Answered: Clarification on sg4, indirect contact

[DracoTheDragon]

Would it be legal to create a switch which moves the robot to grab game pieces while a button is pressed in the autonomous period?

<SG4> …During contact with the Robot, the Drivers or Coaches may not intentionally manipulate or modify the
position of any Scoring Objects relative to the Robot’s overall system, either by direct hand contact or
indirect contact via the Robot. (i.e. it is acceptable to change the orientation of a Robot that includes
Scoring Objects in it as long as the position of the elements relative to the Robot is not changed)…

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

I could see why this is legal under the second quotation because this triggers an autonomous mode through sensors. But would this count as indirect contact because it’s a continuous action?

if this is legal, and the controls were pressed too long, and the robot touched the gray tile, would we be scrutinized by

. Drivers and Coaches may only interact with a Robot if it is touching their own Alliance Starting
Tile and no part of the Robot is touching a gray foam tile, except the interaction allowed in

iv. Drivers and Coaches may only interact with a Robot if they are on or in the general vicinity of
the Alliance Robot Interaction Spot that corresponds to the Alliance Starting Tile the Robot is
on.

[Karthik]

@DracoTheDragon

Would it be legal to create a switch which moves the robot to grab game pieces while a button is pressed in the autonomous period?

Yes, this would be legal. Pressing a button to trigger a command is legal as per <SG4>.

@DracoTheDragon

if this is legal, and the controls were pressed too long, and the robot touched the gray tile, would we be scrutinized by

Yes, you must still obey all clauses of <SG4>.

[DracoTheDragon]

Perfect:), thank you for your time!!

[Karthik]

@DracoTheDragon

Perfect:), thank you for your time!!

You’re welcome!