Answered: Use of Bar for Starting Size

Karthik,
I have scoured the Manual and cannot find any reference of this. I was wondering if we can use the field perimeter to keep our bot withing the starting requirement? ex: If I have hinged forks that extend out of the back of my bot, and they have rubber bands pulling down on them; can I hinge them up(against the force of the rubber bands)and set it against the starting bar/10 pt. bar. In this scenario the bar keeps them up and within the 18x18x18 and when my autonomous starts and drives away from the bar they will immediately flip down. Is this legal?

No, this is not legal.

Let’s take a look at <R4> from the VEX Robotics Competition In the Zone Game Manual, which deals with the sizing inspection process. I’ve bolded some text for emphasis:

Since you cannot rely on the walls of sizing box or tool to restrain your Robot, similarly you cannot rely on any field elements or the field perimeter (excluding the floor) to restrain your robot into its starting configuration.