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
2542: How can a team rectify an SG4 violation?
During a recent competition, a question came up that we couldn't answer. If a ball is improperly loaded, following rule SG4, it states in part e: "The Ball must then be removed from the Load Zone by a Loader before it is retrieved by a Robot and legally Loaded again.". The question came up of what should be the recommended course of action if it is retrieved by a robot. From our understanding, if the ball is scored in anyway (a goal or a pass), that is score affecting, then the team or teams involved should be disqualified. But, what if it isn't. Can the team rectify the situation?
A. Can the team remove the ball from their robot? Would that require a full robot reset?
B. Can the team's robot remove it from itself? By shooting it out or by unloading it? Can the loader then retrieve the ball from the field and have it remain a minor violation?
C. What if the robot shot it outside of the field? Can the loader retrieve it then?
In all three cases, it is assumed the offending ball was not scored in any way.
The Team could use any of the methods you describe to remove the incorrectly-Loaded Ball from play before it is Passed or used to score a Goal. If the Ball is removed from play before it is used for a Score Affecting action, the Team should only receive a Minor Violation.
If the Ball is directly removed from a Robot by a Drive Team Member, it must be as part of a full Robot reset as described in rules <G10> and <RSC8>.