Answered: Changin something on robot?

MauiHighSchoolVEX_B · June 17, 2011, 8:40pm

What if we were to change a gear on the robots drive train that would change the speed of the drive train? Would this be a legal action in autonomous, drive control, or neither?

This action would be done by sliding or taking off the gear, and placing a different gear in the drive train. Also by tightening and loosening collars.

Karthik · June 20, 2011, 8:57am

Let’s take a look at the applicable rule from the VEX Gateway Manual. I’ve bolded the portion which is specifically relevant to your question.

<SG5> During the Autonomous Period, Drivers and Coaches may handle their own Robot while the Robot is in contact with their own Alliance Starting Tile. During contact with the Robot, the Drivers or Coaches may not intentionally manipulate or modify the position of any Scoring Objects (aside from any which are being loaded into the Robot), either by direct hand contact or indirect contact via the Robot. Drivers or Coaches also may not change the configuration of the Robot other than in the act of fixing the Robot (i.e. it is okay to reposition the robot relative to the field, but it is not okay to manually lift up the Robot’s arm).

The intent of this rule is to allow teams to fix Robots that are unable to move, to load Match Loads into the Robot, to reposition and/or reorient Robots, and to activate additional autonomous modes by interacting with the Robot via sensors or buttons.

The intent of this rule is not to allow teams to manipulate their Robot in such a way that they are controlling the Robot via human contact or creating motions that lead to scoring.

Changing a gear on the robot would be considered changing the configuration of the robot and would not be allowed. Note, the quoted rule is only for the Autonomous mode, however the action you described would not be allowed during Driver Control mode either.