Answered: Clarification on Inhibititing Movement via Vertical Load

[Jij]

Hello,

We have a question regarding a robot restricting an opponent’s robot’s horizontal movement, through a vertically applied load. We observed a similar scenario at a recent event, and would appreciate some clarification on the appropriate way to rule this. Consider the following image for a simplified version of the situation:

In this case, the blue robot is pressing down on the red robot, with sufficient force to prevent the red robot from being able to drive away (regardless of how hard they struggle). Under our interpretation, inhibiting an opponent’s movement, at least for extensive periods of time, is not the intended game-play for VRC In The Zone. Rules that immediately pop to mind regarding restricting movement are pinning and trapping:

Pinning – A Robot is considered to be Pinning an opposing Robot if it is inhibiting the movement of an opponent Robot while the opposing Robot is in contact with the foam playing surface and another Field Element.

Trapping – A Robot is considered to be trapped if an opposing Robot has restricted it into a small, confined area of the field, approximately the size of one foam field tile or less, and has not provided an avenue for escape.

<SG4> A Robot may not Pin or Trap an opposing Robot for more than five seconds during the Driver Controlled Period. A Pin or Trap is officially over once the Pinning Robot has moved away and the Robots are separated by at least 2 feet (approximately one (1) foam tile). After ending a Pin or Trap, a Robot may not Pin or Trap the same Robot again for a duration of 5 seconds; if a Team does pin the same Robot again, the pinning count will resume from where it left off when the pinning Robot initially backed off.

Minor violations of this rule that do not affect the match will result in a warning. Match Affecting offenses will result in a Disqualification. Teams that receive multiple warnings may also receive a Disqualification at the Head Referee’s discretion. There is no penalty for Pinning during the Autonomous Period.

However, this situation doesn’t fit under the definition of pinning (no secondary field element involved), or trapping (whilst restricted to a very confined area, there are plenty of avenues of escape, albeit impossible). Hence, the only other rule we feel like this could be currently considered under would be entanglement:

Entanglement – A Robot is considered to have Entangled an opposing Robot if it has grabbed or hooked the opponent Robot, as per <G12>.

<G12> Strategies aimed solely at the destruction, damage, tipping over, or Entanglement of Robots are not part of the ethos of the VEX Robotics Competition and are not allowed. However, VEX Robotics Competition In the Zone is an interactive game. Some incidental tipping, Entanglement, and damage may occur as a part of normal game play. If the tipping, Entanglement, or damage is ruled to be intentional or egregious, the offending Team may be disqualified from that Match. Repeated offenses could result in a Team being Disqualified from the remainder of the competition.

VEX Robotics Competition In the Zone is intended to be an offensive game. Teams that partake in solely defensive strategies will undergo extra scrutiny in regard to <G12>. In the case where referees are forced to make a judgment call on interaction between a defensive and offensive Robot, the referees will err on the side of the offensive Robot.

A Team is responsible for the actions of its Robot at all times, including the Autonomous Period. This goes for Teams that are driving recklessly and potentially causing damage, but also goes for Teams that drive around with a small wheel base. A Team should design its Robot such that it is not easily tipped over or damaged by minor contact.

This action isn’t really a “hook”, although could to some extent be considered a “grab” of the red robot between the horizontal plate at the end of the blue robot and the floor tiles below (but that could be a bit of a stretch of the intended interpretation of a grab). Furthermore, the action described essentially has the same effect as a pin (only vertically, not horizontally), yet for pinning it is permitted for up to 5 seconds, and is only a disqualification if the illegal pinning is then match affecting. Considering this action under entanglement has a much harsher approach – as soon as it’s deemed intentional or egregious it could become a disqualification.

Our questions:

1. Is this action legal? (Maybe we’re overthinking this)
2. If illegal, what rule would it fall under, and hence what would be the appropriate result?

Thank you very much for your time. We appreciate your responses to our questions, regardless of whether they are complicated situations or merely a clarification on semantics. As referees, it’s very useful to have concrete answers we can give to students when asked, or that we can use if the situation arises again.

[VEX_GDC]

First, thank you for the well-formatted question, including relevant quotes from the manual and an image to help clarify the situation.

While it is always difficult to issue blanket rulings, this is the key sentence from your description:

In this case, the blue robot is pressing down on the red robot, with sufficient force to prevent the red robot from being able to drive away (regardless of how hard they struggle).

This would be considered Trapping. The definition of Trapping does not specify how an opposing robot is restricted to a small portion of the field, only that it is restricted, without an avenue for escape.

(whilst restricted to a very confined area, there are plenty of avenues of escape, albeit impossible)

If it is impossible to break free, then there are no avenues for escape. Thus, this shuld be considered Trapping and SG4 should come into play (beginning a 5-count, backing away by one foam tile, etc).