Concerning egregious ramming or tipping, and damage to the field:
Is it completely up to the referees’ discretion as to the definition of egregious ramming or tipping?
If Robot A has a 20 second autonomous (solely designed to move somewhere on the field, not intended to interact or damage other robots) on a fast or high torque drive train, is it A’s fault if the opponent Robot B runs their autonomous into the path of A’s and B is unintentionally hit or damaged during the 20 second autonomous period? Would it be ever required of a team with an aggressive autonomous to forewarn its opponents, for anything other than personal courtesy?
Would some cues in “egregious behavior” be triggers to a disqualification, for example, actions that could not affect the score of either team and instead only impart physical damage to an opposing robot in order to prevent it from playing in future matches?
Apart from a disqualification limited to a single match, could there be there any further penalty incurred on team that decides to cause lasting damage to an opposing robot in the manner described above? Does this fall under unsportsmanlike behavior?
4.a In highly egregious cases, could the refs disqualify the offending team from competing for the rest of the competition event?
Let’s say robot A is stationary near a goal, not moving, perhaps blocking. If robot B repeatedly rams or pushes into robot A, such that the goal (imagine interaction zone 30 inch) is damaged to an extent meriting disqualification, would A, B, or both robots be automatically disqualified?
5.a Generally, for this kind of situation, would it be completely up to the referee’s discretion, depending on the situation, as to which robot’s behavior was egregious?
Yes. There is guidance provided in the Referees’ Guide as well as on training calls, but ultimately the final decision on specific decisions is made by the referees.
From what you’ve described, I don’t see any rules violations. There is no reason for a forewarning in the rules, however as you mentioned it would be a courteous thing to do.
Actions which solely and intentionally impart physical damage to an opposing robot would be considered egregious and a violation of <G11>, quoted below.
<G11>, quoted above, states that repeated offenses could result in a team being disqualified from the remainder of the event. I have never seen a case this serious before, and I hope I never do.
Yes. Please see above for the answer to your question number 4.