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Official Q&A: VEX V5 Robotics Competition 2024-2025: High Stakes

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2522: [UPDATED] Clarification Regarding Reference Point for Expansion


AUBIE1
10-Feb-2025

We recently asked Q&A 2479 and were told that our question could not be understood. Below we have simplified the wording of our question so it is easier to understand.

In Q&A 2006, a scenario was posed where a robot's back plate moved backward in relation to the rest of the robot. The given response stated that the robot's back plate had not expanded backward, but instead the rest of the robot had expanded forward. In other words, the robot's back plate was used as the reference point for expansion.

However, not all robots contain a "back plate" or similar feature. In cases like this, how should a robot's reference point for expansion be determined? The response also stated that "The Robot's horizontal size includes all portions of the Robot, including any non-functional decorations or protruding parts like cables or zip ties." Does that indicate that expansion is determined by whichever point on the robot is the furthest back along the plane of expansion?

In case the question is still not understandable, we will ask it a different way. If the robot's back plate in the scenario given by Q&A 2006 is replaced with some extending mechanism, would the response be identical? This mechanism would still be the point on the robot that is furthest back. The Q&A response implies that this mechanism would not be considered to be expanding backwards and instead the rest of the robot is considered to be expanding forward (we have attatched a picture for reference). If not, which point on the robot should be used as the reference point for expansion?

Thank you for your time.img

Answered by committee
27-Feb-2025

...how should a robot's reference point for expansion be determined?

<SG2> covers expansion beyond the Robot's starting size/configuration. In other words, this means any extension of the Robot beyond the Robot's starting footprint.

The response also stated that "The Robot's horizontal size includes all portions of the Robot, including any non-functional decorations or protruding parts like cables or zip ties." Does that indicate that expansion is determined by whichever point on the robot is the furthest back along the plane of expansion?

The Robot's current size/configuration at a given point in time must never exceed the 24" x 18" footprint limit. As long as the Robot could fit inside a 24" x 18" box at every point in time throughout a Match, the Robot has not exceeded this footprint limit. This was clarified in Q&A 2138.

We don't believe this idea of a reference point is particularly applicable to <SG2> expansion rules regarding Robot size, at least with our current understanding of how you are trying to apply this concept. As always, you are welcome to submit a follow up question if we have not sufficiently answered this one.