M01 Space Travel Questions

[sbuzz]

In the Space Travel Mission (M01),Our first question is that our team found that the wheels on the cart get tight or stuck very often, preventing them from rolling down freely. This kids have learnt how to fix them every time, but we are curious, is this happening for everyone? Will the preset Vehicle payload be checked before every match (or can my team ask the referee to do that before their match)

Second, our team's understanding is that, for scoring, the conditions need not be visible at the end of the match, since the "technically speaking" part has no underlined statements. We would like to make sure that we are correct. This question came up in our team when we would send the carts rolling down and sometimes they would get stuck in the middle, somewhere after the first track connection (which should give them a score). And then later, when the team attempted the Solar Panel Array (M02), the carts would sometimes fall down from the track.

Thank you

[SkipMorrow]

What timing! Literally, yesterday's practice we came to the same conclusion. The wheels won't spin if pressed together too tightly.

Yes, if your team asks the refs to check the wheels before the match, they will almost certainly do this for you. And if they forget to ask, and they attempt the mission and the ramp is clearly lifted, but the cart doesn't move, very good chance they will get the benefit of doubt and get the points. Train your team to politely and professionally ask the refs after the match to consider scoring the mission as complete, if the refs didn't catch it when they attempted it. If the refs, for some reason, say "No", train your team to smile, say "Thank you", shake the refs hand and go back to the pit.

In my experience, the refs have always been over-lenient in my opinion, especially when it comes to models not operating as intended.

[Tom Mosher]

In the Space Travel Mission (M01),Our first question is that our team found that the wheels on the cart get tight or stuck very often, preventing them from rolling down freely. This kids have learnt how to fix them every time, but we are curious, is this happening for everyone? Will the preset Vehicle payload be checked before every match (or can my team ask the referee to do that before their match)

Second, our team's understanding is that, for scoring, the conditions need not be visible at the end of the match, since the "technically speaking" part has no underlined statements. We would like to make sure that we are correct. This question came up in our team when we would send the carts rolling down and sometimes they would get stuck in the middle, somewhere after the first track connection (which should give them a score). And then later, when the team attempted the Solar Panel Array (M02), the carts would sometimes fall down from the track.

Thank you

The referees will inspect that all of the models are working correctly before your match starts. And yes, the team can ask the referees to check the setup.

There is no "end of match" requirement for M01 scoring. So each Payload should be scored as it happens, and accidentally knocking the Payloads off the ramp later should have no effect - as long as the Payload models are not damaged.

Rule R17 says that missions made easier due to model damage will not score. So if the referee feels that the M02 Solar Panel mission was made easier by a method that caused damage to the M01 Payloads, then the M02 Solar Panel mission would not score - but the M01 Space Travel mission would still score.

[alanggreen]

Your team's understanding of the scoring condition is correct. There is no underlined (i.e. end of match) scoring condition. As long as the cart (Payload rocket) is independant before it reaches the first track connection and it rolls independently past the first track connection, that cart will score.

Maybe someone else can answer about the wheels getting stuck.


Alan

[thudthud]

In Illinois we were told at the kick-off event, that was held at ITMS, that the wheels of these models would be checked to make sure they spin freely as part of the resetting the table prior to the next match.

[sbuzz]

Thanks everyone.

[arjunbhardwaj10]

Hi I have a question Regarding the space travel ramp.
1. Is it necessary to start the rolling for each payload from orange area of space travel ramp?
2.The rule says that Start each Payload clearly rolling down the Space Travel Ramp.For each roll, the cart must ✱ be Independent by the time it reaches the first track connection so can Robot place both the payload from the base before the first track connection and make it roll?

[Dean Hystad]

Hi I have a question Regarding the space travel ramp.
1. Is it necessary to start the rolling for each payload from orange area of space travel ramp?
2.The rule says that Start each Payload clearly rolling down the Space Travel Ramp.For each roll, the cart must ✱ be Independent by the time it reaches the first track connection so can Robot place both the payload from the base before the first track connection and make it roll?

The rules are exactly what the rules say. The rules say nothing at all about the orange area, so the orange area has nothing to do with what you have to do to score points. The rules say nothing about how carts must start rolling, so that isn't important either. The rules do say that the carts must be independent when they reach the first track connection, so that is important. You got the rules right.

[arjunbhardwaj10]

thanks a lot