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Official Q&A: VIQC 2019-2020: Squared Away

Usage Guidelines All Questions

540: Programming skills moving of objects


Lon Salomon (Event Partner)
6-Feb-2020

Is it legal to move a game piece that is not in control of a robot? For example we code the robot to move forward and pick up a green cube, instead it bumps the cube and does not stay in contact with it. I know the robot is allowed to be retrieved, but can the cube be put pack in place?

Answered by Game Design Committee

Please review the Q&A Usage Guidelines before posting, specifically point 3, "Quote the applicable rule from the latest version of the manual in your question."

The applicable rule in this case is RSC5, quoted below for reference with a portion bolded for emphasis:

<RSC5> A Team may handle their Robot as many times as desired during a Programming Skills Match.

a. Upon handling the Robot, it must be immediately brought back to any legal Starting Position.\

i. Driver may reset or adjust the Robot as desired from this position, including pressing buttons on the Robot Brain or activating sensors.

b. Any Game Objects being controlled by the Robot while being handled must be removed from the Robot and gently placed in a non-Scored position by the Team.

c. Any Game Object in the Starting Position may be moved out of the Starting Position and gently placed into a non-Scored position by the Team.

d. During a Programming Skills Match, Drivers may move freely around the Field, and are not restricted to the Driver Station when not handling their Robot.

i. An intent of this exception is to permit Drivers who wish to “stage” Robot handling during a Programming Skills Match to do so without excessive running back and forth to the Driver Station.

Note: This rule only applies to Programming Skills Matches. Driving Skills Matches are still governed by <G17>, especially for strategic violations.

Any interaction between a Driver and a Game Element that is not being controlled by a Robot, and therefore not covered by G17/RSC5, would be considered a violation of G9.

<G9> Hands out of the Field. Drivers are prohibited from making intentional contact with any Field Element, Game Object, or Robot during a Match, except for the allowances in <G17>.

Violations of this rule will result in a warning for minor offenses that do not affect the Match. Score affecting offenses will result in a Disqualification. Teams who receive multiple warnings may also receive a Disqualification at the Head Referee’s discretion.

Note: Accidental contact may result in a warning, Disqualification, or Disablement at the Head Referee’s discretion.