6.8 Other Logistics
SCORING ELEMENTS that leave the FIELD (other than through the opening at the base of the OUTPOST) are placed back into the FIELD approximately at the point of exit by FIELD STAFF (REFEREES, FTAs, or other staff working around the FIELD) at the earliest safe opportunity.
Note that ROBOTS and HUMAN PLAYERS may not deliberately cause SCORING ELEMENTS to leave the FIELD (see G405).
An ARENA FAULT (an error in ARENA operation described in section 10.2 MATCH Replays) is not called for MATCHES that accidentally begin with damaged SCORING ELEMENTS. Damaged SCORING ELEMENTS are not replaced until the next ARENA reset period. DRIVE TEAMS should alert the FIELD STAFF to any missing or damaged SCORING ELEMENTS prior to the start of the MATCH but as noted in 6.3.4, the exact number of FUEL in the NEUTRAL ZONE may vary.
Once the MATCH is over and the Head REFEREE determines that the FIELD is safe for FIELD STAFF and DRIVE TEAMS, they or their designee change the FIELD lights to green and DRIVE TEAMS may retrieve their ROBOT. Some MATCHES may include a short period afterward to allow FIELD staff to begin to clean the field to make it easier and safer for teams to collect their robot. This period is indicated with purple lights on the team signs and the word “clean” displayed. TEAMS are not allowed on the field during this time.
During ARENA reset, the ARENA is cleared of ROBOTS and OPERATOR CONSOLES from the MATCH that just ended, ROBOTS and OPERATOR CONSOLES for the subsequent MATCH are loaded into the ARENA by DRIVE TEAMS, and FIELD STAFF reset ARENA elements.
FIRST Robotics Competition uses 3 words in the context of how durations and actions are assessed with regards to evaluation of rules and assignment of violations. These words provide general guidance to describe benchmarks to be used across the program. It is not the intent for REFEREES to provide a count during the time periods.
- MOMENTARY describes durations that are fewer than approximately 3 seconds.
- CONTINUOUS describes durations that are more than approximately 10 seconds.
- REPEATED describes actions that happen more than once within a MATCH.
