Answered: "Tethering"

[LegoMindstormsmaniac]

Rule SG6 in Section 2 of the Manual states:

<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 know the intent of this rule, however it leaves openness as “leaving the Alliance Starting Tile” consists of no part of the robot touching the Tile, correct? So if I were to leave a piece of string, or something similar to string (example a string of PWM cables) leading to the Alliance Starting Tile, and it is touching the Tile for the entirety of the match, I would be able to touch and reposition my robot all I want, wherever it is on the playing field, per SG6.

I am assuming this was not the intent of this rule, and if that is true will there be a rule made against “tethering”?

Thank you.
~Jordan

[Karthik]

Rule SG6 in Section 2 of the Manual states:

I know the intent of this rule, however it leaves openness as “leaving the Alliance Starting Tile” consists of no part of the robot touching the Tile, correct? So if I were to leave a piece of string, or something similar to string (example a string of PWM cables) leading to the Alliance Starting Tile, and it is touching the Tile for the entirety of the match, I would be able to touch and reposition my robot all I want, wherever it is on the playing field, per SG6.

I am assuming this was not the intent of this rule, and if that is true will there be a rule made against “tethering”?

Thank you.
~Jordan

Any such device that allows you to stay “tethered” to the Alliance Starting Tile would be deemed an entanglement risk, thus illegal by <R3c> of the VEX Gateway Game Manual. Mechanisms of this sort will not be allowed on any VEX Gateway robots.

<R3> The following types of mechanisms and components are NOT allowed:
c. Those that pose an unnecessary risk of entanglement.

[LegoMindstormsmaniac]

Any such device that allows you to stay “tethered” to the Alliance Starting Tile would be deemed an entanglement risk, thus illegal by <R3c> of the VEX Gateway Game Manual. Mechanisms of this sort will not be allowed on any VEX Gateway robots.

First of all thanks for the quick reply.

In answer; That’s one thing I forgot to bring up in my question.

So any devise that would allow for tethering would be a risk of entanglement? What if it were not as drastic as a string so I could go anywhere on the field? What if it were simply a bar of metal, that would be attached to my robot and touching the Tile? Anything at all, allowing my robot to drive away from the Alliance Starting Tile, even just a little, but still be touching the Tile. Would I then technically be able to manipulate my robot? Would I be able to lift an arm, and open a door on my robot (for example) to allow (a) game object(s) to drop into a goal that is nearby?

Thanks again, Karthik.
~Jordan

[Karthik]

First of all thanks for the quick reply.

In answer; That’s one thing I forgot to bring up in my question.

So any devise that would allow for tethering would be a risk of entanglement? What if it were not as drastic as a string so I could go anywhere on the field? What if it were simply a bar of metal, that would be attached to my robot and touching the Tile? Anything at all, allowing my robot to drive away from the Alliance Starting Tile, even just a little, but still be touching the Tile. Would I then technically be able to manipulate my robot? Would I be able to lift an arm, and open a door on my robot (for example) to allow (a) game object(s) to drop into a goal that is nearby?

Now I’m going to refer you back to the original rule and the stated intent that you quoted above. <SG6> allows you to fix a robot that was not able to move at the start of the match. Manipulating your robot to gain a gameplay advantage is not allowed by this rule. We put this rule in place to allow teams a “mulligan” in case their robot isn’t working.

[LegoMindstormsmaniac]

Now I’m going to refer you back to the original rule and the stated intent that you quoted above. <SG6> allows you to fix a robot that was not able to move at the start of the match. Manipulating your robot to gain a gameplay advantage is not allowed by this rule. We put this rule in place to allow teams a “mulligan” in case their robot isn’t working.

Alright, so the ruling (in the User Control Period, at least) is that of the “intent”, meaning only allowing teams to touch/reposition their robot for the sole purpose of turning it back on/fixing something that went wrong/plugging in batteries? However like you stated in another Q&A, in the Autonomous portion, something like what I mentioned, or as jgraber said, “puppeteering” would be legal?

Just confirming that, and thanks again.
~Jordan