Answered: Use of Pressurized Air in a Match

[Tron]

Hello, I had a question regarding the use of a can of pressurized air during a match in driver control in progress for the purpose of cooling down motors. I put the links to two answered Q and As regarding the use of pressurized air at a competition at the bottom, however, they do not specify the use of the spray during an actual match.

Any non-aerosol based grease or lubricating compound, when used in extreme moderation on surfaces and locations that do NOT come into contact with the playing field walls, foam field surface, game objects, or other robots.

Rule <R7> e. only describes the use of grease or lubricating compound however pressurized air is not a grease nor a lubricating compound so as far as I understand it this rule does not apply. This strategy would only be used with both the member of the drive team and the air duster being completely outside of the field perimeter, thus rule <G5>

<G5> Drive Team Members may only touch the Team’s controls, Robot, and Scoring Objects at specified times during a Match as per <G5a> and <SG3>. Drive Team Members are prohibited from making intentional contact with any Scoring Object, Field Element or Robot during a Match, with the exception of the contact specified in <G5a> and <SG3>.

would not be broken because the robot is not being physically touched or handled. The only other rule that I could see going against this is rule <G8>

<G8> During a Match, Robots may be operated only by the Drive Team Members and/or by software running on the Robot’s control system. During the Autonomous Period Drive Team Members are not permitted to interact with the Robot, the controls on their VEXnet Joysticks, or to unplug from the field in any way, directly or indirectly. (e.g. Triggering sensors without touching the Robot is still illegal.) Minor violations of this rule that do not affect the Match will result in a warning. Match Affecting offenses will result in a Disqualification. Teams that receive multiple warnings may also receive a Disqualification at the Head Referee’s discretion.

, however, I do not think there are any current sensors that can be used legally that can be practically triggered through the use of pressurized air. To the further understanding of this situation, I will explain an example of how this could be used if it was ruled legal. “Robot A is stacking match loads at their loader suddenly the two high speed motors on the subsystem responsible for stacking begin to stall due to the increased resistance provided by the PTC, A member of Robot A’s drive team uses a can of pressurized air towards the direction of the affected motors without spraying any field elements or other robots competing while himself and the can are completely outside of the field perimeter.”
Would this be legal?

https://vexforum.com/t/answered-legality-of-canned-air/25995/1
https://vexforum.com/t/answered-use-of-freeze-spray-to-cool-motors/32133/1

Thank You in advance for this clarification

[VEX_GDC]

No, this would not be legal during a match.