We are requesting clarification regarding Rule 3.1 Interference. Since the ball in the Infrared League is now orange, we have decided to detect the ball primarily using a camera system this year. Consequently, at the regional championships, we detected our opponents who were using red LEDs. The issue was not just a single LED; rather, the entire robot was glowing red from beneath, and we even detected these LEDs through the poorly shielded robot chassis. After the camera detection was confirmed, the organizers asked the other team to take the necessary steps to prevent this detection.
The referees demonstrated that whenever the ball was present, even near the opponent’s robot, we always drove toward the ball. Only when the ball was removed from play for a short time did we clearly drive toward the robot, which severely impacted our game. Since this led to intense discussions about whether camera detection should be handled this way in the Infrared League, we wanted to request a clarification of this rule before the competition.
Attempts to calibrate our system to detect the ball exclusively—and the opponent’s robot as little as possible—also failed, due to the colors being indistinguishable for the camera system. If at the German Open, under these or very similar conditions, we mistakenly identify an opposing team as the ball despite nearly perfect calibration, and we feel severely limited by this, can prove it, and file a complaint, will the opposing team be asked to adjust their robot accordingly, or are we forced to forgo camera detection in the Infrared League?
The same question arises regarding red(-colored) components, e.g., OpenMV. According to the rules, this is not strictly prohibited as they do not fall under the three forbidden component colors. However, Rule 3.1.6 states that if we are affected by an opposing team’s robot, we must prove it, and the competition organizers must confirm it. If we were to see an OpenMV, as mentioned in the example above, and can clearly prove it, what would happen in this case?
Our intention is not to drive toward wrong objects on purpose, nor to be nitpicky regarding small cables, etc., but to be assured that this will be handled accordingly. We understand that many components are red or appear red-orange, and that it is not easy for all teams to fully comply, and no one is demanding that; we just want to be able to rely on our camera data.