The official VEX IQ Robotics Competition Question & Answer system has closed for this season.
Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2024-2025: Rapid Relay
2428: Excessive force when match loading
When placing a ball into the loader, the intent is for the ball to be able to randomly move right and left. If a loader instead of placing a ball into the loader, throws the ball into the loader with the intent to influence the random nature of the output, would this be a violation of SG4? Or with the nature of the VEX IQ piston, would this be considered a violation of S1 in which this will, and did, break the piston in the loader by this process being repeated?
Provided the human Loader meets all requirements of rule <SG4>, there is no rule against Loaders attempting to influence the Ball to exit the Loading Station in a particular direction.
However, if excessive force causes damage to the Loading Station, another Field Element, or a Ball, the Team should receive a Major <S1> Violation and a Disqualification from the Match. The human Loader should not be allowed to continue using excessive force--during the current and any future Matches--while Loading after causing damage.