Does the line "Teams must be prepared to demonstrate that their Robot does not exceed the maximum size constraint of 11” x 24” at any point" mean that if the robot is able to extend past 24" (even if the students don't use it this way), the robot will not pass inspection?
<SG2>
Secondly, if the students design a swing arm which technically could make the robot longer that 24", but they program it to extend only when in an upright position and not in a horizontal position, limiting the extension when the arm is horizontal to 24" maximum (i..e the restraint on the mechanism is due to the software), how will inspection view this? Should it pass?
Answered by committee
2-Jul-2026
<SG2>, including the accompanying blue box text, was revised in the July 2 game manual update to clarify that the expansion limit only applies during a Match. Teams must be prepared to demonstrate that their Robot does not exceed the maximum size constraint of 11" x 24" at any point during a Match due to either physical or programmed limitations.
A Robot would only incur an <SG2> Violation if it were to exceed expansion limits during a Match. Simply being capable of exceeding expansion limits is not enough to incur a Violation. However, a Robot should not pass inspection if it is capable of exceeding expansion limits while operating under standard Match conditions, which is why Teams must be prepared to demonstrate physical and/or programmed limitations that prevent their Robot from exceeding expansion limits during a Match.
