I haven’t had a lot to do lately, and after watching a few YouTube videos, I decided to make a wallbot. I’m not sure if it will be useful for the new 2015 game, but if it was, I’m not sure what legal restrictions, if any, there are for it. It opens 9’9", the ends will drag, and it has a somewhat low power drive at the moment. I still need a microcontroller from another bot and 393 motors, as well as a latch mechanism. It opens fairly quickly with rubber bands, and I could add more if I planned to push game pieces when opening. When driving, will it encounter problems with rules of playing defensively or blocking? And will there be other issues? Thanks.
here is what the manual says. a lot or it is up to the judges as to how much of what is allowed.
<G12> Strategies aimed solely at the destruction, damage, tipping over, or Entanglement of Robots are not part of the ethos of the VEX Robotics Competition and are not allowed. However, VEX Skyrise is an interactive game. Some incidental tipping, Entanglement, and damage may occur as a part of normal game play. If the tipping, Entanglement, or damage is ruled to be intentional or egregious, the offending team may be disqualified from that Match. Repeated offenses could result in a team being Disqualified from the remainder of the competition.
VEX Skyrise is intended to be an offensive game. Teams that partake in solely defensive strategies will undergo extra scrutiny in regard to <G12>. In the case where referees are forced to make a judgment call on interaction between a defensive and offensive Robot, the referees will err on the side of the offensive Robot. a. Robots that have expanded horizontally in an effort to obstruct the field will undergo even more scrutiny under <G12>, and will not be protected under <G12>. e.g. If you choose to undertake this type of strategy, your robot should be built to withstand vigorous interaction. i. Furthermore, teams that undertake this type of obstructive strategy would not be protected by <SG3>. e.g. There is no penalty for pinning a “wall-bot”.
A team is responsible for the actions of its Robot. This goes for teams that are driving recklessly and potentially causing damage, but also goes for teams that drive around with a small wheel base and arm extended. A team should design its Robot such that it is not easily tipped over or damaged by minor contact
I will next week, but it’s not powered at the moment. Waiting for a cortex to free up so I can make a latch mech.
So it looks like I’ll be beefing it up then :D. I understood that as as long as it isn’t causing entanglement, tipping, or damage to other bots, it’s fine. I’m hoping the rules don’t change much so that I don’t have to take this apart. my only worry with it currently would be the linear slide popping off and rubber bands coming off, both probably fixable.
As a ref, I notice that in each game someone tries a wall bot, and it might be a reasonable strategy for this game. The only issue is that wall bots have no rule protections whatsoever. If a robot can’t get around you and decides to go through you, its you who is at fault. If they get tangled in you in the process, that is another strike against you.
The moral is if you insist on building a wallbot, build a tough one. It will get abused all day while the referees shrug.
