Yes, we are going to get the markings off- I don't think it is a good idea and was concerned from the beginning- did go back and find the rule. The team meant no harm- they thought they had come up with a good solution. My bigger concern was if we could not undo- they have worked really hard all season - they actually put the markings this Thursday. There will be no markings on our sensors. thanks all for the feedback. Laura On Nov 9, 2012, at 11:51 PM, VA/DC Referee Advisor wrote: > Different Rules are there for different reasons. > > Most are there to make sure that the robot game is fun, and performed > by an autonomous robot. > > Some are there to give the team more of a challenge. > > Some are there to make things easier for the referees to do, and for > the team to understand. > > > Although it's not my place to discuss the intent of the Rules (Rules 3 > and 29), I think that the limitation on markings is there for the > following reasons: > > a) Teams are limited to using "LEGO-manufactured elements in original > factory condition" to set a level-playing field, try to keep costs > affordable for teams all over the world, and to limit teams in > materials they can use, to give them a reasonable challenge. > > b) The referees don't want to have to determine whether stray > markings serve some kind of strategic purpose. > > c) Most teams can remember what they need to do after a little > practice, even without markings. It's just a little extra brain > challenge. > > d) The robots look nicer in pictures without writing all over them. > > > Actually, this rule as been around as long I as have been an FLL > referee. I've teased teams about labeling their robots for years, and > enjoyed asking them which kits their stickers came from. I've never > seen a team kicked out because they had a name or a number on their > robot. > > In response to the thought that teams should be allowed to do anything > that helps them, we have lots of examples in FLL where teams are not > allowed to do things that might help them: > > - having 11 team members > - using 4 motors or two bricks > - using Robot-C > - taking as much time as they like with the project presentation > - avoiding touch penalties by leaving a tether in Base > - having Bluetooth on during a match > - having an alignment jig extend outside Base > > Some of these might seem helpful, some might not. > > Bottom line--it's just a rule. One of the side effects of FLL is that > we ask for members of the team to become expert rule-readers both to > be able to comply with the rules, and to think creatively about how to > act within the rules in surprising ways. This is one of those > rules--even if there is minuscule benefit for the team, the team > shouldn't mark the robot or its pieces, because it's not allowed > within the rules. > > Steve Scherr > VA/DC FLL Referee Advisor > > On Fri, Nov 9, 2012 at 2:52 PM, Purnima <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> Still don't understand why marking the sensor or motor is not allowed, If >> team wants to put a number on motors, sensor that helps them it should be >> allowed. As that will not inter fear with the robot. Just wanted to >> understand the justification behind no marking on the sensor/motor. >> >> Regards, >> Purnima >> >> On Fri, Nov 9, 2012 at 2:14 PM, VA/DC Referee Advisor <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >>> >>> Laura, >>> It's been tacitly understood that marking the robots to distinguish >>> them from each other, especially where there were multiple teams from >>> a school or other location, has been inevitable. Also, once you do >>> it, it could be financially infeasible to undo. >>> >>> For attachments and other components like sensors, it would be seen >>> as more consistent with the rules not to have those marked. So, if >>> possible, swapping with unmarked sensors would be preferable. >>> >>> Steve Scherr >>> VA/DC FLL Referee Advisor >>> >>> On Fri, Nov 9, 2012 at 1:39 PM, Laura Dysart <[log in to unmask]> >>> wrote: >>>> My team wrote numbers on two of their sensors in sharpie- they have some >>>> swapping out of attachments and sensors and decided to mark the ports on the >>>> sensors. Raised a red flag for me- is that "illegal?" We can swap out the >>>> sensors if it is against rules. Thank you- Laura > > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". > > -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". -- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe.