Upon looking through the manual, i could not find reference to any tolerance for the starting position of the block. This makes the wording for <T7> 1)a. undefined and subject to interpretation. There is the general tolerance as defined in <T8> however this refers to Field elements, which the game Blocks are not apart of. Additionally a tolerance for the block starting position could affect the legal starting positions of robots per <SG1> as, hypothetically, the blocks may start offset from their "perfect" starting position and the game would still be allowed to start since the robot is not contacting a block that, if the block was perfectly positioned, it would be.
As such, could i get clarification on:
- What is the tolerance of the "correct position" of the blocks? Both distance from their "perfect position"and, if possible, angle/orientation
- can a block be moved within this tolerance (if provided) to allow for a robot to be in a legal starting position (i.e. not touching a block)?
2a) if not, would it be up to the head referee's judgment as to if the robot is starting legally with respect the the blocks starting position
- If there is a tolerance, can a team ask for cubes to be set in specific positions/orientations?
- can teams ask for cubes to be positioned closer to their "perfect position"? If so, and the team is never satisfied, can the head referee in their judgment determine that it is sufficiently close to its "perfect position" and start the match?
Answered by committee
28-Nov-2023
- What is the tolerance of the "correct position" of the blocks? Both distance from their "perfect position"and, if possible, angle/orientation
The following rules of thumb can be used:
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Red Blocks: The Block's curved face should be balancing on the two halves of the Starting Peg. Neither of the gray Starting Peg plates should be able to "nest" inside of the red Block's triangular notches.
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Purple Blocks: The angled corners should not cross over any black line. Similarly, the Block should not be covering any holes in the field tiles. This example would be at the edge of tolerance.
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Green Blocks: The angled corners should not cross over any black line. This example would be at the edge of tolerance.
- can a block be moved within this tolerance (if provided) to allow for a robot to be in a legal starting position (i.e. not touching a block)?
Please see this similar Q&A: https://www.robotevents.com/VIQRC/2023-2024/QA/1705
- If there is a tolerance, can a team ask for cubes to be set in specific positions/orientations?
Technically yes, but as always, <T6> ("Robots must be placed on the field promptly") and the note in <RSC6> ("the definition of 'prompt' is at the discretion of the Event Partner and Head Referee") would apply.
- can teams ask for cubes to be positioned closer to their "perfect position"? If so, and the team is never satisfied, can the head referee in their judgment determine that it is sufficiently close to its "perfect position" and start the match?
We believe this is effectively the same question (and answer) as question 3 above. If this is not the case, please feel free to rephrase and re-submit.
