Answered: Re:Using Partners as a Loader

[jokai]

Could a clarification be made re: human interaction during loading?

The VEX Manual Update says:
https://vexforum.com/t/vrc-nothing-but-net-manual-updates/29807/1

Rules <G7a> and <SG6> were updated to say the following (with major changes marked in bold):
VEX Robotics Competition Nothing But Net Game Manual <G7a> Drive Team Members are not permitted to break the plane of field perimeter at any time during the match, with the exception of the actions described in <SG5> and <SG6>.

VEX Robotics Competition Nothing But Net Game Manual

<SG6> Any Scoring Objects introduced during the Match as Driver Control Loads must be either gently placed on a Robot of your own color touching the Loading Zone or gently entered into the Loading Zone of your own color, by a Student Drive Team Member during the Driver Controlled Period. The intent of this rule is to allow teams to introduce objects into play, but not to impart energy on the Scoring Object which will cause it to end up in a position outside the Loading Zone. It is expected that teams may momentarily break the plane of the field while legally introducing Driver Control Loads. Teams should be very mindful of <S1> during this process.
Minor violations of this rule that do not affect the match will result in a warning. Egregious (match affecting) offenses will result in a Disqualification. Teams that receive multiple warnings may also receive a Disqualification at the head referee’s discretion.
These changes were made to allow Drive Team Members to break the plane of the field while legally introducing Driver Control Loads. However, we still want to make sure that Drive Team Members are being safe during this process. <S1> still applies.

There seems to be a contradiction in a response to a recent Q&A 2 days ago:
https://vexforum.com/t/answered-using-partners-as-a-loader/32695/1

So our idea is to have one or two partners have their hands over the robot to where we can load the balls into their hands and they don’t have to move their hands and they can just put it onto out platform for our hammer to hit, while the other drive team member loads into that persons hands.
Yes, this is legal.

The Update says the plane can be broken momentarily but the Q&A implies it can be indefinitely. We will be hosting a Skills Challenge soon and would like to be sure about the rules. We also wonder if it is a safety concern to have body parts in the field area indefinitely.

Thank you.

[Karthik]

@jokai

The Update says the plane can be broken momentarily but the Q&A implies it can be indefinitely. We will be hosting a Skills Challenge soon and would like to be sure about the rules. We also wonder if it is a safety concern to have body parts in the field area indefinitely.

There is no restriction on how long Drivers may break the plane of the field for, provided no other rules are violated in the process.