Hi Again,
This is the second question that I have been asked to rephrase and repost.
The game manual states, in <SG2a> that "Once the match begins, a robot which is contacting the expansion zone may expand vertically with no height limit. However, once fully outside the expansion zone (ie, no longer contact it), the robot must return to a height limit of 18" tall." The follow-up info also states that <A robot which interferes with gameplay as a result of violating this rule, such as scoring a high flag or blocking a launched ball while outside the expansion zone, will result in a disqualification, whether the interference is match affecting or not.> The game manual also states in <G11> that <you can't force an opponent into a penalty. intentional strategies that cause an opponent to violate a rule are not permitted, and will not result in an infraction on the opposing alliance.>
The issue then follows: if a robot is designed to block opponent shots, say by expanding horizontally over the opponent robot, and the opponent robot fires a shot, causing the defending robot to expand over 18", who would be at fault? The game manual states through <G13> that offensive robots get the "benefit of the doubt". In this instance, the defending robot is not actively seeking to break the rules, and has taken reasonable measures to prevent this (through proper bracing, good build quality, etc. etc.) If the offensive robot however, then decided to shoot the ball and cause the defending robot to violate the 18" limit (perhaps through a powerful launcher), who would be at fault? The offensive robot could have driven somewhere else and fired the shot, and if they had fired the shot with the intention to cause a rule violation, would also receive scrutiny from <G11>.