Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
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Official Q&A: VRC 2023-2024: Over Under

Usage Guidelines All Questions

1679: Holding no escape except over center barrier or under horizontal elevation bars.


Tim Hower
6-Oct-2023

The definition of holding from the manual-

Holding - A Robot status. A Robot is considered to be Holding if it meets any of the following criteria during a Match:

Trapping - Limiting the movement of an opponent Robot to a small or confined area of the field, approximately the size of one foam field tile or less, without an avenue for escape. Note that if a Robot is not attempting to escape, it is not considered Trapped. Pinning - Preventing the movement of an opponent Robot through contact with the Field Perimeter, a Field or Game Element, or another Robot. Lifting - Controlling an opponent’s movements by raising or tilting the opponent’s Robot off of the foam tiles.

Is it considered holding if a robot's only avenue for escape is over the long barrier and that robot is not capable of going over the long barrier? Is it considered holding if a robot's only avenue for escape is under the horizontal elevation bar and that robot is not able to pass under the elevation bar because it is to tall?

Answered by committee
18-Oct-2023

It is not the Head Referee's responsibility to know the capabilities of all Robots at an event, and recall which Robots can and cannot drive over Barriers or below Elevation Bars.

If a Robot is being Pinned against a Barrier or Elevation Bar, preventing movement, it qualifies as Holding and is limited to a 5-count as described in rule <G16>.

If a Robot is near a Barrier or Elevation Bar but not physically Pinned there by an opponent, the Barrier should be considered as an avenue of escape and the interaction will not qualify as Holding.