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Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Mix & Match
2846: Loading zone - contact clarification.
"Contact" is the primary criterion given for loading zone rules. Pins must be introduced contacting the zone. Robots cannot be contacting the zone when pins are introduced. Robots cannot be contacting the pin when introduced.
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Is it possible to reliably introduce a pin adjacent to the beam which is the loading zone? or to be safe does the pin have to be placed on top of the loading zone beam? We have noticed that often when we try to place a pin adjacent to the loading zone, it vibrates or spins slightly on release and ends up not quite contacting the loading zone by maybe 1mm or less. Is this legal? a violation? or really up to ref discretion?
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parts of our robot are close to the ground, but just high enough that they can pass over the loading zone without contacting it. Is it permissible to demonstrate this clearance to the judges before a match so we aren't erroneously assigned a violation? or should we assume that if its too close to easily see we will be penalized and we shouldn't do it? In line with this, if our robot has a claw that stretches over the loading zone, but clearly doesn't contact it, is it permissible to place a pin directly into the space between the open claw touching the loading zone, or will judge be unable to see that we didn't in fact touch the claw with the pin on the way down and we should assume that since they can't see, we shouldn't use this strategy? In both cases clarifying our intentions with the judges before a match could be beneficial.
Thanks for your questions, Team 14118A.
It is impossible to issue blanket answers to your questions beyond what is written in the Game Manual that encompass all possible situations based on snapshot descriptions of hypothetical actions, Robots, mechanisms, or interactions. These rulings must be made by the Head Referee based on the context of the Match.
The outcomes of the strategies you describe will vary widely based on the perspective of the Head Referee involved, and their understanding and application of the rules. We suggest that Teams talk to the event's Head Referee(s) for guidance before Matches start if they intend to use a strategy that could, based on perspective, be ruled as illegal. Ultimately, each Team must make their own decisions based on the level of risk they're willing to assume.