in SG8, it says
"<SG8> Each Alliance may introduce their Match Load Rings at any point during the Match. This
action must abide by the following criteria:
a. Match Load Rings must be gently placed onto one of the gray foam tiles directly in front of the Alliance Station, i.e. the tiles coincident with the field perimeter wall. See Figure 23."
and in the definition of alliance station, it says
"Alliance Station – The designated regions where the Drive Team Members must remain for the duration of the Match."
question #1, my auton requires placing some match load rings, and in a competition using the alliance station set up where the two teams have a combined alliance station
it is nearly impossible to stay in the alliance station when placing the rings near the corner, is it legal to briefly leave (or put one foot out of) the alliance station to place match loads? or will the success of my auton depend on which alliance station is being used?
the definition of alliance station would say that leaving would be illegal, but then what counts as leaving? if you keep one foot in the alliance station, is it legal? and SG8 says that rings can be placed in those tiles, so there must be a way to place them legally.
question #2, is it legal to use a mechanism to release match load rings on the field? we made a way to place 4 match load rings on the field at the same time (and legally placed) by squeezing the handle. nothing in the rules says that match load rings must be set down by a drive team member/ without the help of a mechanism, so does that mean that this is legal? i know a rule making this illegal was included in past manuals, but this year it is not.
thank you for your time!
question #1, my auton requires placing some match load rings, and in a competition using the alliance station set up where the two teams have a combined alliance station
it is nearly impossible to stay in the alliance station when placing the rings near the corner, is it legal to briefly leave (or put one foot out of) the alliance station to place match loads? or will the success of my auton depend on which alliance station is being used?
Rule G7 reads as follows, with a portion bolded for emphasis:
<G7> Only Drivers, and only in the Alliance Station. During a Match, each Team may have up to three (3) Drive Team Members in their Alliance Station and all Drive Team Members must remain in their Alliance Station for the duration of the Match. Drive Team Members are not allowed to use any sort of communication devices while in the Alliance Station. Devices with communication features turned off (e.g. a phone in airplane mode) are allowed.
[...]
Violations or refusal to comply with this rule could be considered a violation of <G1> and is up to the discretion of the Head Referee.
In general, a brief excursion from the Alliance Station to place Match Loads in a corner tile would not likely be considered a major violation of G7. This assumes that the action is done safely, you do not spend an unnecessary amount of time outside of the Alliance Station, and no other rules are violated in the process. With that being said, if this is a key part of your Match Load strategy, we would advise informing / verifying with your Head Referee of your intentions prior to the start of the Match.
question #2, is it legal to use a mechanism to release match load rings on the field? we made a way to place 4 match load rings on the field at the same time (and legally placed) by squeezing the handle. nothing in the rules says that match load rings must be set down by a drive team member/ without the help of a mechanism, so does that mean that this is legal? i know a rule making this illegal was included in past manuals, but this year it is not.
There are no rules prohibiting this; therefore, it is legal.
