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Official Q&A: VRC 2023-2024: Over Under

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1975: tipping blocking robots

84260C
27-Feb-2024

<g14> states that the offensive robot will receive the benefit of the doubt when determining if something was match affecting. Does this refer to the robot that is performing an offensive action or that it is in it's offensive zone? <g13> states that "A Team is responsible for the actions of its Robot at all times, including the Autonomous Period. This applies both to Teams that are driving recklessly or potentially causing damage, and to Teams that drive around with a small wheel base. A Team should design its Robot such that it is not easily tipped over or damaged by minor contact."

With this in mind if a red robot was shooting from the match load zone and had a low hanging mechanism that was low enough for a blue robot to drive on and it results in the blue robot being tipped would the red robot be penalized? The blue robot stays on the red robot after the red robot finishes shooting and the only things the red robot can do is drive forward or raise the low hanging mechanism. Both of these options will result in the tipping of the blue robot but staying still will not tip the blue robot. They were performing an offensive action and the mechanism in question is an intake and not meant for tipping other robots, but <g13> states that a team is responsible for the actions of their robot at all times

Would the red robot be penalized for moving? If the blue robot is successfully blocking the red robot would the red robot be penalized for driving forward to push the blue robot off and returning to shoot if the blue robot got tipped in the process?

G13   G14  
Answered by committee
7-Mar-2024

<g14> states that the offensive robot will receive the benefit of the doubt when determining if something was match affecting. Does this refer to the robot that is performing an offensive action or that it is in it's offensive zone?

Rule <G14> protects robots that are engaged in offensive actions (e.g., scoring, match loading, elevating) during a Match, regardless of their position on the field. This guidance is modified by clause B of rule <SG10>, which specifies that during the Autonomous Period of a Match a Robot is considered to be playing offense only when in its own Offensive Zone.

In the scenario you've described, once the red Robot stops Match Loading and begins to move away from the Match Load bar, the Head Referee should begin a Holding count. Holding is an inherently defensive action, regardless of where on the field it occurs. If red attempts to escape blue's Holding and cannot do so without incidentally tipping the blue Robot, the red Robot will generally have the benefit of the doubt provided by rule <G14> and should not be penalized.