Ball intrusion

[2010FRC0051]

Rule R19b as of Update 2 said:

<R19> ROBOTS must be designed so that in normal operation BALLS cannot extend more than 3 inches inside
b) a MECHANISM or feature designed to deflect balls in a controlled manner that is above the level of the BUMPER ZONE.



Question: Is it allowable to let BALLS extend more than 3 inches inside a MECHANISM or feature that is NOT designed to deflect balls (and is not intended to deflect balls, and does not deflect balls)?



For example, one could imagine a tall feature on the robot which is intended for hanging. This feature could increase the envelope of the robot significantly, thus making it possible for a ball to extend more than three inches inside the envelope which includes the extended feature.



Is the fact that this feature is not designed to deflect the balls sufficient to allow the robot to operate without fear of violating R19b?

[GDC]

The prohibition in Rule <R19-B>, as amended in Team Update 2, is against BALL incursion inside any particular MECHANISM on the ROBOT. It is understood that the BALL may enter inside the vertical project of the FRAME PERIMETER of the ROBOT (i.e. be "inside" the ROBOT boundaries). A situation where the BALL traverses "inside" the robot boundaries (e.g. as it falls from the BALL RETURN and bounces off the top of the ROBOT), but does not enter a MECHANISM by more than the permitted 3 inches, would not be PENALIZED.