Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
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Official Q&A: VRC 2018-2019: Turning Point

Usage Guidelines All Questions

195: Loose leaning Poles


2019F
21-Dec-2018

http://youtu.be/Oj_lK7WX9sg

The attached video shows a leaning/loose pole at our last competition. This is the beginning of the match with the starting center flags in the neutral position. The leaning and loose swinging of the pole cause most attempt to turn the middle and upper flags to flip all the way back against us. In the video you can clearly see the pole at rest leaning toward red, then swing forward and back causing the weight of the flags to swing them back against us. This does no occur coming from the other side, in fact, just a glancing hit would turn the flag from the other side.

Does this inequity constitute a field malfunction and justify a reply (assuming it was match affecting)? If so, is it permitted to request that poles be straightened and/or better secured before a match?

Thank you-

Answered by Game Design Committee

The REC Foundation has released a document that provides some guidelines for what should and should not constitute a replay. This document should not be used as an absolute list of what is and is not allowed, but helps to frame the spirit of the rule and guide EP's / head referees in their decision. It can be found here:

https://www.roboticseducation.org/documents/2018/10/vrc-replay-criteria.pdf

The document includes the following item:

Field elements detaching or moving beyond normal tolerances.

Field tolerances are defined by <G17>, partially quoted here for reference:

<G17> Be prepared for minor field variance. Field Element tolerances may vary from nominal by ±1.0”. Game Object tolerances and weights may vary from nominal by ±0.25” and 10 grams respectively. Game Object placement at the beginning of Matches may vary from nominal by ±1.5”. Teams are encouraged to design their Robots accordingly.

It is impossible to retroactively issue a blanket ruling on a specific event that has already occurred, but in general, it will be the Head Referee and Event Partner's responsibility to determine if a given field is set up within spec. If you have a concern about a field's construction, you are always welcome to discuss it with the Head Referee and/or Event Partner, but it will be at their discretion to determine if the field in question is within tolerance. Teams should be prepared for, and design their Robots to accommodate, minor field variances.