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
2550: Question about rapid load with the long intake
With the Game Manual update to version 3.0, rolling a ball during the rapid load process is no longer permitted. However, many teams continue to use the long intake rack for rapid loading. We would like clarification on the legality of the following scenario: If the robot remains stationary, places the ball down, and then uses the intake to collect the ball, does this violate SG5, which states that 'Balls may never be in contact with both a Robot and a human Loader at the same time'? Alternatively, should the robot move back and forth to ensure the ball does not simultaneously contact both the loader and the robot? For reference, in this video (https://www.youtube.com/live/Aq0K4jyupWc?si=iaQdwdozdCGhbNCH), at 58:24, a team performs a rapid load using the long intake while keeping the robot stationary. Is this considered a legal load? Additionally, at 1:59:04, another team moves the robot back and forth to load the ball, seemingly to comply with SG5. Could you clarify which method aligns with the current rules?
If a Robot is not driving to the Ball or actuating some mechanism in order to reach the Ball each time a Ball is Rapid Loaded, then the Rapid Loading method is very likely violating either <SG5> clause B or C.
Consider a scenario involving a Robot using rubber bands for an intake roller. With a large enough intake roller and wide gaps between rubber bands, it is technically possible for a Ball to be legally Rapid Loaded (Ball is stationary, Ball never touches both Robot and Loader simultaneously, etc.) in the gaps between rubber bands as the intake roller spins, such that neither the Robot nor the Ball needs to move to achieve contact. In reality, this is highly unlikely given the size of the Ball, common sizes of rubber band roller intakes used by Teams, and the speed/precision required to make this Loading method legal.
It should be clear to the Head Referee that a Team's method of Rapid Loading does not violate <SG5>. If the Head Referee doubts the legality of a Team's Rapid Loading method, that Team should not receive any benefit of the doubt when determining whether <SG5> violations have occurred.