Graphical software representations of the Track

[tigerz]

Hi all, I have a question about using "graphical software"

I have developed a small "graphciasl waypoint generator". What it does is, I'll run this code during the 10min preparation, it will bring up a graphcial window showing a 4x5 grid, where I can click on cells to indicate the desired path of the robot. Then I click the "Generate" button on the graphcial window, it will then create a list of (x,y) points, that I can copy and past into my main code.

I have used this process several times in the past invitational. But I just noticed this statement in the rulebook: "Graphical software representations of the Track or the Robot’s motions are not permitted". Does anyone know if my approah could cause complicance issue with the rule?

Thank you

[Nydauron]

Yes, your program would directly violate rule 6.vi, specifically for using GUI software to represent the track and for using software to modify the impounded program. The path that the robot takes must be constructed and implemented in code by only the competitors themselves without the need or assistance of codegen programs, GUI/TUI programs, or generative AI. A clarification was also posted on this topic: https://soinc.org/does-prohibition-usin ... -section-6.

If an ES does discover that you are using such software during your runs, then a competition violation penalty would be awarded to the current run (+150).

Given the situation, it seems like your generator program is simply a QoL for your runs, and the tracks for the event are not meant to be complicated, such that it isn't that difficult to formulate a path yourself, which you can then translate to coords by hand.

[tigerz]

Thanks Nydauron for the clarification. Yes it's a QoL thing but a huge one. Makes the 10min prep much of a breeze. But understand rules are rules and glad I asked about. Will manually construct the path moving forward.