G402 No AUTO opponent interference. During AUTO, FIELD columns A, B, C constitute the blue side of the FIELD, and columns D, E, F (Figure 9‑5) constitute the red side of the FIELD. During AUTO, a ROBOT may not:
A. contact an opposing ALLIANCES ROBOT which is completely within the opposing ALLIANCES side of the FIELD either directly or transitively through an ARTIFACT, or
B. disrupt an ARTIFACT from its pre-staged location on the opposing ALLIANCES side of the FIELD either directly or transitively through contact with an ARTIFACT, or by LAUNCHING an ARTIFACT directly into it.
Violation: MAJOR FOUL per instance of ROBOT contact in G402.A and MAJOR FOUL per ARTIFACT in G402.B.
Navigating into the opposing ALLIANCES side of the FIELD during AUTO is a risky gameplay strategy.
LAUNCHED ARTIFACTS which happen to enter the other side of the FIELD after being deflected by another object in the FIELD (e.g., FIELD element, ROBOT) will not be penalized.
Example 1: A red ROBOT LAUNCHES 1 ARTIFACT onto the opponent side of the FIELD. The LAUNCHED ARTIFACT disrupts 2 pre-staged ARTIFACTS on the blue side of the FIELD. Red is assessed 2 MAJOR FOULS under G402.
Example 2: A red ROBOT LAUNCHES 1
ARTIFACT at their GOAL in an attempt to score, but the ARTIFACT misses the open
top of the GOAL, deflects off the GOAL structure and rolls into the blue side
of the FIELD, disrupting 2 pre-staged ARTIFACTS. No G402 penalties are assessed.