<R12>: Further Clarification

[FRC1510]

The response to questions about <R12> make it clear that no part of the robot may extend out of the virtual 72"x72" box around the robot. However, according to part of the response:

There is no case in which an object measuring greater than 102" horizontally will fit within the 72 x 72 inch limits specified. Any such device will violate the rule if it is used outside the Home Zone.

We take this to mean that, if a robot had an arm measuring greater than 102", that arm would not be allowed to be used in competition outside the Home Zone under any circumstances, regardless of whether the use of the arm actually causes it to extend farther than allowed. Is this a correct interpretation? If so, would this interpretation hold true for any device with the potential to violate <R12>?

Assuming our interpretation does NOT hold true for all cases, which of the following mechanisms would teams be allowed to use? Assume that the robot is not in the Home Zone.

1. An arm that, when completely horizontal, violates <R12>, but whose driver never extends the arm outside the allowed box during match play.

2. An arm that, when completely horizontal, violates <R12>, but that is unable to extend outside the allowed box during match play due to its programming.

3. An arm that, when completely horizontal, would violate <R12>, but is physically unable to extend outside of the allowed box at any time due to the design of the arm.

4. An arm that, when completely horizontal, violates <R12>, but is physically unable to extend outside of the allowed box during normal use. However, under certain circumstances (i.e. the arm is accidentally snagged and extended in a way that the robot would be unable to manage on its own), the arm would theoretically be able to extend outside the allowed box.

[GDC]

There is no case in which a device with a horizontal dimension of greater then 102" and used outside the Home Zone will not violate Rule <R12>. Therefore, if a device has a horizontal dimension more than 102" and it is used outside the Home Zone, then it will automatically be assessed as a violation of Rule <R12>. In all other cases, each robot will be assessed in real time as they operate outside the Home Zone to identify any confgurations in which they violate the dimension constraints specified in Rule <R12>. A robot/device that has the physical potential to violate the dimension constraints, but does not actually do so during the match, would not be in violation of Rule <R12>.