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Official Q&A: VRC 2020-2021: Change Up
596: Intentional Autonomous Interference to Stop Autonomous Win Point
SG2: Stay on your side in Autonomous. During the Autonomous Period, Robots may not contact the foam tiles or Balls which are on the opposing Alliance’s side of the Autonomous Line. Robots may not contact the Goals that are in the opposing Alliance’s Home Zone.
Violations of this rule will result in the Autonomous Bonus being awarded to the opposing Alliance. Intentional, strategic, or egregious violations, such as intentional contact with an opposing Robot while completely across the Autonomous Line, will result in a Disqualification.
SG2 Establishes that intentionally interfering with an opponent’s autonomous routine by crossing the center line and making contact with the opponent is grounds for a disqualification. However, intentional interference with the opponent’s autonomous routine does not result in the opponent being granted the autonomous win point. Is this interpretation correct?
If this interpretation is correct, this would allow teams to play spoiler. A disqualification does not mean anything to the team playing spoiler as they were likely already ranked low and/or suspected they were going to lose the match anyway. However, by preventing the opposing alliance from earning the autonomous win point, the spoiler team can heavily influence the outcome of the tournament. The additional win point could be the difference between the team achieving the #1 rank in VRC or making the cut off for the elimination matches in VEXU.
SG2 Establishes that intentionally interfering with an opponent’s autonomous routine by crossing the center line and making contact with the opponent is grounds for a disqualification. However, intentional interference with the opponent’s autonomous routine does not result in the opponent being granted the autonomous win point. Is this interpretation correct?
Yes, this interpretation is correct.
If this interpretation is correct, this would allow teams to play spoiler. A disqualification does not mean anything to the team playing spoiler as they were likely already ranked low and/or suspected they were going to lose the match anyway. However, by preventing the opposing alliance from earning the autonomous win point, the spoiler team can heavily influence the outcome of the tournament. The additional win point could be the difference between the team achieving the #1 rank in VRC or making the cut off for the elimination matches in VEXU.
This type of unethical strategy would be out of line from the spirit of the VEX Robotics Competition; a team who would attempt this strategy would be at risk of a severe violation of G1 and/or the REC Foundation Code of Conduct. Violations of the Code of Conduct can result in Disqualification from a current Match, an upcoming Match, an entire event, or an entire competition season.