Answered: <G11> It seems too overpowering.

[Fido488]

<G11> VEX Sack Attack is intended to be an offensive game. Teams that partake in solely defensive strategies will undergo extra scrutiny in regards to <G11>. 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. Robots which have expanded horizontally in an effort to obstruct the field will undergo even more scrutiny under <G11>, and will not be protected under <G11>. e.g. If you choose to undertake this type of strategy, your robot should be built to withstand vigorous interaction.
i. Furthermore, teams that undertake this type of obstructive strategy would not be protected by <SG3>. e.g. There is no penalty for pinning a “wall-bot”
All teams are responsible for the actions of their Robots.

This rule seems to make it impossible for a team to make any attempt at preventing another teams robot from going somewhere.

If any part of your robot extends horizontally out of it’s original sizing cube (18 X 18 X 18 HS. or 24X24X24 & 15X15X15 College) then your robot will and are at risk of breaking G11.
Even if the element that is expanding is an intake or an arm or a scoop. If this robot tries to prevent another robot from, say for example, getting back to it’s starting tile then it will no longer be protected by G11.
This robot will have filled the two criteria: horizontal expansion and an effort to obstruct the field.

Blocking has been something that has been a part of VEX competition for as long as I have been competing with VEX. It is the reason that teams choose to make their robots have extremely strong gear ratios or invent new ways of shifting from high torque to high speed (gearshifts).

With this ruling you are forced to yield to any robot that is trying to get anywhere on the field or risk loosing G11 protection. If you don’t you can be considered blocking.

I can see this turning into VEX battlebots. There has to be some sort of limit on how much dammage one robot can impart on another. If you don’t you shouldn’t be surprised if at Worlds 2013 you see robots with saws or large smashing implements on the front of their robots for getting though anything that stands in their way. I am not looking to be nit-picky but I am concerned about what could eventually result from allowing such interactions to take place.

What parts, if any, are in no way allowed to be damaged by another team?
Cortex? Batteries? Motors? Pistons? Power Expander? Wires?

<G11a> is intended to make it clear, that wall-bots are responsible for any interaction that comes as a result of an opposing robot trying to get past the wall-bot. If an opposing robot tips a wall-bot while trying to pass by them, this would not be considered a violation of <G11>.

However, tearing wires out of a Cortex is not an effort to get past a wall-bot, it is unsportsmanlike, willful destruction, which will never be tolerated in the VEX Robotics Competition.

Continued ramming would be considered okay, as per <G11a>. As long as the action is part of an attempt to pass through the “wall-bot”, the interaction would be allowed. If you’re going to stick a 4 foot arm out to cover a Trough or a section of the field, you should be prepared for your opponent to try go through it.

magicode ==> If, for example, there is a linkage of bars covering part of the field, and your opponent exerts enough force to snap the joints in an effort to get through, is that considered legal?

If the action is undertaken in an effort to through the obstruction, yes this would be legal.

Where is the line drawn?
(Assume all intentions are to get past the obstruction.)

[Karthik]

@Fido488

If you don’t you shouldn’t be surprised if at Worlds 2013 you see robots with saws or large smashing implements on the front of their robots for getting though anything that stands in their way.

@Fido488

What parts, if any, are in no way allowed to be damaged by another team?
Cortex? Batteries? Motors? Pistons? Power Expander? Wires?

Where is the line drawn?
(Assume all intentions are to get past the obstruction.)

Lets start off with the most important rule in the manual.

@VEX Sack Attack Game Manual

<G1> When reading and applying the various rules in this document, please remember that common
sense always applies in the VEX Robotics Competition.

If anyone actually think it’s legal to use saws and large smashing devices in the VEX Robotics Competition, they need to sit down and reevaluate things. In addition, there’s an actual rule against this.

@VEX Sack Attack Game Manual

<R3> The following types of mechanisms and components are NOT allowed:
a. Those that could potentially damage playing field components.
b. Those that could potentially damage other competing robots.

If a robot has expanded in an effort to obstruct the field, you are no longer protected by <G11> while teams try and get past your obstruction. What this means is that you should expect and be prepared for vigourous interaction from the team trying to get past you. If your robot gets damaged while they are trying to get past you, they are not responsible. However, if their sole purpose is just to damage your robot, they would obviously penalized. As quoted above, intentionally ripping out wires is an example of something that would always be penalized.