Is the use of duct or gaffers tape (for example) forbidden for spot-repairing damage to a team's robot over the course of a tournament?
For example, many teams this year use plastic as a ramp into a conveyor mechanism from a ring intake. Over the course of battles over the positive corners and interactions with other robots and field elements, the plastic can snap or crack. In some instances we've seen mid tournament spot repairs of such damage with tape, because a team may not have had a spare piece of this plastic.
This does not appear to be a legal way to repair the damage after looking at:
<R20> A limited amount of tape is allowed. Robots may use a small amount of tape for the following purposes:
To secure any connection between the ends of two (2) VEX cables. To label wires and motors. To cover the backs of license plates (i.e., hiding the “wrong color”). To prevent leaks on the threaded portions of pneumatic fittings. This is the only acceptable use of Teflon tape. In any other application that would be considered a “non-functional decoration” per <R9>. As an aglet at the end of rope/string to prevent fraying.
<R9> Decorations are allowed. Teams may add non-functional decorations, provided that they do not affect Robot performance in any significant way or affect the outcome of the Match
Clearly if holding the broken pieces of plastic together, the tape becomes functional. Not performing this sort of spot repair though could easily end the day for the damaged robot/team. It seems unlikely such a repair conveys a strategic advantage over the original piece of plastic.
What should referees do in this situation? Should robots with tape repairs like this be removed from the field, and the team told to find another legal repair method before they may return? Or do they be allowed to compete with the bandaged robot the rest of the day, given its likely not in as good a shape as it could have been with fully intact plastic?