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Official Q&A: VRC 2018-2019: Turning Point

Usage Guidelines All Questions

4: SG3/SG7 Clarification- Can Game Objects Cross the Autonomous Line During Autonomous?


7975B
15-May-2018

Hello,

Would it be legal for Game objects to cross the autonomous line during autonomous without penalty? Specifically game objects that are not contacting the robot while doing so.

The rulebook currently implies this may be illegal because of SG7:

“Scoring Objects cannot be used to accomplish actions that would be otherwise illegal if they were attempted by Robot mechanisms.”

An interpretation of this may be that game objects cannot cross the autonomous line as a robot mechanism cannot as in SG3:

“Robots may not do any of the following:

  1. Contact the foam tiles on the opposing Alliance’s side of the Autonomous Line.”

Additionally if this is ruled illegal would accidental or unintentional violations cause the alliance to lose the autonomous bonus or be disqualified, for example a ball rolls over the line after a robot flips a cap or a ball rebounds off the net and crosses the line?

Thank You in Advance

7975F - Download Complete

Answered by Game Design Committee

There are no rules prohibiting Game Objects from crossing the Autonomous Line during the Autonomous Period. For example, if a launched Ball deflects off of a Flag and crosses the line on its rebound, this is both legal and expected.

SG7 would come into play if game objects were used as an extension of your Robot to intentionally impact an opponent's autonomous mode. For example, driving across the Autonomous Line and blocking an opponent with your robot is clearly illegal. By SG7, intentionally placing a Cap on the other side of the Autonomous Line to block an opponent would also be illegal.