Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
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The Q&A is closed for the 2021-2022 season. Any rule changes or clarifications pertaining to the 2022 VEX Robotics World Championship will be included in the April 5 Game Manual Update. Teams attending VEX Worlds who wish to pre-submit questions for the driver's meeting should have received a contact form via email; if not, please contact your REC Foundation Team Engagement Manager for more information.

Official Q&A: VRC 2021-2022: Tipping Point

Usage Guidelines All Questions

1056: Hinged tracking wheel held in starting size by field tile - G4 / R5


Jonathan Roberts (Event Partner)
15-Feb-2022

Some teams use hinged tracking wheels on their robots that allow the wheel to constantly be in contact with the field tiles. In some cases when a robot is lifted, these tracking wheels will drop down since there is nothing holding them in place and may even be using elastics or some other mechanism to create a downward force to ensure field tile contact.

G4 specifies that a robot "must be smaller than a volume of 18” (457.2 mm) long by 18” (457.2 mm) wide by 18” (457.2 mm) tall" and not using field elements to maintain starting size.

Assuming a team does not have a mechanism in place to keep their tracking wheels from dropping down before the start of a match when not in contact with the field tiles would this be considered a violation of G4 and possibly R5 if the robot becomes out of starting size thus either requiring the robot be removed from the field prior to the start of a match or not pass inspection to begin with?

Answered by committee

In the context of G4 / R5, it is a fair assumption that a Robot will begin the Match (and be inspected) while placed on a field tile. The scenario described in this question (i.e. a mechanism which rests on a field tile when measured within the 18"x18"x18" volume) would be legal.