Robo-Cross B

[jander14indoor]

Score is bigger to give more differentiation. Sorting bonus was to add to the challenge, the many perfect scores at regionals, states and national just invited making the task harder. Time explicitly in the score so that a team that was near perfect but fast had a chance to place amongst instead of below the perfect scores. And it adds to your strategy considerations. You really have to think if its worth the time to chase that last penny or to stop time.

As usual, the following is opinion, feel free to ask a FAQ on the official site. But the way I read it the bonus on jug position is either/or. The sorting bonus is separate and multiplicative. Oh, and I think it applies to ALL objects of that type, not just those in the jugs. Go back and re-read to see if you think I'm wrong.
Object score=zone score*jug position bonus*sorting bonus
where jug position bonus =1 if not in jug, 2 if in jug on side, 3 if jug upright
sorting bonus =1 if sort criteria not met, 2 if sort criteria met

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[Unome]

Score is bigger to give more differentiation. Sorting bonus was to add to the challenge, the many perfect scores at regionals, states and national just invited making the task harder. Time explicitly in the score so that a team that was near perfect but fast had a chance to place amongst instead of below the perfect scores. And it adds to your strategy considerations. You really have to think if its worth the time to chase that last penny or to stop time.

As usual, the following is opinion, feel free to ask a FAQ on the official site. But the way I read it the bonus on jug position is either/or. The sorting bonus is separate and multiplicative. Oh, and I think it applies to ALL objects of that type, not just those in the jugs. Go back and re-read to see if you think I'm wrong.
Object score=zone score*jug position bonus*sorting bonus
where jug position bonus =1 if not in jug, 2 if in jug on side, 3 if jug upright
sorting bonus =1 if not sorted, 2 if sorted

Hmm, need to check that against the rules at work, but seems right from memory.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

That was very informative.

[Shawjr01]

Can I use a Link controller from the robot kit sold by KISS Institute for Botball?

[jander14indoor]

That's a question better asked on the official NSO website for clarifications, any answer you get here is UNOFFICIAL and not binding.

With that warning, I see nothing in the rules that limits you on what controller you may use. The only thing that talks to that is the need to have at least one modification on your device if it came purely from a kit.

General comment for SO, if its not forbidden its allowed is a common principle. But that can be offset in a heartbeat if the Event Supervisor perceives a safety issue. SOME ES will apply an "intent" or "spirit" interpretation to restrict things beyond the rules. Thus the comment about not official here, and the need to ask on the NSO website if you want a binding interpretation.

Regards,

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[retired1]

Make sure that the frequency is an authorized one if it is not a tether type control.
Memorize the rules so you can successfully defend your equipment if some ES should take umbrage to it. Remember that you can always contest an ES ruling.
PS: I have zero idea on what type of control it is.

[jander14indoor]

AND memorize the FAQs and Clarifications on the national site (some states release additional rule modifications on their own site binding in that state). They are supposed to be binding rules or interpretations as much as the rule book. Though some tournaments may limit that to ones released 1 month before the actual tournament to avoid last minute churn.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[couragecat]

to be honest the robot itself doesn't really matter as long as it can perform the required tasks, but what matters is the practice you put into it. build your own setting and practice running the robot hundreds of times over and over again to get the best results. last year there were numerous robots far more advanced than mine (which was merely a simple robot made from a vex starter kit and a dingy cardboard flap at the front), but i still ended up first at regionals and 4th at states because of the practice i put into it. i remember that some of the robots had two controllers, releasable wheels, etc but they still scored much lower than me because it was evident that they barely practiced at all. so yeah, to sum it up practice is far more important than the structure of the robot.

[riceman]

Our team just got this email from our school's head coach stating:

I went to the Head Coach meeting yesterday and the Director said that Robo Cross has some problems this year. She is getting together with the folks who run the state competition and they are reworking the rules. She said they will be issuing new rules hopefully in the next month. She didn't go into details on what the problems were, but I just wanted to give you a head's up that if you think things are confusing, they are, and they are working on it. I will keep you posted.

We are in California. Can the rules be "reworked" at the state level? Is this happening at the national level as well? Anyone else hear of anything like this?

[chalker]

Our team just got this email from our school's head coach stating:

I went to the Head Coach meeting yesterday and the Director said that Robo Cross has some problems this year. She is getting together with the folks who run the state competition and they are reworking the rules. She said they will be issuing new rules hopefully in the next month. She didn't go into details on what the problems were, but I just wanted to give you a head's up that if you think things are confusing, they are, and they are working on it. I will keep you posted.

We are in California. Can the rules be "reworked" at the state level? Is this happening at the national level as well? Anyone else hear of anything like this?

No, they are not being 'reworked' at the National level. As indicated above, we might issue FAQs in response to questions. State directors have quite a bit of flexibility as well to issue State specific clarifications / FAQs or even large rule changes. Some Stat's even run their own unique events.

[jander14indoor]

<SNIP> We are in California. Can the rules be "reworked" at the state level? Is this happening at the national level as well? Anyone else hear of anything like this?

First, this is NOT an official channel for info. So start with the national rules, FAQs and Clarifications, look for state changes, then regional through official channels.

Let me echo chalker from my experience as a state director. While not encouraged, States and Regions can and do change rules for a variety of reasons. Some philosophical, some practical. You may not have a facility to run an event, may have safety issues unique to your site or state (in MI they have specific legal safety requirements more stringent than SO in chem labs), or may just not think an event is in the 'spirit' of SO. The key thing is the organizers MUST (from a fairness perspective at least) make the change as early as they can and make sure the info is spread as widely as they can.

Now, I did some checking since I like to know if there are problems with the rules that need fixing. This doesn't appear to even apply to the whole state of CA, just one region in SOCAL at the moment.

Recommendation, focus on the rules in the National Rule book or the National app. Try to get a copy for yourself and read it carefully. Watch for changes through your competition chain. Discuss on forums like this to get a better understanding.

Regards,
Jeff Anderson
National Event Supervisor, Robocross (but this is STILL an unofficial channel!)
Livonia, MI

PS, what parts of the rules are confusing to you?