Gears

Rule Updates

Updates

Update 1

Update 2

Update 3

Rule Update #3

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Notices

When a team comes out for a match they will be given an autonomous box which is about 3"x1.5"x1" and will have velcro on one side. The autonomous box will plug into digital inputs 9 and 10 on their microcontroller. Digital in 9 will tell the robot whether it is enabled or disabled and digital in 10 will tell the robot if it is in autonomous or manual. Please program your robots accordingly. A template program will be provided shortly in the teams resources section in both EasyC and MP Lab. A picture of this box has been placed on the pictures page. Please post any questions on the forum.

Please remember each team must clearly mark their robots with their team number per rule 2.7.15.

Q&A

Q: Is the vex kit battery included in the 8lbs of the robot? If so, which type of battery is acceptable (AA battery pack or 9V)?
A: No. Since batteries vary in size and configuration, it will not count against the weight of the robot. See rule 3.5.4 for information regarding which batteries may be used.
Q: Would we be allowed to use commercially available foam hobby wheels on our robot?
A: Yes, provided the cost is counted against the budget of the robot per rule 3.5.5 and the information regarding where the wheels can be purchased is made readily available to all teams via the rules forum.
Q: Is it possible for a team to steal balls out of the other team's bins, assuming they do not enter the goal zone (except for an arm) or are there for less than 7 seconds?
A: Yes. See modified rule 2.7.18.
Q: Is it legal to use the transmitter and receiver power units from the Vex Power Pack? Described at http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104577&cp=2032062.2032398.2032404.
A: Yes, provided that any materials used on the robot are counted against the budget per rule 3.5.5.
Q: Is it legal to use power extension cables in excess of the one that comes in the original Vex kit. Described at http://www.vexlabs.com/vex-robotics-electrical-parts.shtml
A: Yes, provided that any materials used on the robot are counted against the budget per rule 3.5.5.
Q: Can we use PVC pipe as a joint?
A: Yes, provided it meets the limitations set by 3.6.2.3.
Q: During a match, where are the robot operators allowed to go? Can they walk to the front of the playing field, or must they stay on the sides?
A: All team members must stay on the designated ends of the field during the match so they do not interfere with scoring tables, referees, and crowd viewing.
Q: Please define a disabled robot such as being stuck, or loss of power, or if the wheels no longer touch the ground? Can we intentionally disable our own robot?
A: See modified rule 2.7.18.
Q: Is the robot considered to be in the opponent's scoring area even if it is not touching the ground in the opponent's scoring area? In other words, does the opponent's scoring area include anything above the floor?
A: See modified rule 2.7.18.
Q: If the robot is in the opponent's scoring area for less than 7 seconds, is there a required time to be OUT of the scoring area before re-entering?
A: Teams must leave the area for at least 2 seconds prior to reentering the zone. If they do not leave for at least 2 seconds the referee will continue the count from where they left off.
Q: Are robots allowed to push any part of any other robot?
A: Yes, but beware of the risk associated with the consequences i.e. rule 2.7.2.

Rule Modifications

New Definition:
Limited Defense Zone (LDZ): The area surrounding either side of the POD in which limited defense by the opponents is allowed.

Change rule 2.7.18 to the following:
2.7.18 Teams may not be in an opponents LDZ for more than 7 seconds. Once a robot contacts the tape or floor within the opponent's designated LDZ, the referee will begin the 7-second countdown. Before the end of this time, teams must leave the LDZ for at least two seconds before they are allowed to reenter and the count is restarted. If a team remains in the LDZ for longer than the permitted time, they will be disqualified and receive zero pillars of winning. If a team is pinned while in the opponents LDZ, the 7-second count will be stopped and a pinning count will begin. At the end of the pin, the team must leave the LDZ immediately for at least 2 seconds. The ramp is not considered part of the LDZ. If a robot becomes unintentionally incapacitated (per the referees ruling) in the LDZ then they will not be disqualified.

Rule Update #2

Monday, November 21, 2005

Q&A:

Q: Is it correct to assume that you need to hang on the opposite side of the Pendulum to tip the scale in your favor?
A: Yes
Q: What is the height of the rope?
A: The rope at it's lowest point is 18".
Q: What are the rules and limitations on blocking the tins? Can a cover/wall be made to prohibit the opponent from accessing their tins?
A: Please see new rule 2.7.18
Q: Clarification of the spring rules. Rule 3.6.2.8
A: The intention of this rule is for safety. Essentially what it means is you can not use springs to launch items.
Q: Clarification on the limit of modifications between rounds such as replacing part of the robot or changing the program.
A: There is no limit per rule 2.7.14 provided all other rules are followed.
Q: Can we buy Erector sets with the budget we are allowed, as the parts bear similarity to vex components.
A: You can use the parts that are allowed per the additional parts list in 3.6.2. This would allow you to use the metal since it is steel. We recommend that you buy the additional metal pieces from RadioShack to accomplish the goal of having more metal.
Q: What needs to be considered to accommodate the beginning and end of the autonomous period when building the robots and creating their programs?
A: Each team will be given an autonomous box at the begriming of the match. These boxes will have two inputs one for enable/disable and one for autonomous/manual. More information about these boxes will be coming out in the next week. In the mean time you can program your robot to check to see if a jumper is in place or not. There will be a template sent out for the teams using Vex or the default code similar to last year will also be released for everyone else.
Q: When is v2 of Easy C coming out? Where can my team get it?
A: Information has been emailed to your teams contact.

Rule Modifications

Change rule 2.5.5 to the following:
2.5.5 All four student participants of the team must drive the robot within the first two official matches in which the team places a robot on the field. Once the required team members (per 2.5.4) have driven the robot, teams may choose to continue switching drivers or choose certain people to drive for the remainder of the competition repeat the ordered list or sequence drivers and/or other student team members in any desired order..

Add new rule 2.7.18:
2.7.18 Teams are permitted to do what ever they want within the rules in the opponents scoring area for up to 7 seven seconds. At which point they must leave the area completely. Then at this time the team may go and do something else on the field or wait two seconds and re-enter the area. These areas are designated by the opposing coalitions colored tape around the bins of the POD. To be considered in this area any part of your robot must be touching the tape or within the confines made by the tape. If a team remains in this area for a longer period of time than is permitted they will be allowed to continue to play but will be disqualified at the end of the match. If a team is pinned in the area during the allotted time then the 7 second count will be stopped and the pinning count will be started. At the end of the pin the team must leave the area immediately. The ramp is not considered part of this area. If a robot becomes incapacitated (per the referees ruling) in this area then they will not be disqualified.

Rule Update #1

Thursday, November 10, 2005

General Update:

Competition Date:
The date of the competition has been set for Saturday, December 3rd, 2005. We realize this may conflict with the SATs that morning, therefore we will open the pits at 9am, but not start the competition until 11:00am. This will allow students taking the SAT to attend all but the first hour and a half of competition. The competition should end by 6:30pm.
Field Drawings:
Field drawings have been posted under the "Field Diagrams" section of the web site. No profile diagram of the ramp has been posted, but the ramp is 24" deep, 28" wide, and 9" high, giving it a slope of approximately 20.6 degrees. Also, there are missing dimensions from the diagram of the POD. All boards in the POD are 1x4s. The center of the PVC support pipe is located exactly 3 feet from the top surface of the horizontal board, and when the POD is level, the bottom of the horizontal board is 4" off the ground (which places the top of the tins at 7.5").
When building a mockup of the POD, there is no need to build a stand using bearings. Resting the PVC pipe which supports the POD on a flat or U shaped surface at the correct height will give similar results.
Q&A Forum:
When posting on the forum, please remember that it is public, and what you post represents not only yourself, but also your team and school(s). Please use decent spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. Also remember to keep all material appropriate.

Q&A:

Q: Rule 3.5.2 states that there is "unlimited amount of mechanical pieces (i.e. metal, wheels, hardware, etc) and it will not count against the final robot budget limit." The amount of hardware would only seem to be constrained by the 8LB limit. But rule 3.5.5 only excludes "starter kit, additional batteries, crystals, radio, or programming modules" from the $250 budget limit I would like a clarification on the limits of the amount of hardware use in the robot
A: Rule 3.5.2 has been removed. Please see modified rule 3.5.5 below.
Q: Are alpha-prototype parts from VexLabs legal to use?
A: Please see modified rule 3.5.5 below.
Q: This may be in the rules somewhere, but could we substitute the normal metal parts in the kit for titanium or a carbon composite, if we can get it cheaply?
A: No, titanium and carbon composites will not be added to the additional materials list. In addition, as per the revised rule 3.5.5 below, cost would be based on retail price, not your cost.
Q: In the seminars on the fifth, we were told that the user functions used there were going to be able to be downloaded, are they going to be available for download after the v2 of Easy C is out? When is v2 of Easy C coming out? Where can my team get it?
A: We will have this information soon.
Q: We were not able to be at the kickoff, so we need to understand how the pendulum works ASAP. Are the field drawings coming out soon with all the measurements, so that we can build replicas to practice with?
A: We have posted the field diagrams under the Field Drawings link.
Q: Does it matter whether you are the first coalition to press the PAD button, or can both coalitions attain the pennies during the autonomous phase?
A: Please see modified rule 2.3.3 below.

Rule Changes:

Change 2.3 to the following:
2.3 Match Scoring & Ranking

Change 2.3.3. to the following:
2.3.3 During autonomous mode only, the two buttons on the field controlling the PAD will be active. When the button is pressed, a Penny Roll will be dropped into the outside POD bucket of the color of the button pressed. Each PAD may only be pressed once per match.

Change the first bullet of 2.4.3 to the following:

Remove the first rule 3.5.2 as follows:
3.5.2 Robots may use any IFI or Vex pieces that come in their standard kits, including an unlimited amount of mechanical pieces (i.e. metal, wheels, hardware, etc) and it will not count against the final robot budget limit.

Replace 3.5.5 with the following:
3.5.5 Teams may purchases any additional Vex or Robovation kit parts and any items listed on the Additional Materials list provided the total cost of constructing your robot does not exceed $250. This does not include the starter kit, additional batteries, crystals, radio, or programming modules.

3.5.5 Robots may use any VEX or Robovation parts that come in a single standard base kit, any additional publicly available VEX or Robovation mechanical parts (metal, wheels, treads, hardware, etc.), and any items on the additional materials list. Motors, servos, pneumatics, and sensors are not considered mechanical parts. The total retail cost of items used on the robot which are from the Additional Materials list or which are non-mechanical VEX or Robovation parts must not exceed $250. This $250 does not include the price of one base kit, batteries, and crystals.

Change 3.6.2.2 to the following:
3.6.2.2 Aluminum or steel sheet, up to one-eighth inch thickness

Change 3.6.2.3 to the following:
3.6.2.3 Any metal Aluminum, steel, or plastic round shaft or tubing up to one-half inch diameter

Add rule 3.6.2.15:
3.6.2.15 Any Vex or Robovation motors, servos, or pneumatic components.

Maintained by savage@wpi.edu
Last modified: Oct 12, 2006, 19:52 EDT