Official Q&A: VRC 2019-2020: Tower Takeover

Question

576: Starting Position Clarification

44044A

26-Feb-2020

According to <SG1.a> it states:

<SG1> Starting a Match. Prior to the start of each Match, the Robot must be placed such that it is: a. Contacting the field perimeter wall on the side that coincides with their Alliance’s Goal Zone and Alliance Station.

My question is which of the following 2 interpretations is correct:

The robot may be placed anywhere along the field perimeter that is parallel to the Alliance Station as long as it satisfies all other <SG1> requirements.
The robot is required to be placed withing the bounds of the Alliance Station. This interpretation is due to the use of the word coincides, which according to the oxford dictionary means to meet; to share the same place. Oxford Dictionary: coincides

Also, if you examine the given example in “Figure 18: Four examples of Robots in valid starting positions” on page 20 of the Game Manual, it’s obvious that all four robots are within the bounds of the Alliance Station.

SG1

Answer 1

Answered by Game Design Committee

My question is which of the following 2 interpretations is correct:

The robot may be placed anywhere along the field perimeter that is parallel to the Alliance Station as long as it satisfies all other <SG1> requirements.

The robot is required to be placed withing the bounds of the Alliance Station. This interpretation is due to the use of the word coincides, which according to the oxford dictionary means to meet; to share the same place. Oxford Dictionary: coincides

Your first interpretation is correct. The following Q&A also provides some additional clarification on this point: https://www.robotevents.com/VRC/2019-2020/QA/396