Answered: <SG2> Preloads, <SG6> Handling Robots, and Field Wall Contact

[penguinfrk]

Based on the two following rules (emphasis mine):

<SG2> Prior to the start of each Match, each Alliance will have two (2) Barrels and two (2) Balls available
as Preloads, one (1) of each per Robot. A Scoring Object is considered to be legally preloaded if it is
touching the Robot or a legal Preload, and would not be considered Scored if there was no contact with a
Robot. Preloads may also not be touching any Goal. (See figure 11)

<SG6> During the Driver Controlled Period, Drivers and Coaches may handle their own Robot as long as
the robot has never left the Alliance Starting Tile. The intent of this rule is to allow teams to fix Robots
which were unable to move at the start of the Match.

I had two questions about the following video:

At the start of the match, was the preloading legal (two balls)? Also, at 0:44, was lifting the robot legal?

I don’t mean to detract from 3086 at all; they built a fantastic robot especially considering how early it is in the season. I wasn’t at the event and am a bit confused by the ref calls there.

Also, based on <SG6>, if your robot returned to your starting tile in autonomous, and started there at the beginning of teleoperated mode, would you be able to touch your robot?

Finally, is a robot legally allowed to latch on to the playing field perimeter?

Thanks!

[Karthik]

At the start of the match, was the preloading legal (two balls)?

No, a robot may only use a maximum of 1 Barrel and 1 Ball as Preloads, as per <SG2> which you quoted above.

Also, at 0:44, was lifting the robot legal?

No, the only contact with robots permitted during the Driver Controlled Period is for robots which have never left the Alliance Starting Tile, for the fixing of robots which are unable to move. This is spelled out in <SG6> which you quoted above.

Also, based on <SG6>, if your robot returned to your starting tile in autonomous, and started there at the beginning of teleoperated mode, would you be able to touch your robot?

No, <SG6> specifically applies to robots which never left the Alliance Starting Tile.

Finally, is a robot legally allowed to latch on to the playing field perimeter?

No, this would be considered both unsafe and a risk of damaging the field, thus a violation of <S1>, which is quoted below.

<S1> If at any time the Robot operation or team actions are deemed unsafe or have damaged the Field Elements or Scoring Objects, by the determination of the referees, the offending team may be Disqualified. The Robot will require re-inspection before it may again take the field.