Answered: Two Questions: Loading During Match & R2b

[pwnageNick]

So even though I feel like Karthik’s gonna answer and totally pwn me, I really would like to know the answer to these questions:

1. Loading During Match
   Rule SG7 states:

<SG7> Any scoring objects introduced during the Match must be either gently placed on a Robot of your own color touching an Alliance Starting Tile or gently placed on an Alliance Starting Tile of your own color.

So to clarify I suppose, does “gently placed on a robot” mean all you can do is just set it on top of your robot or can you actually have the robot sit while you load it into your robots ‘loader’? I know you’re not supposed to touch your robot once it has left your alliance starting tile (G6) but can you load a game object specifically into a loading mechanism on the robot as long as you don’t touch the robot?

2. R2 B

<R2> b. All robot configurations must be inspected before being used in competition.

If you were to have, for example, two different mechanisms that you could switch in between matches (use 4 wheel tank for one match, swerve modules the next, i.e.) would it be legal? It seems that this rule says it would, you would just have to show each “configuration” during inspection. Or would you have to abide by R2 A:

<R2> a. If significant changes are made to a robot, it must be re-inspected before it will be allowed to compete.

I guess this question basically comes down to what exactly do the words “configuration” and “significant” mean?

Thanks ahead of time.
Karthik, I look forward greatly to the ridicule I will soon face :o

[Karthik]

So to clarify I suppose, does “gently placed on a robot” mean all you can do is just set it on top of your robot or can you actually have the robot sit while you load it into your robots ‘loader’? I know you’re not supposed to touch your robot once it has left your alliance starting tile (G6) but can you load a game object specifically into a loading mechanism on the robot as long as you don’t touch the robot?

Yes, as long as you don’t touch the Robot, you can place the object into a “loader”.

If you were to have, for example, two different mechanisms that you could switch in between matches (use 4 wheel tank for one match, swerve modules the next, i.e.) would it be legal? It seems that this rule says it would, you would just have to show each “configuration” during inspection. Or would you have to abide by R2 A:

I guess this question basically comes down to what exactly do the words “configuration” and “significant” mean?

To answer this question, we need to look back to <R1> of the VEX Gateway Game Manual, quoted below.

<R1> Only one (1) robot will be allowed to compete per team in the VEX Robotics Competition. Though it is expected that teams will make changes to their robot at the competition, a team is limited to only one (1) robot. The VEX Robotics Design System is intended to be a mobile robotics design platform. As such, a VEX robot, for the purposes of the VRC, has the following subsystems:

Subsystem 1: Mobile robotic base including wheels, tracks, legs, or any other mechanism that allows the robot to navigate the majority of the flat playing field surface.
Subsystem 2: Power and control system that includes a VEX legal battery, a VEX control system, and associated motors for the mobile robotic base.
Subsystem 3: Additional mechanisms (and associated motors) that allow manipulation of game objects or navigation of field obstacles.

Given the above definitions, a minimum robot for use in any VRC event (including skills challenges) must consist of 1 and 2 above. Thus if you are swapping out an entire subsystem of either item 1 or 2, you have
now created a second robot and are no longer legal.
a. Teams may not compete with one robot, while a second is being modified or assembled.
b. Teams may not switch back and forth between multiple robots during a competition.

I’ve bolded some text for emphasis. Based on the example you’ve given, you would be swapping out an entire subsystem of Item 1, hence this would not be legal.

Karthik, I look forward greatly to the ridicule I will soon face :o

No ridicule here, these were both good questions!

[pwnageNick]

Thanks Karthik. I was pretty confident that that would be the answer for the first question. The answer to the second question is really helpful though. I guess no swapping between 6 wheel drive and mecanum for me Unless… I could take a page from 148, GUS-Aperture…

As always Karthik, thanks for all the help.

-Nick

P.S. - I wish I could have made it to your seminar at St. Louis! Will you guys have any archived video of it? That would be awesome.