What rule prevents us from picking up other robots?

VEX Robotics Competition Discussion VRC > Tower Takeover (19/20)
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While pondering what to do with a spare motor, one of our team members who usually has little to say at practice brought up a good point: what rule prevents us from picking up other robots? I imagine that this couldn’t be considered trapping or entanglement based upon the definitions of those terms and the closest I can come is - use common sense. Most robots are relatively light these days and it wouldn’t be unreasonably difficult to design a mechanism to do such a thing. It’s too late in the competition year for us to design such a contraption but it’s an interesting thought.

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Uh yeah thats definitely going to fall under entanglement and trapping as well as common sense.

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Entanglement: “A Robot is Entangled if it has grabbed, hooked, or attached to an opposing Robot or a Field Element as per ” if we devised a flat platform to put the victim robot, we wouldn’t be grabbing, hooking, or attaching to the robot. The robot would be sitting on top of our robot.

Trapping: This one might come into play if common sense is applied but we could pick up the robot for a period of time, put it back down, pick it up again after leaving the area for a period of time.

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< R3> Robots must be safe. The following types of mechanisms and components are NOT allowed:
a. Those that could potentially damage playing field components such as the field perimeter or
Field Elements.
b. Those that could potentially damage other competing Robots.
c. Those that pose an unnecessary risk of Entanglement.

Entanglement - A Robot status. A Robot is Entangled if it has grabbed, hooked, or attached to an opposing Robot or a Field Element, as per < G16>.

If you can tell me how to pick up another robot without grabbing it and with a flat surface, go ahead. Your “flat platform” would have to keep all four wheels of the robot, else you would certainly be at risk for tipping the opposing robot.

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All legality aside, how do you propose you’ll manage to have your opponents drive on top of a platform that you intend to lift them into the air with.

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Trap them briefly and slide the pan under maybe? I haven’t given the idea any attention beyond the brief suggestion at practice tonight.

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While a somewhat amusing idea I will say it isn’t at all practical and very likely illegal. I would not recommend picking up your opponents.

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