects will be returned to their approximate positions as they were at the end of the autonomous period.
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