Hey Could I please get some clarification on trapping? Specifically when to stop the trap count? I have heard it a few different ways from what I interpreted and wanted clarity. With the amount of interaction in the corners with the rollers I think its important to get this correct as it can often decide who wins.
Trapping is defined as:
A Robot status. A Robot is Trapping if it has restricted an opposing Robot into a small, confined area of the field, approximately the size of one foam field tile or less, and has not provided an avenue for escape. Trapping can be direct (e.g., pinning an opponent to a field perimeter wall) or indirect (e.g., preventing a Robot from escaping from a corner of the field). See rule <G15>.Note: If a Robot is not attempting to escape, then that Robot has not been Trapped.
G15 says:
No Trapping for more than 5 seconds. A Robot may not Trap an opposing Robot for more than five seconds (0:05) during the Driver Controlled Period. a. A Trap ends once the Trapping Robot has moved away and the Robots are separated by at least two (2) feet (approximately one [1] foam tile). b. After ending a Trap, a Robot may not Trap the same Robot again for a duration of five seconds (0:05). If a Team does Trap the same Robot again within five seconds (0:05), the count will resume from where it ended when the Trapping Robot initially backed away
- Can the trap count only stop if a trapping robot backs off for 2 feet from the trapped robot or is the 2 feet a general guideline for when to stop a trap but not an exhaustive list of the only way a trap count can stop?
- If a robot begins a trap and backs away enough to provide an avenue of escape and the trapped robot follows the trapping robot instead of taking the avenue of escape can <G14> apply and stop the trap count?
- Can the trap count also stop if the trapping definition no longer applies mid trap count? (ex: trapped robot stops attempting to escape, trapped robot is given an avenue of escape but it chooses to not take it)