Answered: size regulations from climbing zone

VEX Robotics Competition Discussion VRC > Nothing But Net (15/16)
1

i know there was some confusion on this topic
here are some rules i will be referencing.

If a Robot has expanded beyond its 18"x18"x18" size limitation and is outside the Climbing Zone it is responsible for any type of Entanglement that occurs with an opponent. If an expanded Robot becomes Entangled while fully within its Climbing Zone, its opponent would be responsible.

<SG10>Robots may expand beyond their normal maximum perimeter of 18" by 18" only while completely within the volume of the Climbing Zone. Robots may expand above the 18" height limit while completely within the volume of the Climbing Zone and with less than thirty seconds (0:30) left in the Match.

<SG3> A Robot may not expand beyond a volume of 18 inches wide by 18 inches long by 18 inches tall at any point during the Match, with the exception of the allowance listed in <SG10>. 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.

what i assume from these rules is that…
you can “expand” (being an action) horizontaly only in the climbing zone
you can stay expanded outside the climbing zone and can retract but not re-expand. ???
you can never expand virticaly exept the last 30 seconds in the climbing zone.

the rule never clarifies if it is illegal or not to then leave the climbing zone after expanding horizontaly (i want to assume it is because it says “if you do” and it never says you can’t)… also, would it be legal to then retact back into size outside of the climbing zone?

thanks

2

This is correct. You are allowed to expand and be expanded beyond the 18"x18" maximum perimeter at any time while completely within the Climbing Zone.

No, you must be completely within your Climbing Zone to be expanded. You can never be expanded outside of the Climbing Zone

This is correct.

It is legal to leave the Climbing Zone after expanding, provided that you have contracted back into a legal 18" x 18" x 18" volume.

3

thanks, that clears a lot of things up.

now I am just wondering why this rule exists.

If a Robot has expanded beyond its 18"x18"x18" size limitation and is outside the Climbing Zone it is responsible for any type of Entanglement that occurs with an opponent. If an expanded Robot becomes Entangled while fully within its Climbing Zone, its opponent would be responsible.

if by your clarification, you can not be “expanded” (beyond 18x18x18) outside the climbing zone, why is there a rule that clarifies entanglement issues while expanded in the climbing zone?

also…

Quote from Karthik “It is legal to leave the Climbing Zone after expanding, provided that you have contracted back into a legal 18” x 18" x 18" volume."

Can this maybe be added to the manual in the future? right now the wording makes it seem legal to leave the climbing zone “expanded” because of this rule.

If a Robot has expanded beyond its 18"x18"x18" size limitation and is outside the Climbing Zone it is responsible for any type of Entanglement that occurs with an opponent. If an expanded Robot becomes Entangled while fully within its Climbing Zone, its opponent would be responsible.

I don’t think the manual even has anything about being expanded outside the climbing zone and weather it is legal or not. just says “expand” which is an action.

thanks for your time, I really appreciate it. just trying to smooth some things out.

4

This deals with situations where a team may have accidentally expanded while outside the Climbing Zone. This accidental expansion may only have warranted a warning as per <SG10>, however the team could be further penalized for any entanglement that occurs as per <G12a>.

5

ok, thank you.

6

You’re welcome!